So I’m sitting here on the train in pure bemusement as I look around at my surroundings. I wish I could pull out a camera and document it all for you…unfortunately it would take the length of the entire train ride to ask all these people for permission to photograph them…. hmmm but I doubt they would even hear me asking for permission. Nope. They’re eyes/ears/minds are glued to their iphones (not literally of course.. although that would make for an interesting photograph). I’m having a bittersweet experience as I continue to observe them whilst trying to maintain my cool on the train (you don’t want to be that creep that stares at everyone)…

It’s funny isn’t it? how something designed to keep us connected makes us ignore the people around us; whether they be on the train beside us, on the swing set next to us at the park, on the escalator, on the plane ( we can thank airplane mode for that). Phones are a technological advancement designed to create an illusion of immediacy aren’t they? My problem is that when using them we compromise the natural immediacy gained through face-to face communication with people in our direct environment. Nowadays we don’t bother attempting friendly -or any other sort – conversation with those around us..No, we’re too preoccupied trying to attempt conversation with others online.

Now I’m not saying the technological advancements like the iphone are to blame for this decline of face-to-face socializing , since that ignores the fact that we, as capable humans, make a completely conscious decision to use them. I’m merely pointing out the fact that, in immersing ourselves in an illusion of immediacy and ‘connectedness’, we give up the natural immediacy so freely accessible around us.

BUTTTT I am indeed blogging this through my phone so who knows? Maybe everyone else is indulging in a deeply philosophical analysis of human behaviour and are simply enthusiastic bloggers like myself… I highly doubt it though (perhaps because the woman next to me is on Facebook)