Jacqueline Ruffino
We all survived the days before smartphones were invented.
Alexander Graham Bell is shaking his head and hopefully looking down on us saying, “No, I hadn’t created a monster.” “I created and invented the telephone.” Hooray. A smart way to communicate with others. A smart way to call someone to say “Hi, I was thinking of you,” “Hello, can I help you today?” “Hi, how are you feeling today, mom, dad?” “Hello, can I bring you groceries, come by, and visit?” Alexander Graham Bell realized as the world moved on and progressed in future technology, new inventions were going to be discovered. Inventions that will take us into many centuries of communicating with others.
Are we smarter than any electronic device? Do we attempt to prove our intelligence to others and the smartphone companies? Hum, let’s see who is smarter.
Can we communicate today without the smartphone? Can we sit down to eat our meals at home with our families? Can we meet with friends, dine out in restaurants, and conduct ourselves properly without annoying others talking on a smartphone. Can we go to the movies, work at our jobs, walk in traffic, go shopping, stand on grocery lines, watch our little ones in the playgrounds, go swimming, and keep our eyes and ears peeled around children for their safety and ours.
And the best one of all. Can we drive without our smartphones?
These are all good questions.
Smartphones have outstanding capabilities. I know, because I use mine most of the time. Your smartphone can call anyone, without using your fingers to dial. Your smartphone can search websites for any interests. Your smartphone searches your personal contacts. It takes a photo and sends it instantly. Your dashboard map with voice capabilities also connects to the smartphone and directs you to your destination on the screen with voice activation as well. This small instrument has achieved and accomplished more functions than we know. Your smartphone is your very true and loyal friend and close companion and can accomplish all of the above mentioned, especially while driving your car. We can telephone someone, answer telephone calls, send text messages, take photos and send them immediately. How impressive. We have come a very long way, and more to come in the near future. Did I mention you can do all of the above in your car while driving? How sweet is this? How dangerous is this? How stupid is this? How murderous is this? Did I already say, pretty stupid and ignorant? Oh, I have said it. Oh, what the heck, I will say it again. Very stupid, ignorant, dangerous, and down right murderous. At my age, I tend to repeat myself and do not apologize for it. I just hope it gets everyone’s attention.
Our smartphones can become the middle of an argument with someone who is obnoxious, annoying, and disrespectful. Our smartphones cause accidents to innocent people, and their demise as well, while out on a beautiful sunny day with family. A family with no idea that a smartphone is heading their way. How sad to own a small, expensive, intelligent component that ruins the lives of others and yours because you can’t wait to pull your car to a safe environment and carry out your business. I have witnessed men, women, teenagers, children walking down the street, crossing a street without lifting their heads and fingers off of this deadly device.
The smartphone is my companion, especially when I am lost on the road, running late for a meeting or appointment, need assistance, feeling ill, or to report an accident that just happened while the driver was on their smartphone. My smartphone companion and I always pull off to the side of the road to conduct my business. Practice due diligence by pulling off the road, because your ugly smartphone user may be heading your way, not paying attention and slams into your car. You were making the right move. But your smartphone user was not.
My point is, smartphones may be smarter than you. Use them with caution. Love yourself, your family, and others that surround our lives.
A favorite saying in today’s world of smartphones, cell phones, electronic equipment while driving is:
“Honk if you Love Jesus. Text while driving…if you want to meet Him.”