That no one notices anything anymore, even danger?

[Jeannie88]

Just a question, is anyone else concerned about how so many people are absorbed on their phones they don't take in their surroundings AT ALL? So many situations, walking across the road not noticing cars turning, bumping into others, cyclists with ear buds in, shoppers stood in doorways texting, talking loudly on speaker phone or face timing in public places, shops/hospitals etc. I'm a careful driver, mostly, and the number of times I could've driven someone just stepping out into the road, bumped into others if I hadn't been aware and made the effort to move, which they didn't even notice, drivers clearly texting and missing light signals. Also a huge worry is having phone out and having absolutely no awareness of being a target for robbery or worse. It's important to have an awareness of what's going on around you, something I've been brought up to do.

I'm delighted we have have mobile phones, huge bonus and couldn't be without it now, but will wait to reply to a message when it's safe and polite to do so, not jump and react at every notification!

It's become obsessive, the need to respond immediately, surely waiting a few minutes til the road has been crossed, pull up at the side of the road, look around and take in the moment?

I agree absolutely. No one here seems able to walk around the fields and the parks without a phone in front of their face. As you say, it’s so dangerous when crossing roads, being unaware of danger and of other people.

It’s not dissimilar to the lack of awareness of people in supermarkets, who persist in leaving trolleys in front of shelves, whilst they dither over what to choose. Please consider other people.

One of the saddest things I see is a mum or dad with their kid, but absorbed in their phone instead.

I live near a university where part of the campus is the other side of a 40mph road. Recently I've had students step out in front of my car twice, neither time at a crossing, and had to swerve to avoid them. Visibility's fine on that section, they just haven't looked for traffic. One of them was obviously absorbed in his phone, not sure about the other (I was busy not hitting him rather than noting details) but I'd imagine probably the same.

My employment forbids mobiles

It's brilliant! People talk.

Outside work I really notice phone use

Don't forget people walking their dogs- they often seem to be so absorbed in their phones they conveniently don't notice when it runs off to harass other dogs, jump up at random people, chase wildlife or lays a dog egg.

The things I’ve seen because I’m not snout deep in my phone!

Absorbed in their phones and having their video or call blaring out loud as well

I feel about 90 when I say it, but manners really have gone out the window

I feel like an old curmudgeon. But here goes. I was at a bucket list, life-changing type of place, recently. Think sunset at Angkor Wat or sunrise over Machu Picchu. But less crowded.

Our fantastic guide reminded us to be in the moment, be silent, and listen and look properly. There was a sea of phones, trained on people pretending to be in the moment. It was maybe 30 minutes and there were people looking at car adverts (I kid you not), selfies everywhere, playing games and messaging/social media (I assume "OMG #BestLife #Blessed #Travel #Ignoramus). I didn't see most of this because I was in the middle of the family and trying to actually be in the moment. But DH and DC reported back

People are missing living their lives because they are so busy showing other people they are living their lives. You can pick out the people who are instagramming or FBing or whatever instead of living. They go into the waves for one shot but don't swim. They take selfies of them in the view but don't look at it. And memorably recently I saw a group of young people buy one cocktail in a nice famous bar and each take pictures of themselves with it. Instead of going somewhere cheap and having a great night for a third the cost.

I KNOW people use it as a journal or diary and look back fondly. But they should be having the experiences rather than just documenting the experiences. I look at my diary from travelling for months and there's always pages when I was bored and three (very wobbly) lines maximum if I was living properly. "Met Bob, fucking great. SEAWEED" kind of entries. Maybe I'm wrong though because this way of living seems really popular.

I have a wonderful son who has asd. He talks about his special interest most of the day starting at 7am. I will occasionally look at my phone for a bit of respite.

All the time! I did actually peer over one's shoulder and she was just watching tiktok videos while keeping her knee up to stop her son from jumping up! Xx

Same here, only time I canmlook at mine is break and lunch, which are very rushed, so I wait til I get home. Xx

Yes this as well! Xx

Oh here we go.

There's nothing wrong with that unless it's done all the time. You can't engage with your child in meaningful conversation every single second of the day. It's exhausting for a start.

Just because you see it, doesn't mean it's what the parents do 24/7.

One thing that got pointed out to me, and now I notice all the time, is that no one stops when you turn into a drive.

For example, I work near school. Years ago, if you saw a car turning into a place of work, you would wait until it has turned in. Now, the pedestrian carries on walking, and the car has to stop. I strongly suspect this is because of headphones, so the school kids don’t hear the car turning, and only see it last minute.

Absolutely, awful bring forced to listen to loud video calls, even in the quiet section of train there's always someone 😢

The thing is, the problem is the addiction that most of us have. I am guilty of checking my phone far too frequently when there’s a lull in conversation etc with children or they are doing something. It’s a total addiction/meaningless I am using looking at utter drivel when I could be using my mind to just “be” or think of something or Just be present but I need to break the addiction because I’m so used to needing to look at my fucking phone all the time. It makes me a worse parent and it makes most people a worse parent and anyone who says otherwise is fooling themselves.

I don't know if its attributable to mobile phone use but recently, on two occasions I have walked through a local car park (for a park) and noticed an empty car with a door open.
One had a rear door open, one had the boot open (things in the boot).
On both occasions, nobody around. I've shut the door and carried on. I'm sure they'd not like having their possessions taken.

Yes it really is just for SM and lol at your diary entries, that's a real diary! In schools the students find it hard to listen and be quiet in lessons, want to use it as a social gathering, yet the moment t they are outside and allowed on their phones they're silent and don't talk to each other!

This is one of the concerning things I'm on about, they don't notice and just keep on walking. So dangerous because the car behind will assume you're turning in but you have to stop.

The law/guidance has changed though. The driver I supposed to wait for the pedestrian to cross.

Singapore Sling, in Raffles? It is a bit of a thing- and totally unaffordable. I admire their chutzpah! We didn’t have one 😅

I know I am addicted to mine

I do keep my phone in my bag at work most of the time abs I set it up before driving

I have to put mine in another room when watching a film it’s too tempting to look up details of the film which is completely unnecessary 🙄 why do I need to know the population of the city where the film is based or where the actors where born

I don’t take many photos or post my life online and I don’t have Instagram I would lose hours of my life if I did watching cute cat videos

@pickledandpuzzled excellent guess but no. Think Hemingway!

Exactly this. Same as the queen’s car passing and everyone videoing it. Or people at concerts videoing it. No one is able to just exist anymore and it’s sad.