I find that on a daily basis, I see more people plugged into things than not. Sometimes I am only vaguely aware of them and on days like today, I am severely annoyed. Are we truly this narcissistic and bored on a societal level that we cannot run errands (or pee) without updating, texting, or talking to someone else? I’ve observed a coworker walking from one side of the warehouse to the other texting--apparently they felt the need to text someone unknown about their journey. I have wasted many minutes talking to someone only to find that they had ear buds in and could not hear me. We have become part Borg. I look around and my coworkers are hunched at computer terminals with wires coming from their heads attached to many small devices.

I admit to the many benefits of these tiny computers. I marvel at the access to information that we have. I’m just not sure we are ready for it. I’ve seen small children with cell phones. Why? Are they all tiny super-smart doctors that need to be reached on a moments notice so they can save lives? Has the youth of America evolved into a race of Doogie Howsers? I just don’t understand what can be so very urgent. Today I learned that someone’s neighbor is having an affair with his wife’s former friend. I didn’t want to know this but the woman was talking at top volume into her phone in line behind me. Why? Does she have no down time? I enjoy a good gossip as much as the next person, but what if I was the neighbor’s wife? I’ve heard addresses, birthdates, driver’s license numbers, social security numbers, insurance information, and bank account numbers; all while waiting in line. As a society we are extremely concerned about privacy and yet we put all our information out there for others to hear.

All manners and etiquette have been thrown to the wayside because I have a phone call. If I’m buying something with the assistance of a human clerk, I’d like to know that I am the priority, not the new song they just downloaded. When I am that human clerk, I want to be treated like a real person. There is nothing as rude as being dismissed by the customer I’m trying to help so that they can answer a phone call, then be whispered at. Sometimes I just want to scream at them, “I’m HERE! I’m a PERSON TOO!” If the phone call was an honest emergency, I wouldn’t be so offended. However, I have never heard someone answer, “I’ll be right there! Start the oxygen and a morphine drip! I’m on my way.” Or “Oh My GOD! Call 911!” I do hear many variations of “Hey…nothing, I’m just shopping. No, Shopping… SHOPPING! Yeah…I had a burrito…” I know that I’m not the only person who is annoyed by this. I’ve seen signs in many places that ask for customers to hang up, some in a kind and polite way and some very forcefully.

Don’t misunderstand; I want science and technology. I want to have a hover car, a jet pack and gel that can re-grow teeth. I want fiber optic internet and clean air. I also want to know that the person I’m talking to is talking to me. Technology is great, but I feel that we have over consumed. We have become tech-obese. We are over-reliant on these tiny devices, but we don’t need to be. We have forgotten how to act, talk and be in public. When phones were first put on the street or in lobbies they were surrounded by glass or had their own little rooms. This was for privacy and courtesy. When did we stop needing privacy? When did we stop being courteous? I don’t want to ban all cell phones. I don’t hate cell phones. I just think that we owe it to ourselves, to our children, to let it go to voice mail while we're interacting face-to-face. To delay a text response until you’ve completed the task at hand and to take your ear buds out (both of them) when you’re talking to another human being in front of you. I want common courtesy to return. I think we should remember what the difference between public and private is. I propose that we slow down and listen to the world around us.