Of all the consequences to our way of life caused by the Smartphone, the easiness by which anyone can make hurtful, mean and vicious comments to total strangers ranks high.
When in the last century the telephone allowed effortless communication, if someone said something offensive, then we could always slam down the receiver.
The slam part actually felt good; it was as if we physically hurt the person whose crass, unwelcome comment hurt us.
But we can't slam down our Smartphone when some total stranger gratuitously insults us, even for the most trivial reasons.
At best, we can try to block these strangers electronically. But if they are persistent, they'll find a way to continue conveying their unwelcome opinions, and always hiding behind a pseudonym too.
Makes me wonder what the next century's technological marvel will do to humankind (assuming we're still here)
The changes you attribute to smartphones may be more attributable to the internet and web browsers, but smartphones definitely make access to the web more ubiquitous. It's literally in my pocket all the time, even lying beside me at night, and I sometimes succumb to the temptation to read it while driving ... as insanely irresponsible as that seems. It's definitely a mixed blessing, but I'd be like a heroin addict in withdrawal without it.
Recently, I bought an eInk phone to supplement my Samsung smartphone. The eInk display is black and white, and its video quality makes YouTube much less attractive, but it's fine for reading the news and blogs like this one. The battery life is also much better. I planned to move the SIM card from my Samsung phone to the eInk phone as needed until I realized that my Samsung phone doesn't have a SIM card.
The Samsung phone has an eSIM, only software installed on the phone, and an eSIM is much more difficult to move from one phone to another. Basically, I must take both phones to the AT&T store and have someone there do it. Instead, I plan to take my Samsung phone to the store, where I bought it, and have the store replace my eSIM with a physical SIM card, but I haven't done it yet. Hopefully, they won't give me any grief about it.
Once done, I plan to use the eInk phone most of the time and to severely curtail my use of YouTube. I often only listen to YouTube anyway. I'll leave the Samsung phone in my car most of the time because the eInk phone doesn't play well with Android Auto though it professes to. We'll see if this methadone does me any good ...
Yes , it appears that this "phone" is attached to peoples hands. I have a phone , but only as a form of communicating with people I choose. My number is not listed and only those of whom I want know the number. Like all tech , can be used for good and bad. Thanks Mr. B. for this form! Also many a good amount of lines that I could use to inform others. LOL
I can't improve on what you have written here, and I wouldn't even try. I carry my phone in its Faraday pouch all the time, only when I drive do I carry it, in case I might need triple A. I never watch TV. and I am never bored, and somewhat happy. I just paint and write poetry...
Of all the consequences to our way of life caused by the Smartphone, the easiness by which anyone can make hurtful, mean and vicious comments to total strangers ranks high.
When in the last century the telephone allowed effortless communication, if someone said something offensive, then we could always slam down the receiver.
The slam part actually felt good; it was as if we physically hurt the person whose crass, unwelcome comment hurt us.
But we can't slam down our Smartphone when some total stranger gratuitously insults us, even for the most trivial reasons.
At best, we can try to block these strangers electronically. But if they are persistent, they'll find a way to continue conveying their unwelcome opinions, and always hiding behind a pseudonym too.
Makes me wonder what the next century's technological marvel will do to humankind (assuming we're still here)
Great point about the lost pleasure of slamming down the phone.
The changes you attribute to smartphones may be more attributable to the internet and web browsers, but smartphones definitely make access to the web more ubiquitous. It's literally in my pocket all the time, even lying beside me at night, and I sometimes succumb to the temptation to read it while driving ... as insanely irresponsible as that seems. It's definitely a mixed blessing, but I'd be like a heroin addict in withdrawal without it.
Recently, I bought an eInk phone to supplement my Samsung smartphone. The eInk display is black and white, and its video quality makes YouTube much less attractive, but it's fine for reading the news and blogs like this one. The battery life is also much better. I planned to move the SIM card from my Samsung phone to the eInk phone as needed until I realized that my Samsung phone doesn't have a SIM card.
The Samsung phone has an eSIM, only software installed on the phone, and an eSIM is much more difficult to move from one phone to another. Basically, I must take both phones to the AT&T store and have someone there do it. Instead, I plan to take my Samsung phone to the store, where I bought it, and have the store replace my eSIM with a physical SIM card, but I haven't done it yet. Hopefully, they won't give me any grief about it.
Once done, I plan to use the eInk phone most of the time and to severely curtail my use of YouTube. I often only listen to YouTube anyway. I'll leave the Samsung phone in my car most of the time because the eInk phone doesn't play well with Android Auto though it professes to. We'll see if this methadone does me any good ...
Yes , it appears that this "phone" is attached to peoples hands. I have a phone , but only as a form of communicating with people I choose. My number is not listed and only those of whom I want know the number. Like all tech , can be used for good and bad. Thanks Mr. B. for this form! Also many a good amount of lines that I could use to inform others. LOL
I can't improve on what you have written here, and I wouldn't even try. I carry my phone in its Faraday pouch all the time, only when I drive do I carry it, in case I might need triple A. I never watch TV. and I am never bored, and somewhat happy. I just paint and write poetry...