People are too "plugged in" to real life date?

[LookAtThisPOst]

I was actually reading a thread in another forum when it comes to online dating, and a lot claim its worse than ever as compared to when it was around during the "dial-up" days. Mostly filled with the socially inept, married people looking for a little something on the side, just to name a couple.

 

But the main concern is that it seems people are using this online dating venue as an excuse NOT to interact with people in real life when it comes to dating opportunities and likely MISSED opportunities.

 

Here's an excerpt:

 

This inability to be honest is compounded with the new trend in just being social at all, not specific to dating... We have no idea how to communicate anymore. Which again, we hide behind excuses. You don't owe a stranger telling him that you're backing out of a date. You don't owe people an explanation to why you stood them up. And it's true, you don't owe these complete strangers a single thing. But it's the difference between being rude and polite. We tend to lack empathy today, but TRY to put yourself on the other end. You're talking to this guy and you think he's awesome. So you plan on meeting at the bar tonight for a drink. You get to the bar, and he's nowhere to be found. He's not answering his phone, so you send a quick text to let him know you're there... And nothing. How are you going to feel?

 

One of the posters (on the POF forums) that people claim "I don't have time", "I'm busy with work/kids" etc as an excuse to use online dating as an alternative to meet other people.

 

If you noticed these days, more people have their earbuds in their heads listening to music, checking their phone ever 2 seconds, etc....and making it a point not to interact with the real world.

 

I recall one poster on those forums that when she's on a subway, she does just that...it's her "happy place" to avoid real social interaction.

 

It's also a place to not really have any obligation to be nice nor polite to the total stranger on the other end should someone decide to stand them up. It allows for people to be uncommital in anything social.

 

That being said, wouldn't you concur that online dating is likely a crutch to avoid real life interaction?

Edited January 19, 2015 by LookAtThisPOst

[TheyCallMeOx]

I have a firm belief that if you're using an online dating service because you "don't have time," then you don't have time for a relationship. Online dating services are great, but only if you use it for the right reasons. Technology, as many people say, is ruining our ability to communicate; unfortunately, online dating is a part of technology. Anything you do behind a computer screen, or a phone, is limiting your interaction with someone. Online dating isn't likely a crutch, but for some people it can be used as such. The same goes for Skype, texting messaging, phone calls, forums, etc. Technology is a real problem with communication, and it should be addressed, but online dating is far from a crutch. It largely depends on your perspective; if you're cynical about online dating, then everything is wrong with online dating. But don't hate the player, hate the game. Technology is a crutch and whether you're pursuing women online or not, we're all using technology. If I were to be cynical, I'd say that you're using LoveShack as a crutch to communicate to people. Are we all likely to be using LoveShack as a crutch to avoid real life interaction? Maybe for some people, but not most; especially the older generations on here.

 

Just because some people use dating services as a crutch shouldn't mean we shut the whole system down, however. I firmly believe that most of our problems are not the problems themselves, but why there is a problem. The solution is to figure out why people are using dating services as crutches, and teach people to maximize the benefit of using them.

 

If anyone wants to point the finger at anything, it's technology. However, we dictate what succeeds and what fails in technology, so it's really our responsibility for the social change in human interaction.

[carhill]

I recall one poster on those forums that when she's on a subway, she does just that...it's her "happy place" to avoid real social interaction.

 

Yeah, I see that a lot too when traveling, or even out in public. Heck, we were fishing Saturday at San Simeon (down the hill from the Hearst Castle) and so many people were walking the beach on a beautiful day (sunny- mid 70's) with their heads down in their phones. I would have thought they were looking for sea creatures or shells except for the phone in front of them.

 

It's also a place to not really have any obligation to be nice nor polite to the total stranger on the other end should someone decide to stand them up. It allows for people to be uncommital in anything social.

 

It is easier, in general, to dismiss others where contact is via electrons. I've seen that a lot over the past couple decades, including while distance dating.

