Television Killed the Radio Star

Donald Ripley: It has become appallingly clear that our technology has surpassed our humanity.

Powder: Albert Einstein.

Donald Ripley: When I look at you, I have hope that maybe one day our humanity will surpass our technology.

(1995) Movie: Powder

I am a product of the 80’s (born August 1980 to be exact). I love the 80’s; the music, the culture, being a carefree kid who actually loved being outside and catching fireflies. It was also in 1980, ‘Television Killed the Radio Star’ was released, which is providing a unique soundtrack to this article.

I’ve come to the age where I catch myself saying, “Wow, kids have it extremely easy these days with technology advancements.” For one, I never thought I was going to eventual morph into the mentality of contemplating the good old days. I’m here now and I’m embracing it. Adults who said this to me in my youth…I get it now! I know! Secondly, it really puts it into perspective how far we have come in the last century and last two decades.

The cross over between the 80's and 90's were an impressive feat. Not only did technology become streamlined for the masses, but it also opened new doors to the world around us. I remember when Consumer Internet began to gain exposure. ‘You’ve Got Mail’, AOL and computers became a new adventure, allowing us to connect with the world and no longer those in proximity. I remember my father installing a car phone (bulky might I relay) and how cool it was that he could be instantly connected on the go verses waiting to arrive home to make a call.

The world changed in 2007…the road was being paved by other collaborate prototypes; but in 2007, the iPhone was introduced and released. Such a cool new invention; everything in the palm of your hands. One no longer needed to be logged onto a laptop or computer to search the internet, you could do it right there on your own personal smartphone.

In the year 1984 (minor sidetrack), the movie Terminator was released. Most people know the movie or at least know the premise. At the time, it terrified me knowing the idea that humans could create something which could destroy humanity (given, we created weapons of mass destruction for centuries, so really, it’s not too farfetched). But now, looking where we have come with making such advancements in technology and evolving, it doesn’t seem so hard to grasp anymore.

We are in the first quarter of 2021 and it scares me how so many people cannot disconnect from their smartphones, tablets, iPads, laptops or TV screens. I can’t even deny I’m not one of those individuals myself. The scariest update my iPhone went through was a time tracker to notify me (weekly) how much screen time I use, what activities I am doing (Entertainment, Games, Social Networking) …oh, and yes, it tracks a metric to let you know if you are above average from the prior week or not! (What!)

In my current path for transformation, this is another addiction I need to break. I’m ready to start working on myself, my mentality…to improve my health and mind. As I sat down and started writing actions, changes, and goals, this one popped on my list. It started innocent as stating I wanted to take a vacation and disconnect from my phone. Then I started reviewing how important I need to promote that more across my daily activities. I invest so much time on social media, browsing Facebook, Instagram, twitter, TikTok, and playing games on my phone. What’s increasingly scary is that I just looked at the past 7 days and there is 68 hours 54 minutes of game time + entertainment (TV Apps) + Social Networking. In addition, there is a counter of 'Most Pickups'. As of today (Tuesday) from Sunday, I have showed a total pickup count of 163 times.

Let's add an additional layer of "Why?" and "What was I thinking." There are 168 hours in 7 days. Did you know that 68 hours is 41% of ones week. 41%!!! Seriously, 41%! That's almost half of the week spent devoted to a phone. As you can tell...I'm not processing this information too well right now. Not only is staring at a phone effecting my vision, but it's beginning to silo my perception of the world. Yes, there are advancements to improve the picture to prevent vision loss...but seriously, why are we making it easier to lose time to an inanimate device?

Which brings me about-face on this subject. There are way too many people who bow down to the smartphone Gods. We need stop. We need to take time away and actually enjoy life, verses looking at pictures of the outside. Hey, here's a little food for thought, maybe it's time we go outside and experience it for ourselves. It's no laughing matter.

You don't need to spend hours tied to a phone; and I shouldn't want to. Unless I'm actually talking on the phone or communicating in text (the true purpose of a phone even though I hate talking on the phone). We shouldn't have it glued to our hands. There is so much more we have stopped exploring and living. There is so much more I can be doing with my time instead of closed in a dark room on another endless TikTok loop.

I have hobbies which do not revolve around my iPhone (shocker, I know). Spending time with Wally (our crazy Australian Sheppard), who hates the sound of our phones ringing because he understands it's taking away time from him. I also could be drawing more, painting more, capture other essences of the world outside of my glass screen. And maybe, I might start to worry less; not allowing information to fuel anger because I misunderstood someone's post on social media.

What if we all started to live our lives? Now isn't that a crazy idea?

So today...let's reflect and understand why we are devoting ourselves to phones. We need to disconnect; step outside; have face to face conversations and (frickin') watch the grass grow! Stop wasting time and losing relationships because we care more about getting to the next level of a game; trolling other's imperfections on social media or basically watching 9 hours straight of you-tube or TikTok videos. Seriously, you get one life; don't waste it.

"Life is what happens between Wi-Fi signals."

~Anonymous

Time to get back to our roots and not allowing our kids to miss out on the most important thing about being a kid: exploring and allowing for their imaginations to run wild. Stop putting tablets and iPads in their hands, they don't need them. Generations grew up and survived by creating their own fun and not watching from behind an iPad screen.

I had imagination; I had scrapes from falling off a bike because I took a chance to ride with no hands. I'm thankful I grew up taking walks in the woods, sitting on tree branches and being one with nature. I would collect rocks on those same trips and bring them home; smack them apart with a hammer (sorry, Dad), to see what was buried inside. I allowed my imagination and curiosity to develop and grow. I loved and lived life! I caught fireflies (lightening bugs); I danced in the moonlight; I played tag. When it snowed, I built snowmen and did snow angels. And when I went to bed, it was a dark and quiet room.

Disconnect and start living life, before it's too late. Sit outside and watch the grass grow...which takes a lot of time. And if you have company, tell each other stories (the good, the bad and the ugly). We are in the path of losing our humanity to technology because it controls our actions. Stop letting it. And then maybe, you will begin to appreciate the sunsets you see for yourself instead of what others are posting online. You have the same opportunity to live your life. So start living it.