This video went viral several weeks ago.
Have you seen it?
It’s an awesome spoken word message for our online day and age. It reminds us all that we need to stop looking at our screens and look up:
[tentblogger-youtube Z7dLU6fk9QY]
[YouTube]
If you’ve seen this video already, did it effect how often you look up?
My wife and I talk about this all the time as we see more and more people with their faces stuck in their mobile device. I firmly believe that Christians have a unique opportunity to be counter cultural in this way. Looking up and taken notice to the world around us. Striking-up face-to-face conversations with strangers, talking with our children and spouse, and living our lives beyond the Internet.
What do you think?
[Image via Mark Nye, ClubofHumanBeings.com via Compfight cc]
Adam Shields says
I think it has a real point. But I also think it makes too strong of a point. In most cases when you have your nose in a phone, there is often another person on the other side. I am certainly in favor of pay attention to the people you are with. But I also am not interested in vilifying technology which allows people to be places they could not doing things they could not previously.
I work at home, I watched my two nieces from the time they were a few weeks old until they went to school and now I am home with my six month old daughter. I certainly tried not to pay too much attention to my phone or computer. But it was my phone and computer that allowed me to be with them at all. I could take them to the park when I had a light work day because I was not tied to a desk at home. If something came up I often could take care of it while still at the park. And when I couldn’t we could go home. But if I didn’t have my phone with the tech it has, then I would have been distracted by taking them to the park for fear I am not getting work done.
So I think we should pay attention to the point of the video, but also not take it too strongly.
Eric Dye says
That’s true, Adam. I think the tide is high with this problem, so these extreme points are being made to try and counter balance it.
Adam Shields says
there is also a real problem with the ‘at least I am not like that mom (or dad)’. The people that need to hear this type of thing probably won’t see themselves in it. And the people that have a tendency to over analyze and condemn themselves with videos like this probably don’t need them.
This video reminds me of shows about hoarders and adicts. Those shows are popular among many because they allow the viewers to say, ‘well at least I am better than those people.’
I am not condemning people for making it or even most people for sharing it. But most of those I saw share it were sharing it in a way that was more about either being better than or condemning others. I don’t think many people are saying, ‘hey this was convicting for me, will you pray about this issue with me and help me be a better parent.’
If there were more of the later, I think some would respond to a safe conversation.
A friend of mine the other day posted that she got a ticket for answering her cell phone while driving. What proceeded after was a barrage of how bad of a parent and human being she was for answering a phone while driving.
Sorry for the rant. I am just trying to work through issues of grace and technology (especially when combined with the distance that technology inserts.)
Adam Shields says
Thought you might be interest in this response video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwKpOCFiDcI
Eric Dye says
An EXCELLENT response.