Saturday, November 11, 2017

Coffee shop excitement

Me, John, Gene
Really, there was a time when we used to talk to each other. We've gone the way of most of the rest of America, I guess, staring at a screen. Our friend RJ was in line to get coffee when he snapped this picture on his phone. I notice that the other two people in the picture are also engrossed in their gadgets. These days, one or the other of us holds up our tablet to share a particularly interesting picture or video; otherwise, we are all lost in our own worlds. A sad commentary on what passes for conversation. We do sometimes close them all up and talk, but it's not often: usually when we've been shamed into it.

However, I do find it easier to read the news online rather than turn on the TV, because I get to choose to read what interests me and skip the rest. Plus, there are no commercial interruptions unless I accidentally click on one of those annoying popups. It's become more and more common for me to read digitally rather than read words on a page. I do resist reading novels and other books online (for the most part) because I love the feeling of having a book in my hands.

This morning we ladies walked around five miles in overcast conditions, but before Lily and I returned home, it had begun to rain. It looks like it will continue for several days. Good thing I don't mind the rain all that much and prefer to load up on rain gear rather than stay holed up inside!
:-)

20 comments:

  1. Definitely a sign of our times. Not one I am comfortable with, but common.
    Enjoy your weekend - damp or otherwise.

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  2. You are well 'suited' to that climate, Jan.

    As long as you three don't only communicate via imessage or email when you're sat there...

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  3. I like to be the catalyst for change on that one. I just start talking and someone will usually join on in.

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  4. There was a time when everyone had a newspaper under their nose, reading the day's news that way. So, maybe things haven't changed all that much, we've just changed the medium.

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  5. I refuse to do look at a screen when sitting with other people. I hate it when I am visiting with someone and they pull out their phone and start to scroll...I figure the conversation must bore them :)

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  6. Lively conversations are a thing of the past. I don't have devices that I carry with me . You could have a good conversation with me!

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  7. So true. We criticize the next generation, but sit here doing the same thing!

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  8. After a busy day, Tom and I went out for a simple dinner at IHOP. There were were, sitting across from each other, each staring at our phone. I put mine down once and made him talk, but it didn't last long.
    I am going to have to get comfortable with walking in the rain. We missed our chance to walk this morning when we had time because the rain moved in. With a week of rain coming our way, I really need to get out and walk.

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  9. There was a time when the saying was: 'In the end, no one will say, I wish I'd spent more time at the office.' Now, I doubt anyone will say, 'I wish I'd spent more time on my phone, computer, iPad, etc.'

    I still prefer talking to someone right there in front of me, and hope they do too.

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  10. yeah I could never handle the NW weather. I need sun too much; not heat, but sun for sure.

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  11. Yes, even the people behind you are screen staring. Times have changed. But when you think about it--used to be the fight against books at the table, TV during dinner, and newspapers over breakfast. Maybe not that much different. ;)

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  12. I too would rather a BOOK in my hand!

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  13. Sigh, how typical of today's culture. Think you three ought to set aside a half hour each meeting with tablets and phones closed. Bet you might be surprised that you forget to open them.

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  14. Of course I understand the lure of the web. But we still get the newspaper.

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  15. Interesting photo! You captured a cultural moment.

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  16. If you eat out a lot, just glance around at the others. Most have their phones out. I used to just stare at my husband while he played on his phone, now I have begun to do the same thing. It's sad, because eating out used to be like a date...now it's a sad commentary on all of us. One day we will all forget how to talk. This just came up in sunday school yesterday...how some of us used to talk to our friends on the phone for hours, and now all we do is test one liners to each other. I'm guilty of this.

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  17. I have an ancient cell phone that only calls people and old Nook that only lets me read book. So far I avoided the verbal communication gap. Of, course my wife got me a hearing aid so I couldn't engage in "selective hearing." So it goes...:)

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  18. When Bob and I go out together for coffee or a meal, we never take out our cell phones (thank goodness). We're still the old couple that has something to say to each other. The same is true with my friends. However, I do read on a Kindle and would never go back to paper. (I'm actually allergic to the ink dyes and paper because they contain formaldehyde.) When I'm alone in a coffee shop, I do read on my phone.I think in this day and age, we're not comfortable just doing nothing!

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  19. Dear DJan, your devotion to walking/hiking always inspires me. Right now because my eye sight is still quite blurry from the eye operation of November 2nd, I'm not going outside to walk--the sidewalk goes up and down in places and I can't tell the difference yet. So I'm wary of falling.

    As to the tablets and laptops, they truly represent what any change or new invention brings into our life--some new and good experiences, some not so good. I do wonder, however, if the art of conversation is going to be missing from our culture in a few years.

    But always there is an opposite motion. I think we've go some far in one direction, and then we'll turn back and embrace part of the past. Take care, you hiker you! Peace.

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  20. It even now is common at family gatherings and I find it a bit rude since it is a special family time. At times I will ask politely if we could spend 30 with devices down. Even then there may be a quick comment about it’s business so then I have to be more firm and that makes me sad. Family gatherings are not that often so I feel it is a reasonable request. But some would differ with me.

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