 

 

 

That being said, wouldn't you concur that online dating is likely a crutch to avoid real life interaction?

 

It can be. 'Likely' depends upon the individual. I note that even amongst those of us who dated and mated before the advent of electronic digital communication, back in the days when land line corded phones didn't have answering machines. Some of us retain the 'old' ways; others have adapted to the 'new' world of interaction. I see no clear direction in my generation and social circle.

 

I have noted, even though I finally have one of those fancy smartphones, having spent my life in the pre-cellular era and with simple voice during most of it, I don't feel the desire to pull out my phone when my hands and mind are idling, like when I'm watching the fishing pole for nibbles. Too much world to experience. That said, it does feel a bit funny when everyone else is buried in their phones and I'm kinda taking in the scenery. Outlier I guess. If dating is now dependent upon being plugged in, I guess I'll miss out on that.

[Deidre]

I was actually reading a thread in another forum when it comes to online dating, and a lot claim its worse than ever as compared to when it was around during the "dial-up" days. Mostly filled with the socially inept, married people looking for a little something on the side, just to name a couple.

 

But the main concern is that it seems people are using this online dating venue as an excuse NOT to interact with people in real life when it comes to dating opportunities and likely MISSED opportunities.

 

Here's an excerpt:

 

This inability to be honest is compounded with the new trend in just being social at all, not specific to dating... We have no idea how to communicate anymore. Which again, we hide behind excuses. You don't owe a stranger telling him that you're backing out of a date. You don't owe people an explanation to why you stood them up. And it's true, you don't owe these complete strangers a single thing. But it's the difference between being rude and polite. We tend to lack empathy today, but TRY to put yourself on the other end. You're talking to this guy and you think he's awesome. So you plan on meeting at the bar tonight for a drink. You get to the bar, and he's nowhere to be found. He's not answering his phone, so you send a quick text to let him know you're there... And nothing. How are you going to feel?

 

One of the posters (on the POF forums) that people claim "I don't have time", "I'm busy with work/kids" etc as an excuse to use online dating as an alternative to meet other people.

 

If you noticed these days, more people have their earbuds in their heads listening to music, checking their phone ever 2 seconds, etc....and making it a point not to interact with the real world.

 

I recall one poster on those forums that when she's on a subway, she does just that...it's her "happy place" to avoid real social interaction.

 

It's also a place to not really have any obligation to be nice nor polite to the total stranger on the other end should someone decide to stand them up. It allows for people to be uncommital in anything social.

 

That being said, wouldn't you concur that online dating is likely a crutch to avoid real life interaction?

 

Well said, and I agree.

Which is why I don't do it. (online dating) It also is a cheap way to communicate, me thinks. I imagine people copying and pasting the same stuff to ten or more people at a time. lol And whoever bites, they will go on a date. No thanks. lol

[Brittney2015]

I was actually reading a thread in another forum when it comes to online dating, and a lot claim its worse than ever as compared to when it was around during the "dial-up" days. Mostly filled with the socially inept, married people looking for a little something on the side, just to name a couple.

 

But the main concern is that it seems people are using this online dating venue as an excuse NOT to interact with people in real life when it comes to dating opportunities and likely MISSED opportunities.

 

Yes, I'm starting to believe what you are saying. There was a time I thought OLD was actually for people who were too busy to date. I also thought online dating was simply what we do now a days with technology and all that being part of our lives....

 

But nah, too many of what you mentioned above on there. Gosh, sometimes you see the same people on there after you've been off and back on for a while and you're like, do these people have something seriously wrong with them why they are still online and haven't met anyone permanently?

[LookAtThisPOst]

Well said, and I agree.

Which is why I don't do it. (online dating)

 

Funny you mention that, because the last couple of women I met for dates...both didn't bother much with it. They registered, took a quick scan at the selection...logged out and NEVER looked back.

