I'm okay with a lot of new
technology. As a writer I'm particularly happy with the internet and the power
of Google and Wikipedia to pretty much be a fingertip instant gratification
library. Perhaps that's why I've resisted having a smartphone.
That and I don't trust the darn
things not to reveal to spies where I am and what I'm doing every minute. If
the NSA and Russian hackers can break into my computer and turn on the camera
and microphone, why couldn't they do the same thing with my smartypants phone?
The President better check his before he makes his next move in Ukraine.
The truth is, it's precisely my
complete embrace of internet accessibility that keeps me away from a
smartphone. I know my own OCD qualities and predilection for addiction.
I see all the folks obsessively
checking their Twitter feeds, emails, and Facebook posts. I see them twitting,
posting and texting. I almost never see them phoning on their phone. There but
for the grace of not having a smartphone go I.
Are they addicted? Oh yeah. Tell
them about their behavior and the first thing they say says it all: "I'm
not addicted. I just tweet because I enjoy it." "I only post to
Pinterest when I'm out with friends." "I'm just a social
tweeter." "I
only tweet
about twenty times a day." "I just do Facebook because I
choose to."
My favorite is, "I can stop
anytime I want." And then their phone pings and they yank around to it
faster than the speed of light. Their head nods to their phone so quickly it
blurs like Speedy Gonzales' cartoon feet.
Sorry friends. Time for a
Twittervention. The time has come to admit we have a problem.
It's time for Twitter Twelve Step.
America, ya gotta love it.
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