Comments on: Isolated by Technology http://doableevangelism.com/2009/01/26/isolated-by-technology/ What if evangelism meant just being yourself? Tue, 15 May 2012 01:13:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Helen http://doableevangelism.com/2009/01/26/isolated-by-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-18194 Helen Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:34:25 +0000 http://doableevangelism.com/?p=1220#comment-18194 I like how technology gives us new ways to connect with others but I know what you mean, April, about how it can get in the way of engaging with people who are right in front of us. I like how technology gives us new ways to connect with others but I know what you mean, April, about how it can get in the way of engaging with people who are right in front of us.

]]> By: Randy Siever http://doableevangelism.com/2009/01/26/isolated-by-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-18192 Randy Siever Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:59:24 +0000 http://doableevangelism.com/?p=1220#comment-18192 Nice to have you back, April! I am feeling both identified and convicted by this post. Nothing says "Leave me alone" more than a cell phone stuck to your ear (the actual phone or a bluetooth gadget). Well, maybe ear buds are equally suggestive, but I don't usually mind interrupting someone who is not LOOKING at something or not carrying on a conversation with someone else via the phone. I think some people actually put ear buds in just so people won't talk to them. Works pretty good on an airplane. My personal pet peeve is cell phones in meetings...particularly when it's just a few people. Most cells have a "silent" feature, and it seems darn few people every use it. But to allow your phone to ring and then actually answer it when you are supposed to be engaged in the face to face conversation going on...well, that's not only isolationist, it's just rude. It says, "Whoever calls me is so much more important than you that not only will I allow them to interrupt the meeting with their ring, I will disengage with you and now talk to them." Ok...I could go on, but I won't. So what do we do about our modern technology that is now publicly isolating us? Is it fair to assume that if you have ear buds in, you don't want to be engaged with? Is it fair to assume that someone who is texting constantly is not willing to engage face to face with people right in front of them? Does a bluetooth ear piece a technological sign saying, "I'll talk to you only if I want to...and I don't want to unless you have my number and call me."?? I'm convicted also...because I am a laptop user and I have an iPhone. I tend to look at the phone if I'm in meetings (although I do silence it), and if there's a wifi signal I tend to at least WANT to check my email and facebook page. So I'm guilty of the same things I hate in others...the plank in my eye (not the speck in yours) is the priority here. It takes some concerted effort to be open and "engaging" when around other people, for sure. It's way easier to engage with technology than face to face (which may be the heart of the issue when all is said and done). Nice to have you back, April!

I am feeling both identified and convicted by this post. Nothing says “Leave me alone” more than a cell phone stuck to your ear (the actual phone or a bluetooth gadget). Well, maybe ear buds are equally suggestive, but I don’t usually mind interrupting someone who is not LOOKING at something or not carrying on a conversation with someone else via the phone. I think some people actually put ear buds in just so people won’t talk to them. Works pretty good on an airplane.

My personal pet peeve is cell phones in meetings…particularly when it’s just a few people. Most cells have a “silent” feature, and it seems darn few people every use it. But to allow your phone to ring and then actually answer it when you are supposed to be engaged in the face to face conversation going on…well, that’s not only isolationist, it’s just rude. It says, “Whoever calls me is so much more important than you that not only will I allow them to interrupt the meeting with their ring, I will disengage with you and now talk to them.”

Ok…I could go on, but I won’t.

So what do we do about our modern technology that is now publicly isolating us? Is it fair to assume that if you have ear buds in, you don’t want to be engaged with? Is it fair to assume that someone who is texting constantly is not willing to engage face to face with people right in front of them? Does a bluetooth ear piece a technological sign saying, “I’ll talk to you only if I want to…and I don’t want to unless you have my number and call me.”??

I’m convicted also…because I am a laptop user and I have an iPhone. I tend to look at the phone if I’m in meetings (although I do silence it), and if there’s a wifi signal I tend to at least WANT to check my email and facebook page. So I’m guilty of the same things I hate in others…the plank in my eye (not the speck in yours) is the priority here.

It takes some concerted effort to be open and “engaging” when around other people, for sure. It’s way easier to engage with technology than face to face (which may be the heart of the issue when all is said and done).

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