As we began to discuss in class today, it can be complicated to know when one is flirting with or crossing the line of cellular obsession. So often we find ourselves playing aimlessly with our phones when we don’t even know why, and more often than not this happens in the company of our friends and family. The readings made me contemplate my relationship with the natural world in connection to my technology as well as my life in connection with those around me, as is dictated by phone use in particular.
I am notorious for not responding to texts in a timely manner (or sometimes at all) and I have been endlessly chastised and sometimes yelled at for this fault. But I have always, particularly in recent months and years, wondered how this can be such a problem. When we were discussing in class how people either preferred being in constant contact or not, and the “phone game” and things of the like, I began to specifically wonder- is it more inconsiderate to text while with friends, or not to text your friends when you’re apart?
I have always been fairly comfortable with the fact that I’m slow to get back to people because I tend to think if it is urgent, the person seeking my attention will either call or find me in person. I know it can be annoying, but at the end of the day, what is the overall loss? But then I get self-conscious because I feel socially that is very frowned upon and as a generally polite person I would hate to come across uncaring or unkind.
Yet on the other hand, I feel like I am prone to becoming defensive if I am called out for using my phone too much in the company of others. How can this be? As I am still sorting through my thoughts on the matter, I would be very interested to see what others think about which is worse, and why.