Face-to-Face

 “Hey, Wayne, I got a few minutes while I am in the car…”

How many of you have received a call that started that way?  How many of you have called someone and after “hello” said that line?

Or, how many of you:

• Have received a text that started “Hey, just a quick…”? 
• Have texted someone and used that line?
• While at work, have sent or received an IM from the person one aisle away? 
• …an email with a one-line question, from the person that sits diagonal to you?
• Sent / received a text from a family member in the next room?

Whether in our personal lives, and now, to some extent, our business lives, we have learned to “fast path” our communications.  There are times where I am guilty of this.  I have worked hard to put away my electronic devices.  I rarely ever bring my phone to a meeting (unless there is an issue at home) - I no longer answer every ding, sound effect or related “you’ve got mail” indicators.  I am striving at work to answer emails at certain points in the day.  By checking these types of communications whenever they pop up, we are distracted from what our focus should be.  In meetings, I know that when the phone is more interesting than the meeting – it is over.

Of course, the corollary question is have we lost the ability to communicate face-to-face?  Are we learning from the millennials and our own children?  They spend a significant amount of time on their devices.  They can game and communicate.  They have free video apps to see their friends.  I remember years ago, I walked into the living and there was my daughter was doing her homework on her laptop.  She was busy typing on the computer and typing on her phone and there were at least three people in tiny boxes on her laptop, no one was talking.  They were, she explained to me, just hanging out.

The most extreme case of “my-cell-phone-is more-important” syndrome was recently in the subway.  She was in the hallway, underground, her large suitcase tipped over on its back.  In her hand was her cell phone talking to someone.  The suitcase was large enough that she needed two hands to put it right side up.  She did not stop talking on the phone, nor did she put it down (or in her pocket).  Struggle as she did, the phone was most important.

With the holiday season upon us, this is the time of year we generally spend with our family and friends.  A time of the year where we should be living in the moment; to take in all of the sights, sounds and excitement of our respective holidays.  Let us each make a commitment to put down our cell phones, turn off the ringers and ignore the clarion call of our phones.  Let us all live in the moment, spend time together and enjoy each other face to face.

Our Love Affair with Our Phone

 “Commander, this is reconnaissance mission X-KL5, reporting from the inhabited third planet from the star Sol, which the local intelligent life forms refer to as Earth.”

“We read you loud and clear, Commander.  What is you report for today?”

“I am trying to fit in, and have observed a few things.  These creatures come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, some of which designate their origins on the planet.  Age seems to be decided based on factors, such as smoothness of skin that they try to hide or modify, as if veneration is not looked for.  In this highly populated area, they call a city, I have figured out one commonality.  All bipeds seem to have on them a thin, rectangular device, which they are in constant contact with, and seem lost without.  I am not sure its use, if it is a life guide, a communicator, or control device.  Sometimes it is attached, via a wire, to their auditory appendage.  Other times, they stare at it constantly, or hold up for others to see as if it is a trophy…”

Wait…what is this fictional character talking about?  Is that our…cell phones / mobile devices?  Have we really become that dependent on them?  It certainly seems that way; in the last 10 years, our mobile devices have become integrated into our lives.  As with all technological advances, there are positives and negatives.  I think that I can almost categorize people by their phone usages:

The Meanderer:  This is the person that you are stuck walking behind.  They do not walk straight, but tend to meander back and forth across the sidewalk, as they are more focused on their mobile device than where they are going.

The Car Meanderer:  This is the same person as above, except this time, they are texting while driving.  Unfortunately, this version is dangerous to themselves, everyone on the road and their passengers.

I Only Need One Hand:  This is a guys only technique (I hope), where they engage their phones at the public urinal.  You hope they are not so distracted to forget to pass by the sink.

The Conductor:  These are the people that have no consideration for the crowded sidewalks, events, etc., that insist they have the right to swing their selfie sticks into position.  If they hit you, it is your fault.

The Public Blabberer:  This is the person, when you are sitting in a crowded bus, on the quiet car on the train, in the movie or any other public place that has to have a personal phone conversation for everyone to hear.  They must think they are in the cone of silence and have to cares as to whom they distract.

Below is a great picture, that went viral, showing how we are so tuned in to capture and record the world around us that we forget to take the time to live in the moment and enjoy life as it unfolds (notice the one lady enjoying the moment).  Most people will make excuses for their phone being at the ready position.  I remember, not long ago, when we did not have such conveniences.  We made it, we survived, and we enjoy the company of others (instead of skyping our local friends), stopped and smelled the roses (instead of looking them up on-line) and enjoyed telling stories / relating events (instead of posting our selfies). 

Please feel free to share the types of people you see and how do you categorize them.  Maybe even share a picture of them in action…