Fun with phones.....

As I've mentioned in past blogs, I have a pretty simple cell phone. It's a Samsung slide with the ABC type keys. Talking on it is very easy but usually I text and that is sort of a pain. I've thought about a new phone but until this one falls apart I think it's a keeper.

We were going to meet friends for lunch on Sunday and running a little late. Wanda was driving so I have no problem telling you all I used the phone. California state law prohibits driving and talking while holding a cell phone. Lots of people never got the word or just don't care. I see people using phones all the time (not hands free) and texts still go out while steering with the knees.

My friends cell number was in my address book. I did whatever it is you do to get the number and hit "SEND." One ring went through before the call was dropped. While I was trying to call him back on my end, he hit recall trying to call me back on his end. Are you still with me?

So, my phone is ringing from his call. I think I have my speaker on and what I'm hearing is his cell ringing from my call. I didn't answer my phone and by the time I figured out what I was doing we arrived at our destination. I knew we were there because our GPS told me so.

As I said, at this time my cell phone is just fine. If I can't tell the difference between making and receiving a call, it's all I need. I enjoy text messages but I would much rather talk to my family and friends. Younger Daughter Rebecca recently sent me some observations of smart phone use.

Before smart phones people just "hung out" Now they sit around together and individually play on their phones. When we had our last Nevada City Gathering I think a couple of our friends were playing Scrabble on their phones. Next year I will bring both an Upwords and a Scrabble board game.

Remember when chatting was using your mouth not a phone?

Remember when you had to go to the restroom to talk shit about someone? Now you can "text shit" about another person with a third (or more) person in the same room/party.

Remember when sitting with friends and watching a movie was satisfying enough? Now people have the need to multi task and also text, play games, and check facebook. When Wanda and I were at Disneyland a few years ago I was amazed at the number of smart phones in use. People would ignore their kids while standing in lines checking their e mails.

Remember when you actually had to call someone to see how they were doing? Now you just need to read their facebook status.

Remember when people got into actual arguments as opposed to writing vague and snarky comments on facebook, hoping someone takes the bait and begins a war, drawing lines between friends, all of this accomplished via facebook posts.

Remember when people picked up the phone to say hi or tell you something, as opposed to having a text conversation that lasts over 2 hours.

Remember when people actually thought chatting on the phone was an ok way to pass some time? Now when you call people they often don't answer.... Try texting them. I bet they respond within minutes.

Remember when we watched events as they were happening, as opposed to watching them through our phones as we film the event. Rebecca told me this actually happened to her: A friend got annoyed because she wasn't watching the tiny video on her I phone of another friend on the waterslide, when at that very moment he was about to actually go down the waterslide.

Remember when we used to call our loved ones and close friends when a baby was born, a couple got engaged, someone passed away... Now we receive a mass text or read all about it on facebook....

Remember when party and even wedding invitations were actually sent via now what is termed "snail mail?" i can't remember the last time I received an actual paper party invite, and yes, I have even gotten a wedding invite solely on facebook; no hard copies for those "old fashioned" folks.

I've often wondered if all this technology has brought us closer together or further apart? After thirteen years of computer use I'm still not sure.