 

So I think I found out the solution to my success. Not only NOT online date, but try to date women who don't do online dating either.

[neowulf]

Just to look at it from a difficult angle for a second.

 

Western society has all but abandoned any formal courting rituals.

 

Men are expected to basically wonder around in public and try to make excuses to approach women. Women who may have boyfriends, who may not want to be approached.

 

It leads to a lot of needless frustration and rejection.

 

I appreciate online dating because of the basic filtering offered.

 

Don't want to date a woman with children?

Don't want to date a girl who smokes?

Want to date a women around your age?

Want to approach a women who's most likely single?

 

You can get all that with online dating.

[KimmyBee]

I know so many people who have met their partner through online dating and are now married to them or in a long term relationship with them. It seems to be the norm nowadays and I'm no longer surprised when someone tells me. I hear it a lot from people. I have been told to avoid the free ones.

I would rather meet someone offline, for many reasons, but could be waiting forever to bump into 'the right one'.

I agree that it can be avoiding real life interaction but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. I think it can help people who are socially awkward, who suffer from social anxiety, shy, looking for someone of similar interests, etc.

[SpiralOut]

Interesting theory....

 

 

I did online dating because despite joining various groups in my city, I wasn't meeting anyone. There were a few men from the groups who showed interest in me, and I gave them a chance, but they weren't my type. I developed interest in one guy who seemed more interested in friendship than anything else. Sooo the online dating was more of a "why the hell not" sort of thing, rather than a replacement for normal social interaction.

 

 

I do agree that society is changing. People walk around staring at their phones. It's annoying. People do online dating for all sorts of reasons. Maybe there are some who do it to avoid social interaction. As in, they want to limit and control who they talk to rather than be spontaneous.

Edited January 20, 2015 by SpiralOut

[mario_C]

Well, life is super fast paced and busy. Most people are working 10+hours every weekday and probably weekends, and studying and having kids and all the rest. So yes, "not having time" is a real concern.

 

But sooner or later, you have to figure out a way to make the time for fun things that you love. And that's doubly difficult when a new partner - who you probably don't know that well yet, and who has boundaries and issues just like you - has to get on the same page as you. My big fear about getting into a relationship will be about how much of me and my own life I'm willing to give up. So it has to be for someone who's worth it.

[MissBee]

No, I can't agree with that.

 

Maybe for those who online "date" i.e. never meet anyone but their sole goal is to find a virtual email or texting buddy that's true, but for other folks, I don't think so.

 

We have a lot more virtual options than we did in the past, but social interaction online is still social interaction and apart from recluses who just live online and play games like Second Life all day and night or catfish folks by living a whole world online, I think most other people find online to just be one other form of social interaction and meeting people and not something they do to avoid conventional social interactions.

 

I get more dates through OLD because it's explicit. You know everyone there is looking for someone (to date, to sleep with, something). Offline, I see people everyday, I'm around people everyday, I interact with folks, I even have male friends, but it's not about dating so it's often difficult for dating to come up in my typical everyday life. Sometimes I might randomly meet a man out and about but OLD is a certainly more straightforward process than me just waiting around or hoping to meet some guy somewhere. So that's why I OLD, it's not about not desiring social interaction in "real life." When I OLD as well, I don't allow the fantasy of online to go on. That is, I don't spend a lot of time emailing and texting endlessly. If I'm feeling the initial few message exchanges I quickly give my number, move it to a phone conversation and set up a date, because I want something real and tangible and not just virtual.

