I don’t have or even use someone else’s cellphone. I don’t want a cellphone and don’t anticipate ever changing my mind in that regard. There are plenty of reasons. I hate (or used to) going to a restaurant and seeing table after table filled with families or friends all with their heads bowed, not in prayer but glued to their cellphones. They don’t interact with each other, preferring instead to “ catch up” with others who aren’t there. They miss spending time with those present. And as I age, I find it impossible to see pictures of children, weddings, birthdays, graduations, etc. on those tiny little screens. Especially if we’re outside and the glare from the sun completely obscures the screen turning it into a blank silver square. Then there’s the ring tones meant to individualize your phone’s summons from some one else’s (depending on what’s trending), but they end up sounding exactly alike so everyone has to pull out their phone to determine whose is actually ringing. Hey, there’s also speaking so loudly we all hear about uncle Ted’s prostate exam or aunt Tilly’s polyps. TMI! But there is one function I semi-agree with, the camera.
Having a camera with you all the time seems kind of cool. You are always prepared to catch baby’s first steps or grandma’s reunion with a long lost sibling or returning armed service personnel. Those heart-warming moments we don’t want to miss or lose. But here’s what might be a downside. Note, I said might be a downside because it’s certainly how you choose to feel about it. Again, note I said you’ll choose what you feel.
Everyone has a cellphone or it seems as if they do. This is what that may mean for all of us. No matter what you do, someone might be capturing it on their cellphone camera then sending it to the cloud or posting to social media. They are seizing those moments of generosity and kindness and brilliance. The quiet moments of nurturing and the loud ones of celebration. The times we connect with each other; the beginnings and, sometimes, the endings. Events we share with families and friends.
But it also means someone may ALWAYS be watching you. Always recording what you do or say. The phones record the stupid things we do and say that we often end up regretting. They provide evidence of our stupidity, racial biases, homophobias, acts of violence, lying, cheating and other equally terrible actions. It’s hard to deny guilt when there’s a permanent record in the cloud, forever. Hard to invent an alibi when there is pictorial or video proof, crystal clear and available to be seen anytime, anywhere.
So these cameras have led me to wonder, when will we learn? When we treat people disrespectfully, assault people, threaten, lie to, cheat on or be hateful to people why do we think no one will know? Or see? Or hear? It’s not like BP ( before phones). Someone may be taking a picture or recording a video then posting it to social media platforms. So wake up! Stop believing you can get away with appalling behavior. But why should you get away with it anyway? Doesn’t matter who you are or where or what the circumstances are. Stop it! We all should just be kinder. We should try to understand and relate to one another. We should realize we are more alike than we are different. Otherwise others won’t just think we’re morons, nincompoops, simpletons, bullies or twits; they’ll have videos and pictures to prove it. Are you ready for the world to know who you really are?
Soosey’s Ruminations 