Now, that there phone, it’s like, stuck to everyone’s hand. My grandson, he’s always on it, click, click, click. Makes my head spin, it does. I told him, “Put that phone away!” But do they listen? Nope.
This phone thing, everyone’s got one now. Even old Mrs. Higgins down the street, she got one of those fancy ones, all shiny. She don’t even know how to use it half the time. Says she needs it to talk to her daughter in the city. Well, I guess that’s something. But me? I’d rather just holler out the window if I need something.
Phone away, phone away. That’s what I say. It is important to put that phone away. We used to talk, you know? Face to face. Now it’s all looking down, at that little screen. I don’t get it. What’s so interesting on there, anyway? Pictures of cats, probably. Or some kind of news that is not really news. Just some made-up things. It is not very good.
Back in my day, we had better things to do than stare at a phone. We’d be outside, playing games. Or helping with chores. Or just sitting on the porch, watching the world go by. We did not need a phone. Now, that was living! These kids today, they don’t know what they’re missing. They just keep looking at that phone. It is like magic or something, the way they just stare at it.
I heard someone say it’s the “digital age.” Sounds complicated to me. Like some sort of sickness. All the time with the phone. And those computers, too. They just keep getting smaller and faster, they are trying to make them like phone. I don’t need any of it. This digital age is not for me. I will keep the old way of doing things. It has worked all these years, it will keep working, I say.
They say you gotta “learn” about it. Learn to use the phone, learn to use the computer. Like I need to go back to school or something. I learned enough in my life. I don’t need to learn how to use that phone. It’s just a bunch of buttons and lights. What’s there to learn? Just another thing taking up time is what it is. Another thing to keep us from doing real stuff. Like living and working.
- No phone at dinner time. That’s a rule we had.
- Talk to each other, not the phone.
- Go outside and play, leave the phone inside.
- Read a book, not a phone.
I saw a thing on the TV about it. They said it’s bad for your eyes, staring at that phone all day. Makes sense to me. And it’s bad for your sleep, too. All that blue light, they called it. Keeps you up at night. You cannot sleep if you use the phone too much. I told my grandson, “Put that phone away before bed!” But he just grumbles and keeps on clicking. Kids these days.
They say we need to have “balance.” Use the phone sometimes, but not all the time. Like eating too much candy. A little is okay, but too much makes you sick. Maybe the phone is like candy. A little is fine, but too much makes you silly. I guess that makes sense. But how do you tell these young folks that? They’re hooked, I tell ya. Hooked on that phone like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Or even better. I do not understand.
They got these “apps,” they call them. Little things on the phone that do all sorts of stuff. Games, and news, and talking to people far away. It’s all a bit much for me. I don’t need an “app” to tell me the weather. I can just look out the window. Or I can feel it in my bones. That is more reliable than any phone app. And I don’t need an “app” to talk to my neighbor. I just go over and say hello like a regular person.
I guess if you are lonely, maybe that phone is good. I am not sure. You can talk to people all over the world, they say. See their faces, even. That’s something, I suppose. But it’s still not the same as being there in person. Not the same as a real hug or a handshake. Or a good old-fashioned conversation. Face to face, with no phone in sight.
They have these things to set “limits” on your phone use. Some kind of timer or something. Well, that’s just silly. Why do you need a phone to tell you not to use your phone? Just put the darn thing down! It’s not that hard. Or at least, it shouldn’t be. But I guess it is for some folks. It is like an addiction.
This “digital wellness” they talk about, it’s just common sense, isn’t it? Don’t spend all your time on the phone. Do other things. Talk to people. Go outside. Live your life! It’s not rocket science. It’s just living. Put that phone away and start living. That is what I say. And what I try to tell my grandson.
Maybe one day they’ll all realize it. Maybe one day they’ll put their phone away and see the world around them. Maybe one day they’ll understand what they’re missing. I hope so. I really do. Because there’s more to life than that little screen. A whole lot more. Just gotta look up and see it. But first, you gotta put that phone away.