 

Also,people saying they don't have time makes sense. If I were to invest time in finding a man for example by going out, I would have NO TIME to do that. Living my life everyday isn't the same as explicitly looking for a man. I'd have to say try to go to lots of bars, mixers, singles events, I mean I would have to go to a lot of events geared towards people looking to date in order to really find someone. Who has the time? No one with a career and other obligations. Most people who meet people offline meet them organically, usually by accident or in some context where they already know them and not through concerted effort. That's what not having time means to me, no time to go out every day or weekend with the objective of finding a date. Online makes the process explicit and you can do it from home or your phone. It takes out the work of going to the bar, mixers, networking every weekend or however long it could potentially take to make a connection and makes it so that you can look for folks who want what you want and set up dates easily, after that you can make time to go out with the people you connect with. For me it would be completely unrealistic/tiring to go out every weekend looking for someone in random social contexts, online makes that process easier as it already brings together people looking for that and it is a lot more efficient, where instead of being at the bar, supermarket, laundromat, office or in class trying to guess about someone's status or wondering if you should ask them out or hoping they'll ask you, you can find out pretty quickly who is available and a potential match. The going out with someone you are interested in aspect is quite different than going out hoping to meet someone, which may or may not happen. Online at least makes it so you've already identified someone, somewhat vetted the person and you already have a date and if it doesn't work it's back to the drawing board which is easier than next week going back to the bar.

Edited January 21, 2015 by MissBee

[Phoe]

I'm not really "plugged in" so to speak.

 

I don't even own headphones and my phone is a glorified clock. It's main use is telling me the time. A phone call gets made maybe once a month and texts get made maybe 3-4 times a month. My phone just sits in my purse most of the time.

 

I spend a bit of time on the internet, but nothing insane.

 

But I did OLD simply because I had no options IRL. I wasn't being pursued at all, had no one interested in me, and when I did my own pursuing I got rejected. So I had to change it up and get on OLD. It was never a matter of being "too plugged in", but a matter of necessity.

[LookAtThisPOst]

No, I can't agree with that.

 

Maybe for those who online "date" i.e. never meet anyone but their sole goal is to find a virtual email or texting buddy that's true, but for other folks, I don't think so.

 

We have a lot more virtual options than we did in the past, but social interaction online is still social interaction and apart from recluses who just live online and play games like Second Life all day and night or catfish folks by living a whole world online, I think most other people find online to just be one other form of social interaction and meeting people and not something they do to avoid conventional social interactions.

 

I get more dates through OLD because it's explicit. You know everyone there is looking for someone (to date, to sleep with, something). Offline, I see people everyday, I'm around people everyday, I interact with folks, I even have male friends, but it's not about dating so it's often difficult for dating to come up in my typical everyday life. Sometimes I might randomly meet a man out and about but OLD is a certainly more straightforward process than me just waiting around or hoping to meet some guy somewhere. So that's why I OLD, it's not about not desiring social interaction in "real life." When I OLD as well, I don't allow the fantasy of online to go on. That is, I don't spend a lot of time emailing and texting endlessly. If I'm feeling the initial few message exchanges I quickly give my number, move it to a phone conversation and set up a date, because I want something real and tangible and not just virtual.

 

Also,people saying they don't have time makes sense. If I were to invest time in finding a man for example by going out, I would have NO TIME to do that. Living my life everyday isn't the same as explicitly looking for a man. I'd have to say try to go to lots of bars, mixers, singles events, I mean I would have to go to a lot of events geared towards people looking to date in order to really find someone. Who has the time? No one with a career and other obligations. Most people who meet people offline meet them organically, usually by accident or in some context where they already know them and not through concerted effort. That's what not having time means to me, no time to go out every day or weekend with the objective of finding a date. Online makes the process explicit and you can do it from home or your phone. It takes out the work of going to the bar, mixers, networking every weekend or however long it could potentially take to make a connection and makes it so that you can look for folks who want what you want and set up dates easily, after that you can make time to go out with the people you connect with. For me it would be completely unrealistic/tiring to go out every weekend looking for someone in random social contexts, online makes that process easier as it already brings together people looking for that and it is a lot more efficient, where instead of being at the bar, supermarket, laundromat, office or in class trying to guess about someone's status or wondering if you should ask them out or hoping they'll ask you, you can find out pretty quickly who is available and a potential match. The going out with someone you are interested in aspect is quite different than going out hoping to meet someone, which may or may not happen. Online at least makes it so you've already identified someone, somewhat vetted the person and you already have a date and if it doesn't work it's back to the drawing board which is easier than next week going back to the bar.

