When Did We All Get So Important?

Posted by Shelly Kramer on November 22, 2009 · 27 Comments

Texting, tweeting, emailing, talking. It seems our world revolves around these things and we rely on those ubiquitious SmartPhones clutched in our sweaty hands more than ever before. In fact, I’ll go out on a limb and hypothesize that it’s probably easier to kick a nicotine addiction than it is to ever kick an addiction to our ability to communicate. Instantly.

We’ve all been there. In fact, we all are there.

But what happened to our collective common sense? Somewhere along the way, we all lost our minds. We are driving the roads of our lives, sometimes even at high speeds on highways, and picking up our phones to read and/or send text messages as if that is totally and completely okay. We are driving with our children in the car and allowing ourselves to become distracted by what’s happening on our phones. We have somehow convinced ourselves that we are so important, that information is so critical, that our ability to receive and transmit messages immediately and at all times is – well, our veritable lifeblood.

We’re morons.

Here’s the deal. If you decide that you can’t live your life without texting, tweeting, emailing or talking while driving your car and you ultimately kill yourself as a result of your stupidity, that’s sad. And I’m sorry for you. And if I know you, I might miss you. And whether I know you or not, I’ll certainly feel sorry for your family and their loss. But it’s bigger than just you. If you insist on doing those stupid, unnecessary things and kill me – well that would really suck. And if you manage to kill my children, or someone else’s children or someone that I love because of that very same stupidity, that would suck even more.

So here’s my question – are you really that important? Are any of us really that important? Is any message that anyone has to send us, or any message that we feel compelled to send ourselves really so important that it is worth risking lives?

I think not. So, do yourself a favor – and do the rest of us a favor as well – the next time you get in your car, turn your damn phone off. None of us are really so important that we can’t manage a few minutes without connectivity. And, lest you think that I write this post from a position of sanctimony, let me assure you that is not the case. I am as guilty as the next person of occasionally losing my mind and forgetting that I’m just not all that important. And by writing this post, I shall endeavor to remind myself of that very thing – on a daily basis.

And maybe we can all manage to stay alive as a result. Wouldn’t that be nice?

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Filed under Ramblings · Tagged with driving, SmartPhones, texting, tweeting

Tekee

Very important message. In fact I can assure you that this message is more important than I am!
Jamerz3294

Aye yup… there is a an all too common *lack* of common sense! I really wouldn't mind some of them removing themselves from my specie's Gene Pool (since they slimed out of the shallow end anyway), but it's the collateral damage that I despise!
The old 10-2 Hands on the Steering Wheel is still a really good option! So, unless you have a 3rd hand, put down the damn phone and just drive!
ShellyKramer

LOL! I'm with you, Jamie!!
ShellyKramer

Well, you ARE important, dahlink … but none of us are that important, right? So easy to forget. I think I wrote that post as much for myself as anything – as a reminder to not be a moron. A reminder that I need on a regular basis Thanks for the read, honeybunch.
http://deadwingsdesigns.com/ Rob

Very good point. I myself am guilty of suffering this mind loss from time to time. But have been striving to be more aware, and stop this madness. Great post, relevant and oh so true. Hope that it makes more people take note of their idiotic moments and correct them.
krystyn

Thanks for this important message & reminder to us who “quick glance”… I know better, I even refrain from texting someone back who's driving bc I don't want to be responsible for them being distracted, yet, I've looked at my phone when a text has come in while driving in the past. I won't be doing that anymore.
Tekee

It's interesting. I recall an article that I read where they set up cars with special cameras that tracked eye movements of drivers. Just answering a voice call, even though the subjects kept their eyes on the road, the number of distinct focal points per minute decreased by something like two thirds! So instead of scanning the road at say 20 focal points per minute, it went down to around 7. Test yourself next time you take a call while driving. As soon as you disconnect, make a conscious effort to ascertain your awareness of your surroundings, you will be surprised to find that you barely know how you got to where you are… scary. So even beyond the idea of no texting while driving, we should consider not even talking while driving. Furthermore, hands free/bluetooth devices do not remedy the distraction.
http://twitter.com/booksbelow Roger Hjulstrom

So, so true, Shelly, and such an issue with me. I can't believe the otherwise intelligent people texting while driving, such idiocy! Thanks for this great post, makes me reallize I should have written something similar! Thanks.
ShellyKramer

You're welcome, missy. It's so hard to refrain from doing – I know, I do it daily! Maybe if we can all continue to keep it top of mind, and remind one another, we'll all be better off
ShellyKramer

Thanks Roger. And as one of those “otherwise intelligent” people who has, occasionally, done just that, it is appalling. And I'm trying very diligently to just turn off and tune out. Hopefully, that will become the norm and we'll all be safer as a result.
ShellyKramer

Ted, I read the same article. Funny how we're all so adamantly (and rightfully) against drunk driving, but this is probably, in all actuality, at least as much as, if not more, dangerous. But many of us do it all the time, without even giving it a thought. And when you add texting into the mix and/or reading or replying to email, I think you can multiply that “distraction factor” by about 100. Really pretty incredible that it is so commonplace, no? I am trying, valiantly, to just press “off.”
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http://www.v3im.com Shelly Kramer

Thanks Rob. I am guilty of it, too, and part of the reason for writing was to remind my idiotic self of what’s important – and what’s not! Thanks for the read.
http://themarketingmark.blogspot.com MarkSherrick

There are certain times when you NEED to unplug. Driving is definitely one of them. There are enough statistics about people dying in car crashes, we don't need to add death by text to the list.

