Friday, March 20, 2015

Responding to "Etiquette: Reintroducing real-life to a smartphone-obsessed society"

Write about something that surprised you, angered you, delighted you, or evoked any strong reaction when reading the editorial, “Etiquette: Reintroducing real-life to a smartphone-obsessed society.” Answer in a paragraph of between 150 and 200 words. Bring a copy, word processed and double spaced, to class on Wednesday, March 25.

12 comments:

Brad said...

I love Ian Brown’s prose, and his light hearted (but still serious) editorial connected directly to my everyday life. The term “boss pose” makes me remember a former boss who took phone calls in the middle of meetings, forcing me and seven colleagues to wait. Unfortunately, nowadays, many more of us have become rude towards others with our “me and my phone” default. Riding a bicycle in Vancouver requires nerves of steel as pedestrians wander along in conversation on their phone, then turn to cross the street without so much as a glance. A bell is useless; they cannot hear it. This is an example of the “diminished respect for personal space” and has lead to another kind of rudeness that also grates, the lack of basic sidewalk manners. I have begun to stare directly at someone who appears unready to move over to allow me to pass without stepping off into the traffic. Looking at someone makes a person so uncomfortable (in my experience) that they move over but, often, I get a dirty look as if I had demanded something unusual! So, I’m with Brown in hoping that if “we could remember to connect,” life would be better.—200 words

Unknown said...

Ian Brown’s article sharply points out one of the most prevalent issues in today’s society—techno-rudeness, something that I have experienced firsthand myself. When my daughter was in university, I was eagerly looking forward her to come back home on the weekends. While I was enjoying our conversations, she was always busy checking her phone, absentmindedly answering my questions and texting. I completely agree that “the smartphone is permanently shrinking the value we place on the presence of others.” I felt I was like a fool speaking to the air. After multiple warnings, my anger rose up and burst out with the highest decibel of my voice (it could have blown up the ceiling). She was terrified and couldn’t understand why I roared at her. The thing I could not help but lament for is that young people are completely oblivious to this “me and my phone” syndrome and think that their behaviour is perfectly acceptable. Nowadays at restaurants, I see people staring at their phones instead of talking to each other. The smartphones are now more significant than their significant others. I fear that our future generations will become more and more incompetent at the essence of human interactions.
-201 words

Unknown said...

Ian Brown in his prose mentioned about important and serious daily matters about cellphones which young generation are involved the most. I may not the one who experienced it. A month ago I asked one of my friend about a part of setting of iPhone, instead of explaining it to how to do it, he grab my phone and start to manage it. He set it but he deletes some of my items. It was really rude reaction that he did. I am absolutely agree with Ian Brown that said; “ There are two culprits here: the diminished respect for personal space that afflicts people who like a la mobile, and technology’s speed, which induces a generalized impatience.” Nowadays “me and my phone” affects people to make space between them, their friends and families. They can text each other for hours, but they can’t bide and talk “face to face”. It’s the harmful part of life with smartphones. I condemn the people who their real life is only their smartphones.

170 words

Unknown said...

When l read Ian Brown’ article, l was surprised to his shrewd comment. Ian says that most people spend time for checking their smartphones involuntarilyㅡ”Spending up to 2 ½ hours- about eight years ,over a life time.” What a shocking analysis it is! Also, l recognized that the daily life style of my family is changed. For example, we seem to be less “face to face” with each other because we stay in our own rooms and enjoy playing the smartphones. When l wanted to talk to my daughter who was surfing the internet, she was unhappy to interrupt her time, so l was upset on her impoliteness. Before my family had the new-technology (smartphone), we spent time and had a lot of conversation all together. However, the smartphone changes our life: “having abandoned the pleasure of human interaction.” Moreover, l agree with the Ian’s mention about “My cellphone rings while l am talking to someone” is unmannerly behavior. While my friend and l ate dinner, she answered her phone quite long (It sounded loquacious.), so l felt that she ignored me. I remind that if we don’t use the new-device properly, the tool will bring us techno-rudeness and destroy the human connection.

--- 203 words

Unknown said...

After reading the Ian Brown’s “Etiquette: Reintroducing real-life to a smartphone-obsessed society,” it reminds me when, what, or how I keep my manner to others. One week ago, I read the newspaper’s article: some students took the pictures the teacher’s writing on the blackboard. When they heard the writing might be on the final test from the teacher, most of them took the pictures for their copies (by their smartphones’ cameras) at the same time, so the picturing sound made the teacher annoyed and upset. The students only thought of their good school marks and did not care about the teacher’s valuable lecture and respect. Also, whenever I see and hear someone talks loudly with his cellular phone occupying the whole place ㅡit can be used for two or three personsㅡin the locker room at the public gymnasium, I feel uncomfortable and angry. Those behaviors are sure techno-rudeness and not suitable etiquette. All in all, in order not to shrink the humane value, I will always mind my manner of considering others, especially when I am in the public places.

--- 180 words (March 25th, 2015 by Park)

Unknown said...

