So true.

I liked, "Live life the real way."

Thanks for sharing.

Sue...getting off here for now and going to live life the real way today.

I liked it, the message is clear....

I don't have a cell phone, but I do have 900 followers from an online site. :0) And have experienced cyber bullying from a 75 year old woman! :0) It's too easy to be anonymous!

Rubbish

Important for sure. Yesterday we were having breakfast at a Quiet restaurant and near us was a Dad and 6 to 8 year old boy having breakfast. When Dad was not shoveling food into his mouth, he was on his phone.... no conversation, it looked like playing a game. Nice, well behaved kid, swinging his feet and looking bored to death. It just looked like "Quality time, gone away" and a sad missed opportunity.

nanny, I see the same things too...parents yakking away completely ignoring anybody with them...what is so important that you need to be on the phone constantly?

I saw this and though it was great. I'm curious though Monica_PA - why do you call this rubbish?

Because some don't understand that these devices keep people more in touch, and with more people, than ever before.

Think about it.

Last weekend, we went out for a late dinner at TGIFridays, and in front of us sat a young couple in their 20s, side by side at the table, eating their dinner as they each used their smart phones all dinner long. We were completing our dinner before I saw them even look at each other and exchange a word or two. I assumed they were the nerdy techy type of kids who love their internet connections, but it was so sad to see how they spent their time together but yet apart.

Monica, you've missed the whole point. You might want to review it with an open mind and see that the message is one of moderation.

My husband and I own, use, enjoy, and rely on several of these devices. But we don't have our noses in them when enjoying a meal together, nor in the evening when relaxing in front of the TV. When we're driving somewhere together, we chat with one another always.

I don't have a single friend or family member who would rather exclude themselves from the company of humans in favor of whatever a device may offer instead. Yet most rely heavily on cell phones or computers to work and communicate. We just know when and where to employ them.

Think about it! :-)

I agree with Monica. It's how you use the tool that makes life what it is. If you let it run your life, well, bah on you, even then, it's not the tool. These folks would just do something else that kept them from interacting.

But if it just makes it easier and you can talk to your son all day long (we do!), we talk more and I even get to help him at school during the day. I also talk to my mom every day. We email back and forth and at the end of the week I get to see her in person. I've been so involved in her week I don't spend as much time catching up, but being a part of her life. She's 72. We used to work together and that was even more fun, but this is next best.

I also get to talk to my on-call brother who works at least 75 hours a week, when he can talk. He and I never got to talk before he opened up texting on his phone.

I even check in on my nieces and nephews on Facebook at least once a week.

If it wasn't for technological advances, well, I remember what it was like when daddy was overseas. Not even once a year did I see his face, or really know what was going on. Sure there were occasional letters, but NOT the same. I agree there is no face time either way, but at least I could've skyped had it been in this day and age. And heard his voice. I can't tell you how much it hurt not to hear him. When he was home, he'd play his guitar and sing. It would've been a thousand times better if I could've heard him.

Thank You rob.. and Monica... You both have expressed my sentiments better than I could have. I thought the message was important enough to send to DGD, mostly being AWARE of the pitfalls of being connected 24/7; not a bad thing.... once again, learning priorities..

Before everyone got on FB, we used to get phone calls and birthday cards and phone calls on birthdays, phone calls on Christmas etc etc. Now no one ever calls, they just say "Happy Birthday" on FB. No more carrying on a long conversation and laughing and solving all the world's problems. I have to say that video actually made me cry! The world is barely even fit to live in anymore and the cell phone and computer have a lot of do with that. OH yes, many of you will think I'm a stupid*** but it is how I feel. I wish that the PC and Iphone had never been invented. Sure it's nice to be able to call without long distance charges, but heck, no one calls anyone anymore anyway, all they ever do is text. I hate texting, how in the world do you carry on a conversation texting?

The ones that LOVE their cell phones are the ones this guy is talking about and they are totally clueless to all the life around them they are missing out on having their stupid heads stuck in their stupid phones all day long. They are also totally clueless as to what this guy is saying because they just don't get it. They are the sheeple of the world.

I agree with rob and monica.