Thank you for reminding people of this, Shelly.
ShellyKramer

I agree, Mark. Death by text makes no sense. No sense at all. Thanks for being such a good friend and always counted on to read and comment
rickparker

Very astute and such clarity of perception.
Great piece, fat boy (my own sobriquet for self) loves it.
http://ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

Forget driving. Ever see people on bicycles while talking on the phone, let alone with headphones on?
ShellyKramer

Ari, that's just ridiculous. I see idiots driving cars with earphones in, too, and always wonder where the hell they left their brains. Just don't get it!! Thanks for the read.
ShellyKramer

If Fat Boy loves it, can't ask for a greater compliment. Thanks, Rick
http://tferthomas.com TferThomas

Hi Shelly,

It is an important reminder and a wakeup call. As a high user of a BlackBerry I am guilty of a lot that is written here, but won't use it while driving, and try my upmost to behave when in a social situation.

Here's something to try the next time you are in a gathering….. pull our your smartphone and do something on it (anything)….then look around. Chances are, quite a few of people have done the same.

It does however have its positive aspects, of which I am sure I utilise a lot.

When the situation requires it, the BlackBerry is put down.

And I for one, and happy with this status quo.

Thomas
http://themarketingmark.blogspot.com MarkSherrick

Thanks for thinking of me that way – Im always looking for a good conversation, and comments are a great way to start them. Tis why I'm always trying to get comments on my blog.
http://www.ExtraordinaryMommy.com/ Danielle ExtraordinaryMommy

Shelly – this is so important. I've been guilty of it. It is so easy to get caught up in the 'now' and the 'hurry, hurry' – that we lose sight of what truly matters. Thank you for the reminder!
swhood

There was an ad campaign in England where they showed the results of texting while driving. Needless to say, some of the images were pretty brutal. In this age of “me”, it's amplified by constant use of phones. Sure it's great that you can access email, web, Twitter, etc. on your phone, but seriously, can we stop for a while during drive times?
There are plenty of examples that I see on a daily basis; people who can't concentrate on driving much less talking and driving, reading the newspaper(yes, the newspaper), books, spanking their kids in the backseat, etc.
NO ONE, repeat, NO ONE is that damn busy that they need to risk not only their own lives, but also their fellow drivers to do the tweeting, texting, checking emails….while driving.

Don't learn the hard way. It's not worth it.
ShellyKramer

Hi Thomas. Like you, I am addicted to the BB and the constant stream of connectivity. I can deal with the interruptions and even the occasional rudeness that goes along with that addiction, but my big rant is really about doing any of this stuff while driving. It is just flat out wrong. And we all know better than that, but we still often do it. I wrote this post as much to remind me of how crazy it is than anything else, so hopefully, now that I've officially forced myself “on the record” on this issue, I'll do a better job of just saying NO. Thanks for the read.
ShellyKramer

I agree, Stac. And trust me, as the parent of 4 yo twins, my concentration while driving is often challenged enough. Adding electronics to the mix just doesn't make sense.

The video you're talking about was actually produced by a small town in Wales, in an attempt to keep their teens alive. I watched it numerous times and sent it to everyone that I love, in the hopes that it might make a difference. The last time I watched it, it had over 1.5 Million views so, hopefully, others were doing the same

Thanks, tootsie, for the read and the commentary – always do so love engaging with you, my friend.
ShellyKramer

You are most welcome, Danielle. I am guilty of it, too, and am trying to force myself to quit it. And so, linking arms in solidarity, we prepare to skip away, in complete and total agreement that we will resist the urge to communicate whilst driving. Right??? xoxo to you, my dear.
http://www.ctkingston.com Ct Kingston

Shelly I have the feeling that instead of you “this post from a position of sanctimony” that you wrote it while driving on the damn freeway with 4 relatives in the car who you haven't seen in 12 years. You turkey!

But seriously, I hear ya on all of this. My goodness. I rarely touch my phone when in the real life zone. My friends do though. And when they do, I simply let my attention drift off into the room and enjoy that immensely.

We can't stop the electronic dance but it's true we can stand still more than most of us normally do.

BIG ISSUE
“If you insist on doing those stupid, unnecessary things and kill me – well that would really suck. And if you manage to kill my children, or someone else’s children or someone that I love because of that very same stupidity, that would suck even more.”

Honestly I wish people did consider there is more to life than their own lives.
Laws need to be passed everywhere and pronto.

Until then it's up to us to assume that everyone on the road is an imbecile and then act/drive accordingly.

Actually let's assume EVERYONE/EVERYWHERE is an imbecile and then … aw damn, am I showing my arrogance. I must stop. I'm a people person. If “people” means “shoes”.

Kisses to you Shelly!