After I read an Ian Brown’s prose, it makes me re-think deeply about hand-device use in our daily life. I was astonished about “… spends up to 2 ½ hours a day on hand-held device.” It may be fairly said that because since I have a hand-held device, I am not being shy any more to eat alone at a restaurant and I can stand waiting for a long time (Doctor’s appointment). I agree with Brown’s criticism “We’re less adept at dealing with one another, face to face…” My 8 years old son enjoys playing chess on his tablet without face to face conversation and without playing manners. I realized “We accept techno-rudeness without blinking…”.During ceremonies or worship services, we often get a distraction from phone rings. Some of my congregation (including me, sometimes) use a smart phone to find bible scriptures for their convenience. It is true “We’ve embraced self-centred online life and forgotten the Golden Rule.” I had a good motivation after I read this article to live with hand-held devices, I should be a good role model for my generation to keep the Golden Rule. It was a good turning point to be a smart screen smart user.
Words 200

Unknown said...

Addiction in our Society
After reading the “Etiquette: Reintroducing real-life to a smartphone-obsessed society” I felt guilty and I felt like reality had just hit me in the face. The reason I felt this way is that I had a strong belief that the writer was pointing out some of my own dreadful behaviours while I was using electronic devices. While reading the article, I came across some interesting facts I can relate to. For example, when he mentioned, “The most widespread and unforgivable crassness of all: Texting and messaging on a phone while talking to someone, face to face.” I have caught myself doing this plenty of times and the worst part is I do not realize it until that person is done talking. Another fact statement IAN mentioned was, “Walking smack into people on the street/in the supermarket while texting/messaging head down, on your device.” I have witnessed this many times. For instance, I was walking in the mall when a typical teenager came from nowhere, and just bumped into me without even turning around, to see whom she ran into. Nowadays, I feel like our generation is being controlled by a remote controller. As result, after being exposed to these situations me, I feel ashamed to even spend any time on my smartphone unless I am on my own. (225)
Binta Jawara
Student# 66559

Ronny rakotomalala said...

I like Ian Brown's "Etiquette Reintroducting real life to a smartphone obsessed society",it is a big issues he's talking about,the effect of technology(smartphone,earplugs,..)in our society. I do agree about his point smartphone,texting,and driving at the same time is a big problem because it's true,many people are addicted to their phone and doesn't realise much it affects the society.Manyaccidents was caused by texting and driving,just the big question is,how are we going to resolve this problem?.On the other side,it kind of angered me a little bit when Ian Brown mentioned about people listening to music,either with headphones or in their car.i did not like he's idea about that because people have the right to listen to whatever they find enjoyable to listen and it's hard to argue with that because it's a hard subject to bring up as it'll surely bring conflict as people will take it as a dictation or telling them what to do.However,I understand moats of Ian Brown's view and I strongly agree with them.Hopefully the world will find a solution for all of these issues.

Unknown said...

Nowadays, smartphone has change human life huge. Smartphone is a wholesome tool for me-it is a dictionary when I study English; it is a notebook for my everyday life; it is a calculator when I calculate the discount in supermarket. When I go out, smartphone has become a staunch partner beside me. I get many advantage on smartphone and I ignore many disadvantage also. I am astonished by reading Ian Brown’s prose “ Etiquette: Reintroducing real-life to a smartphone-obsessed society ”. It is a alarm for me who can not leave the little box. Ian ‘s reminder of techno-rudeness is in time. I reflect on his reminder: Have I done any rudeness on using smartphone? Maybe. Many times I neglect this issue and it exists truly. I expect to balance the relationship on device-tethered life and a common courtesy of face-to face conversation. Since I can not leave my smartphone at all, I still hope to let other feel comfortable also. I think “rules of conduct have taken hundreds of years to develop”is not conflicting with device-tethered society.All we should do is to improve it and let it more suitable and acceptable for new generation.
-203 words

Homaira goljani said...

I really liked Lan Brown's article"Etiquette".
It opened my eyes to see how most people are addicted to their smartphones which is the most comment issue in our society-techno-rudeness today. For example my friends and I we used to go out for dinner or coffee. We would talk but not more then half an hour because of are little fun box. After a few minutes of talking to each other we would check on our phones and stop talking all of the sudden.
One weekend we decided to play "charades" and it's a really social and fun game that we play that keeps our phones in our pockets so we could focus on the game. We played for a few good hours. It was an amazing night, we actually got a chance to see each other, talk, and have fun. After that night we all agreed to play different games and we all realized how nice it is to see and talk to each other without using our cellphones .
170words

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Electronic Addiction
After reading ian brown's article , I was shocked by his smart comments on electronic devices. I am feeling guilty for what I have done to my family, friends or to anyone , ignoring them sometimes or most of the times. I am also one of those people who are addicted to their cell phones. Additionally,I agree with what Ian mentioned about " my cell phone rings or I get texts while I'm talking to someone" is INCONSIDERATE. This happened to me at my workplace, when it comes to take the persons order they are on their cell phones and giving me wrong order (I feel stupid)to be taking that person order, because most of them would walk back and complain that I took the wrong order!. Ians article just opened my eyes and made me understand and think bigger. If I and our generation don’t stop using our electronic devices properly, this might demolish human connectionism.