 

 

I would say, some have said that online dating can realistically be mentioned as, "A venue of meeting people you'd meet that you wouldn't have otherwise met in person."

 

That's the only thing about it that does make sense, but going to Meetup events or real life scheduled get together are more organic in nature, allowing yourself to become familiar with others body language, mannerisms, voice tones, all the senses, etc. With online it's rather linear.

 

The fact that online dating offers, "Well, at least you know what they're their far" though it's true, bares little significance.

 

There's a book out now called "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community" that gives insight how plugged in as a society, buried in smartphones and how they refer to them as "distancing technologies."

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Bowling-Alone-Collapse-American-Community/dp/0743203046

[MissBee]

I would say, some have said that online dating can realistically be mentioned as, "A venue of meeting people you'd meet that you wouldn't have otherwise met in person."

 

That's the only thing about it that does make sense, but going to Meetup events or real life scheduled get together are more organic in nature, allowing yourself to become familiar with others body language, mannerisms, voice tones, all the senses, etc. With online it's rather linear.

 

The fact that online dating offers, "Well, at least you know what they're their far" though it's true, bares little significance.

 

There's a book out now called "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community" that gives insight how plugged in as a society, buried in smartphones and how they refer to them as "distancing technologies."

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Bowling-Alone-Collapse-American-Community/dp/0743203046

 

You seem to have missed the part where I said lots of people do go to other social events but unless a Meetup, for example, is specifically about single people looking for dates, just because you go out to social events doesn't mean you will find dates there. You may or you may not.

 

I'm simply saying that the idea that people OLD to avoid social interaction doesn't hold water. Some people might, but most people it seems who OLD also have active social lives and aren't just recluses who don't have friends, don't go out, don't join clubs don't do anything except go online. It's just that their social life doesn't guarantee them a date, OLD does in a sense though.

 

I'm a grad student and for that reason I tend to go to A LOT of social events, just by the nature of what I do and the university environment itself. But even with all those social events, it doesn't provide me with dates, so I OLD.

 

People are more plugged in, I don't disagree, but there are layers and facets to it and social media and OLD are often an extension of social interaction not just to avoid it. Speaking of that, I had mentioned in another thread that I've actually had dates from Twitter and made friends through FB and Twitter. I didn't set out looking for it but the nature of interacting with these people online overtime led to us forming a "real life" offline connection.

 

I think those who use the virtual world to avoid real life social interaction are going to probably differ in many ways and in many behaviors and attitudes than those who actually use it as an extension of the same.

[Popsicle]

Yes I do concur but the momentum...

 

We aren't going back, so you just have to adapt or be left out.

[LookAtThisPOst]

 

I'm a grad student and for that reason I tend to go to A LOT of social events, just by the nature of what I do and the university environment itself. But even with all those social events, it doesn't provide me with dates, so I OLD.

 

I have to say, the time in one's life where someone attends a university is purpose a venue in one's life where their dating pool is at it's peak!

Still that isn't enough? *scratches head*

Typically, once you've graduated, you're

available pool goes down dramatically.

 

I recall some women going to attending colleges to get their MRS degree, MISS Bee. ;-)

[Danda]

I imagine in some ways it's self-perpetuating. A lot of people where I live are rather rude. I don't want to deal with it, so I sometimes use earbuds or headphones as like a social defense shield. The vast majority of the time when a stranger starts interacting with me it's because they want something, usually a cigarette or money. The fake smile and fake tone comes on, along with the almost-forced eye contact. One time at a bus stop a guy wouldn't stop trying to persuade me to walk somewhere with him and making up weird stories and reasons for it, was probably some lunatic predator. Enough of this every day as a pedestrian and I just started almost hating people in general. Headphones on and magically the number of crazy a-holes and parasites that talk to me every day went down drastically.

