This week, I attended a wonderful 3-day conference discussing the overarching long term impact of sexual assault and domestic violence on victims. If time permits I will shed some light on these issues at a later time. However, something happened during the event which left me in disbelief. While we were being served lunch, we were asked to direct our attention to yet another presentation. While the presenters went on, a woman in her 50's got on the phone and started having a conversation for at least 30 minutes. Sitting at her table were three other individuals who were clearly engulfed in their phones messaging back and forth. Sitting at the table right next to them, it was extremely hard to listen to the presentation without being distracted.
I just sat there and comtemplated on the importance of living in the moment. Here we were trying to discover new ways to address some of the most prevalent issues faced by domestic victims across the nation. However, since a few people amongst the 200 attendees were bored, they refused to live in that moment and found other means to entertain themselves notwithstanding the inconvenience to others.
This constant need to answer non-emergency phones, texting, and liking/commenting on social media transcends generation Y. It reaches other age groups as well, and is plain annoying. Dont attend church, a celebration, or any event if you need constant entertainment. We consider not doing any of these things boredom and yearn to remain in the loop at any cost. Our inability to live in the moment causes us to always wish for the next big thing. So we live unfulfilled lives with unrealistic expectations, and yearnings that continuously leave us feeling void.
Today choose to be present in anything you participate in, not just your body, but be there in mind and deed as well. Once again, popular behavior doesnt automatically make it acceptable. Let's regain the values that truly enhances society.
This is very common these days unfortunately. However in this case you have described it seems very rude that an individual would sit and talk through a presentation. Beside that, I think there is a need to express expectations to individuals with regards to phones .. on many ocassions when I am out with friends we have a moment where possibly pictures are taken and then phones are put down not because we have a hard fast rule but out of respect.
ReplyDeleteI tend to use my phone very often throughout the day communicating, reading, searching etc often people ask me can you be without your phone I say 'of course I can BUT I choose not to' however one has to have boundaries and just be respectful. Many people sit and watch TV all day even when they have guests TV is always on (I rarely watch TV) and this is acceptable but just like using a phone, if I was having a conversation with someone or trying to gain knowledge through a presentation I would expect the phone to be down/off.
I am not sure that wanting to communicate, Socialise or interact via mobile phones regularly is a sign of living an unfulfilled life....is it really that deep?
Finally, as a lecturer my biggest challenge is ensuring my students are so engaged in activities/learning that it prevents the distraction which would lead them to go on their phones but even in some cases young people have been so engaged and have wanted to post on FB 'having a great lesson' LOL So how do I overcome this 'RESPECT' the mobile phone code of conduct!
Dear Anonymous,
DeleteI appreciate the great points made in your response, and agree that putting away cellphones is indeed a sign of respect for others. In response to whether it is that deep, years ago, when one attended events, pictures were taken as an attempt to capture that moment for a meaningful memory and revisit that moment down in life when we felt the need. We actually had a chance to enjoy "the moment", remember the feelings of "the moment", etc. The effect is different nowadays, because we snap and post right away, and in so doing I just wonder whether we truly get every bit of what is going on. So in essence, will the few minutes I take to post a status or comment on a picture prevent me from hearing something the lecturer has to say in class? Our attention can be diverted even for a moment. My conclusion was that as we constantly look elsewhere and other things to entertain ourselves in the "meantime", we do lose essence of the now especially when interacting face to face with others. When we don't experience now, it is easy to look to tomorrow or another time and so we live a life that is longing, and thus unfulfilled.
Also, good question in the end, it is a catch 22 with posting "great lesson" I wonder if that can be done after the lesson rather than during.