My generation is embarrassed by the tendency for the rest of the world to think we use technology in place of interpersonal relationships
Sometimes I wonder what dogs think of smartphones. Of these futuristic little computers that we carry around in our pockets that we frequently drop into toilets, leave at shopping center checkout lanes and generally abuse.Television is one thing, a piece of technology that I think pups understand, in that they know their owner is relaxed when they sit down for some quality tube time, and being perfect pals of the human race, they are therefore equally relaxed in front of it.But what about the little flashing screens that we whip out right before or after we click off the bedside lamp for the night? What do our pups think of those? I started to really ponder this when I realized that when Im out walking my personal pup there are about half a dozen other people in my very pet-friendly neighborhood, and most of them, crunchy granola types or not, are usually staring into their little palm computers while their pet leads them blindly over sidewalks and curb blocks, or perhaps they have the thing pressed to their ear while chatting.This is an easily observable phenomenon. Go to the grocery store, to the library or even the courthouse. No matter what town in America your are in there are going to be people there playing with their smartphones. Not that it was necessarily different when people had those regular, old Claude flip phones because people would still tweedle away at those whenever the slightest opportunity to do so arose.Its not that I dont. Its just in this new chapter of my life, where everything seems new again, I just really, really notice how odd it is.As much as Id like to say that its mostly my generation that has this crippling fascination with the little personal robots that we use for everything from remembering what to buy at the supermarket to reminding us to feed our fish, I think its an equal-opportunity phenomena. I see more folks who are 40 or older checking their phones during meetings and texting away while in line at fast food drive-throughs.My generation is slightly embarrassed, or at least I am, by the tendency for the rest of the world to think that were just involved with technology in place of interpersonal relationships, so I make a point to not fiddle with my phone, and Ive been getting better.It was tough at first. When I was living in Wooster, I had gotten into this routine where Id get home from work and immediately start checking all my social media profiles and my email, the online sales at Forever 21 and Aerie. I dont do that anymore. When I get home, I take Bag for a walk. After that I start working on dinner.During dinner I either read, in my opinion a slightly less cringe-worthy habit, even while eating, or pause between bites to write in my journal.And you know what? Even though I have been trying to avoid making any grand statement about how personal technology is ruining anything or a problem of any kind, because it is not my place to say what is a problem in another persons life, I feel better, a whole lot better.
