A few more thoughts on the “connected” world out there…
There’s now a large crack in the outer display face of my flip phone.
It was a small crack until, while changing the oil in my wife’s car, I rolled onto my side and my pocket knife got jammed against the display face.
My cell phone’s about seven years old and, in relative terms, it’s on a par with a manual typewriter. Still, the crack hasn’t impaired its ability to handle incoming and outgoing calls which, to me, is all that matters.
The way I use it is that, when I need to talk with someone, I’ll call them. This happens about once or twice a day. If whomever I’m calling doesn’t answer, I’ll leave a message. This system also works well the other way around. As you might guess, burning through minutes is not a huge concern in my circle of contacts.
What I’ve never felt the urge to do is text or “tweet,” nor do I truly understand what “following” means. I know how to “track,” but that has to do with hunting, and I’ve never needed my phone to find a deer.
Added to all of this is the fact that I haven’t downloaded a single “app” and, despite that, life goes on. The sun rises. The sun sets. Tides come in. Tides recede. Twinkies have returned, chocolate ice cream awaits, and the universe remains in balance.
Even though I’ll admit that I’d likely be part of all this were I younger, I’m simply not, and the details of “being connected” seem to be just so much bother and distraction to me.
Still, I’m worried about that crack. I know that it’s not going get better and, eventually, I’m going to have to replace my phone. Unfortunately, I doubt that they’re going to have one that I’d really want. One that can’t take pictures and can neither text nor “tweet.” One that doesn’t handle “apps.” One where, if I can simply call you and you can call me, it’s all good.
For whatever reason, not having access to these marvels doesn’t bother me — and others like me — in the slightest. It seems that the need to be electronically connected to just about everyone holds no attraction for me.
In fact, I’ve found that my best moments on any given day usually occur when things are quiet and I’m disconnected from any type of hurry, bother, or worry. If engaged with another person, I enjoy wandering conversations while just sitting across from that individual.
I’m not passing judgment here. Time marches on and most of my friends seem to enjoy all of this. Too, in business, more and more you’re likely required to be instantly available, i.e., “connected” — or else. Therefore, “The fault, Dear Brutus,” lies in me — except in the singular case of those who choose to do any or all of the above while driving.
Since there isn’t an “app” that starts a 10-second countdown to shutting off the engine if an individual uses a phone while driving, I’ll just continue to silently think unseemly, inimical, and very malevolent thoughts whenever I see you.
All of which means that I belong to a small segment of humanity who, when they find something that works as well as we wish it to work, are completely happy with things as they are. Our motto is: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Still, sometime soon, I’m going to have to venture into my “provider’s” phone store (or whatever it’s called) and explain to some salesperson that they’re looking at the modern version of a “Luddite.”
I know that there’ll be some model behind the counter that will do everything that I want it to do and then some. And I guess I’m fine with that. I’ll just ignore those other “features.”
I recognize that the “breed” to which I belong is rapidly disappearing and, since our presence on the far peripheries of the “connected” world is hardly noticed, it’s likely that our increasing absence won’t raise many eyebrows either.
That said, I’d be willing to bet that someone out there will still feel the need to “tweet” about it all.
Just to let everyone else know.
Larry Simoneaux lives in Edmonds. Send comments to: larrysim@comcast.net
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