Get off the damn phone!
12 May 2009
What I feared would happen when I got my iPhone has happened already, in just a few short weeks. I’m addicted, and seem to have my head buried in it all the time! Here’s a story for you about a situation that would have been different if I had been allowed to use my phone.
I was waiting in court to contest a ticket I got (made a left hand turn during the 2 hours it’s not allowed… but got out of having to pay!), and was sitting on a bench between two men. All three of us had our head buried in our phones. I was checking email, tweeting, and reading my RSS feeds. The guy on my left was texting. And the guy on my right was playing a game. There was a sign that said cell phones were not allowed, but I assumed (and probably so did everyone else currently playing with their phones) that meant talking on our phones, not using them.
Not one of us on the bench made eye contact or even acknowledged each other, until the security guard announced that cell phones will be confiscated if anyone uses them, including texting, etc. The guy to my left turned to me and made a comment about it, and then we started talking. Later on, we started talking to the man on my right. Both had fascinating things to say, and both of those people I would have NEVER talked to, had I continued to be buried in my phone. Here’s what I learned about them…
This is Richard. We started talking about cell phones (of course!), and why he likes his Blackberry Storm. Then he told me that he’s a cab driver, but only temporarily— he used to be an Investment Banker, until he lost his job. He does some consulting work, but drives a cab to bring in some extra cash. Interesting, that it’s similar to my situation… an MBA who does consulting, babysits and takes care of dogs to help pay the bills. I asked if he feels people judge him for driving a cab, and he said, yes, until they hear him talk and hear that he is smart (which he was). He’s from Haiti originally (and still has a thick accent)… father used to be a lawyer and mother was a professor. He told me all about living in Haiti and celebrating a certain holiday where people go around to the various villages and eat a lot of meat!
This is Arnost. He’s from Bulgaria… moved here 5 years ago after selling his Lingerie shop there, and moving here to get married. He told Richard and I about how he got a DUI when he first moved here. No one was hurt, thankfully, but he spent $8,000 in the process with lawyers, court fees, and the DUI class. Richard told us that in Haiti, there are no laws about drinking and driving.
The three of us continued to chat until each of us got called into the court room. So, why am I writing about all of this? Well, as much as I LOVE my iPhone, and am happy to have access to email and Twitter when I need to, I think there are many missed opportunities talking to interesting people, or seeing interesting things, that pass you by when you have your head buried in the phone all the time. I’m going to remember to put it down more often and take a look at what’s around me.
Photo Sources: 3 people on phones, No cell phone sign
What do you think? Have you had a similar experience? How do you get yourself to “step away from the phone”?