 

So much of the time it feels like socially society is going downhill, and then many of us who are still left and not socially handicapped wind up tapping out anyway, to avoid most other people. I do go out of my way sometimes to be friendly and social to someone who appears genuine and lonely or bummed out, try to spread some good vibes and all. But even then I can usually tell that they expect the same thing I usually do, by their expressions and body language, that they expect me to be asking them for something. So I know it's not just me lol.

[MissBee]

I have to say, the time in one's life where someone attends a university is purpose a venue in one's life where their dating pool is at it's peak!

Still that isn't enough? *scratches head*

Typically, once you've graduated, you're

available pool goes down dramatically.

 

I recall some women going to attending colleges to get their MRS degree, MISS Bee. ;-)

 

That's not been the case for me.

 

I'm in a PhD program, I'm not an undergrad, it's a different dynamic and many people come into the programs already engaged or married.

 

As a PhD student school is your job essentially so dating people "where you work" is also another aspect of it where you're approaching things a lot more professionally than when you're in college. Maybe looking for your MRS degree would fly as an undergrad but certainly not at this level.

Edited January 21, 2015 by MissBee

[TouchedByViolet]

That's not been the case for me.

 

I'm in a PhD program, I'm not an undergrad, it's a different dynamic and many people come into the programs already engaged or married.

 

As a PhD student school is your job essentially so dating people "where you work" is also another aspect of it where you're approaching things a lot more professionally than when you're in college. Maybe looking for your MRS degree would fly as an undergrad but certainly not at this level.

 

I have friends in PhD and masters programs with plenty of dating going on, especially the ladies. My friends are in the sciences so women there tend to have an advantage due to the gender ratio. What is your area of study?

 

For me I haven't seen a big difference in the quality of women online vs IRL. Just seems like a random mix.

[MissBee]

I have friends in PhD and masters programs with plenty of dating going on, especially the ladies. My friends are in the sciences so women there tend to have an advantage due to the gender ratio. What is your area of study?

 

For me I haven't seen a big difference in the quality of women online vs IRL. Just seems like a random mix.

 

I'm not saying that people do not date. I'm saying for ME, that has not been the case.

 

It depends on your school, the culture and climate there, the kinds of people you prefer to date, your idea about dating people you work with etc.

 

There are certainly people who do date each other, across departments and schools, but the idea that it's a land of options and endless dating as the OP suggested has not been the case for me neither has it been the climate at my university. In college I never dated anyone at my school either. I never looked at that as my dating pool, largely for me it's because when I'm at school I approach it like this is my place of work, esp now, so I don't approach it like this is a land of potential dates. If I met a guy here that would be fine, but in terms of the original question about OLD, I was saying that many people might socialize a lot or interact with people freely but it doesn't mean it turns into dating or is about dating. I interact with a lot of people, every week I have to go to different lectures, different receptions and all kinds of events that are school related but for the most part the men I meet I treat like colleagues and it's not really an environment to look for a date. I do also go to non-school related social events, I may meet men there and talk to them and so on, but it's not an explicit environment for dating like online is. Also, just my luck, literally all the men I've thought hmmm I'd date him, I talk to them, they came to grad school with their fiances or wives.

Edited January 21, 2015 by MissBee

[Woggle]

In some ways I feel all this technology we have these days has done more harm than good. I sort of miss the days when there was no choice but human interaction.

[MissBee]

In some ways I feel all this technology we have these days has done more harm than good. I sort of miss the days when there was no choice but human interaction.

 

The thing is, aren't people interacting with humans?

 

You are a human I assume lol. I am interacting with you. It's simply mediated. I'm a real person behind my computer and you are too, we cannot see each other face to face but you are still someone I'm interacting with and learning from.