There was a time not that long ago that "calling" on someone or checking in with a friend or family member may have required taking a long walk or using a horse. All the technological advances since then have only made it easier. There's nothing new about having thoughtless or uncaring friends and family members. Amd there's nothing new about having clueless people around.

If Facebook is how they communicate but that's not satisfactory for you, disconnect yourself from Facebook. Then you'll see who wants to make an effort to connect with you on your terms (as polite people should do). For the others, the silence has nothing to do with Facebook, cell phones or PCs.

I think that a people miss the "moment". I used to attend concerts when people were actually watching and cheering who was onstage. Now all you see are people watching thru their cell phones, taking the video.

Same as a gorgeous sunset, or other scene of nature. Instead of reveling in the beauty, pictures are taken, sorted then sent out to everyone on FB, Twitter, Instagram etc etc.

By the time it's sent out, the moment could be passed.

We've become a bunch of mindless drones.

OK, let's not go overboard...either way.

It's about moderation.

It's not that no one should ever use their devices....

There's no question that communication can be better using them....

It's obvious that there are people who are living "through" their Iphone or whatever instead of just "using" it. And, it's sad to me, to think of what they are missing.

That said, have I ever taken a picture of a beautiful, fleeting moment to share with others? OF COURSE I HAVE! I was happy to and the "others" were happy that I was able to share that moment with them.

I don't think we're talking either/or here.

The message was to get people to think, and that's not a bad thing.

We say the same type of experiencing what is around you, only it was in 1993 and it was a couple in Alaska. They never put down the video cam and/or regular camera to enjoy their surroundings. We were on a tour bus with them...it was made more noticable because they wore matching outfits... They probably got home and couldn't remember where they'd taken any of their shots..

I love technology, but I draw the line at people using it while driving vehicles and doing other things that require ones' full attention.

All the time, I see people at restaurants sitting with other people staring at their stupid phones. I just think this has got to be the rudest behavior! I can't imagine if I went to a restaurant with someone and they sat there more interested in something on a phone than visiting with me. I can tell you that I would never go out to eat with that person ever again! Like my husband always loves to say "if they had any brains, they'd play with them in the sandbox!"

You have no idea of why those people are on phones, texting, etc. Yet your criticize them for doing so.

You don't know who or what is on the other end, and I bet that if you asked, you may get a response that would embarrass you (maybe).

A person might be checking on a child, ill relative, Or checking on sale prices at a store, etc. Looking up directions to their destination etc.

A parent with may well be checking up with a sitter.

Any number of things....but YOU decide that their reason is frivolous.

I think the hypocrisy of calling out cell phone users as being rude by judging, criticizing and insulting them is hilarious. It seems pretty rude to call people names, especially people you have never met and have no idea what they are doing on their phones.

Sometimes my boyfriend and I go out to eat and we will sometimes play on our phones. Usually to show each other something funny we saw online, or to look up directions or to plan a weekend away.

I don't think it's any of my business what people do with their phones (other than driving or other dangerous behavior).

I saw the article earlier and shared it on my FB page. I raised 3 children starting in 1968 and managed to do a darn good job without having any kind of social media at the end of my arm. I know my personality and think I would have had trouble giving either one, but not both at the same time, the attention they deserved. I personally know of young mom's and dad's who are more interested in posting their every move to the world rather than being aware of missed moments or opportunities to spend that time interacting with real, live people in their presence.. And to say "checking on prices at a store" is a serious reason to have your phone out in front of you is not valid to me. I hate to see a group at a table at a restaurant where everyone has their phone in their hands, barely even eating.....sad in my opinion. What is the point of going out together if you would rather be spending time doing whatever it is that has your attention on the phone?

This more or less causes me to recall a saying that I used quite a lot when I operated as a financial consultant ...

... "If you don't boss your money - more than likely it'll boss you".

And your bossing of it happens now ... and if you don't do a capable job of it ... the time when it comes to boss you is ... later.

These machines, like money, are a fine/necessary ... even, in these days, many would say almost an essential tool.

They certainly make life a food deal more efficient, as well as being interesting.

But we need to remember who should be boss.

ole joyful ... who's been known to waste a good deal of time playing computer games - one of those "sit down" projects that old folks, as well as others, who need the exercise, should ration the use of