Our society is hiding behind plastic
By Amanda Throm
I’ll be the first to say that the moment I leave a class, ear buds are in and the iPod is turned up to a pretty loud volume. I fully realize that this form of “artistry,” as I’d like to call it, makes me completely inaccessible and hard to approach.
When I’m not fiddling around with my iPod, I’m on the phone or reading a book. (Yes, I read when I walk to class. I don’t bump into things...usually.) I can’t walk down the street without seeing 90 percent of other students with an iPod or cell phone attached to their ear(s). Regardless of my involvement in the problem, it almost disgusts me that our society has become this technologically dependent.
I wouldn’t say I’m a follower by any means. I was the very last in my circle of friends to own an iPod, after all, and I had my reasons for finally buckling down, spending the exorbitant amount of money and buying the little green iPod that now barely holds any of my music.
In addition, I love my little flip phone and use it constantly. It’s another device which I paid an exorbitant amount of money for. But it only adds to the inaccessibility that, not only me, but everyone feels all over campus.
Boredom, I think, has taken a huge toll on students today. We get bored during class so we text with friends. We get bored walking to our classes so we listen to iPods. We get bored doing anything, and we automatically have something within our reach that we can depend upon to get us out of the boredom. I can attest to the fact that I, on many occasions, have sent texts during classes, but really, who hasn’t?
I feel that I’m not helping the problem any when I listen to my iPod and make myself inaccessible. That awkward silence or stare with a stranger is much more easily alleviated by the use of the cell phone or iPod.
I’ve even used my cell phone to get me out of a horrifically boring date. I had a friend call me pretending he was having boyfriend troubles so I could slip out without having to shut my date down. In a way, it’s a great help.
Music is the pulse of life. I like to say that because it’s almost a justification for what today’s society is doing. We’re cutting ourselves off from making connections with other people and broadening our social networks at the same time.
So, everyone, try it for a day: Leave the iPods at home and put your cell phone on silent for 24 hours. See how things change. You might just surprise yourself at how many strangers are willing to strike up a conversation with you.