 

I think people sometimes confuse face to face with human. On the phone, online, on Skype, it's still a real human on the other end but technology makes it so that when face to face is impossible you can still connect. I think that's a wonderful thing!

 

If we had no technology and just had to rely on face to face we'd have even LESS of a connection. I have moved from one country to another, lived in different states, travel a lot but have still managed to maintain connections because of technology, without it, I'd probably have lost touch with most people by now. Also, back in the day before technology, you had letters, that's all people could do. They weren't always face to face and had to send snail mail to connect if they were in different places, now we have Face Time, Skype, Snapchat, various media that can supplement snail mail and make you feel more connected.

 

I don't think face to face is the only form of human interaction and it's also an unrealistic that we will always be able to do face to face. Even hundreds of years ago face to face was not always possible, except people had no technology to close the gap but telegram, letters and messengers, whereas now those same people if they could be transported to our time would think it is amazing that you can be thousands of miles away and hear someone's voice firsthand, see them on camera in real time instead of waiting days and weeks or months for letters or a messenger.

[Woggle]

The thing is, aren't people interacting with humans?

 

You are a human I assume lol. I am interacting with you. It's simply mediated. I'm a real person behind my computer and you are too, we cannot see each other face to face but you are still someone I'm interacting with and learning from.

 

I think people sometimes confuse face to face with human. On the phone, online, on Skype, it's still a real human on the other end but technology makes it so that when face to face is impossible you can still connect. I think that's a wonderful thing!

 

If we had no technology and just had to rely on face to face we'd have even LESS of a connection. I have moved from one country to another, lived in different states, travel a lot but have still managed to maintain connections because of technology, without it, I'd probably have lost touch with most people by now. Also, back in the day before technology, you had letters, that's all people could do. They weren't always face to face and had to send snail mail to connect if they were in different places, now we have Face Time, Skype, Snapchat, various media that can supplement snail mail and make you feel more connected.

 

I don't think face to face is the only form of human interaction and it's also an unrealistic that we will always be able to do face to face. Even hundreds of years ago face to face was not always possible, except people had no technology to close the gap but telegram, letters and messengers, whereas now those same people if they could be transported to our time would think it is amazing that you can be thousands of miles away and hear someone's voice firsthand, see them on camera in real time instead of waiting days and weeks or months for letters or a messenger.

 

True but there is nothing like face to face interaction. I go out to clubs, bars and all kinds of things that used to be very social settings and people are just typing away on their smartphones.

[EngnimaticResponse]

You are a human I assume lol. I am interacting with you. It's simply mediated. I'm a real person behind my computer and you are too, we cannot see each other face to face but you are still someone I'm interacting with and learning from.

 

I think people sometimes confuse face to face with human. On the phone, online, on Skype, it's still a real human on the other end but technology makes it so that when face to face is impossible you can still connect. I think that's a wonderful thing!

 

I am conviced people are forgeting this. Esp on OLD sites.

[No Limit]

I was born barely before the cellphone trend started. Most people my age are still focusing on rarely anything else, but except What'sApp, watching videos comfortably on my bed per YouTube App and making calls occasionally I don't use it for anything.

 

As for MP3 headphones, I almost always wear them during car or train rides or when going shopping, basically whenever I just want to do my thing without being approached. It's not like I can't be addressed when I wear them though, just a few days ago a man (who saw that I was wearing a watch -> the reason I rarely carry my smartphone with me, lol) stopped me and asked what time it was (and I stopped, turned my arm so he could look at the watch and told him the time).

 

I've seen much stranger behavior when people weren't listening to music. While on a weekend trip in a city on the other side of the country I attempted to ask a woman for directions - impossible, as soon as she noticed I was "going for her" she waved me off with "No no no". Even in the club people don't dance and socialize (before they're piss poor drunk), they sit at the bar with cellphones in hand. I'm starting to believe it's becoming some sort of widespread social anxiety to be honest.