SHARED THOUGHTS….. 16.05.2015.
===============================
Much time has elapsed since my previous dispatch in Shared Thoughts. I
confess the culprits were some hectic travel schedule and an issue with
sitting for a long while.
Blame game.
We had a nice trip to USA and Canada that lasted 25 days. The sights and
sounds are etched not only in our memory but also in the memory of our very
smart phone. This device acts as a phone more as a third or fourth option;
others being the role of a camera; it is used widely to connect with the
world of friends and relatives thru social media and if need be as a phone.
In our earlier travels, I used to carry my good old digital camera, very
good old video camera ; sure, the phone will be in a corner, hardly called
to perform, because the calls are far and few between.
During travels to various places, camera functions as the best recorder of
all that is good our eyes have seen. Yet, I recall having to quickly grab my
video camera to record a good passing moment before it ceases to exist…
camera will be in one hand, video in another, often shooting with one hand,
both the devices strapped across my shoulder to prevent a fatal fall..As
soon as we are back to base from such tours, the first thing I do is to
transfer the pictures to a CD or a flash drive, where it is safe.
Since the smart phones came into being, it is sad to see that this bully is
pushing off the loyal camera and video camera into oblivion and assume multi
roles like the Bollywood hero who sometimes don not only double role but
also that of a dozen roles. Today this contraption which is aptly named
‘smart’ phone not only rules our life, but also make us rue its overpowering
influence on our daily life.
Coming back to our trip to US, we returned with a good 350 plus pictures all
stuffed into our mobile Note4’s memory. To all those who greeted us on our
return, it was a good feeling to show off the pictures and videos that
captured the chill in minus 16 deg C outdoors and the famous landmarks in
the back drop of several cities traversed.
But then, my smart phone has a mind of its own.. seemingly to justify why it
is smart. It just decided enough is enough.. the entire picture gallery got
wiped off without any provocation or a prompt. All pictures just vanished
out its memory !!! I had such deep faith in the reliability of my smart
phone, that it never seemed necessary for me to sit and transfer all the
pictures to a safer location, as was my habit until recently, presumably
thinking if I did that immediately on my return, my smart phone would feel
offended.
I had to find somebody to blame. Looking around, I could blame that shop
keeper who took my phone and gave it a new protective tempered glass and a
new back cover.
If it was not him, then it might have been at the hands of my nephew who
went through all the pictures.. he must have done something. How comforting
if only I could find someone to blame.
============================================================================
=============\
Modern day slaves.
The day began as usual. The dawn of yet another day... anything can happen
when you look at the day yet to unfold. With positive feelings I recited my
simple short morning prayers to thank God and remembering those whom my
memory hold dear. Getting up from bed, my hands go to search for the phone
on the night stand. With the phone in one hand, I walk to the wash room.. a
quick glance at whatsapp. ..then to the kitchen to make my own cup of green
tea and a glass of cinnamon water, all the while reading the messages.
With the phone held tight on one hand, I then walk to my work desk, with my
tea cup in the other hand. Comfortably seated, it is time to connect with
friends and relatives to exchange morning pleasantries.. from silent mode,
I activate my notification sound. I can hear the incoming good morning
wishes from loved ones. I reply to each of them. Further I recall all those
who mean something to me, who have not yet thought of me. How can I leave
them alone? So here goes. One warm good morning message to many of them.
Laptop is opened and then I am available to my vendors, colleagues and
customers far and wide, beyond continents. I am satisfied that the day has
begun well.. Visit to wash room is not complete without the phone in hand to
catch up with the latest breaking news ! This smart device has obliterated
the good old newspaper and cross word puzzle & pen!! It was so common to see
until very recently, days of newspapers stuffed in a corner of the washroom,
in whichever house one would visit.
Time for morning walk and then a session of exercises. Shower, prayer,
breakfast, dress up and out of home to office. .. and then it happened.
Totally unexpected and unplanned. I am already at the first signal and it is
red. Hands go to look for the phone to while away the good 2-3 minutes at
the signal. And then the sudden realisation that something is missing on
myself.. a part of myself is missing.. .. oh my God.. forgot to carry the
phone… but then it is too late to get back What happens next is pure
horror.. highly edgy, restless hours not just for myself but for those
trying to reach me wondering what happened. To some, this can be even a life
threatening experience.
No use crying over it, blaming anyone else, kicking myself how this could
happen.
Try doing this.. a very difficult thing to do… for just one day.. nay, one
full day it is too much. You may not survive. Try this most difficult thing
to do, for half a day.
Leave your phone at home and go out. Or simply switch off the phone &
computer for half a day. Check your BP levels before and after the duration.
If you have survived, then my congratulations.
We have humbly submitted ourselves to the influence of electronics to rule
our life. We are nothing but modern day slaves to these devices. There is no
escape.
Writing and reading are the casualties of this electronic invasion into our
households and office. It is a pity to see the so called graduates fumbling
with a pen unable to scribble anything coherent, rather the doctors would
find their hand writing highly legible before the present generation growing
up without paper.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------\
“ The battle you are going through is not fuelled by the words or actions of
others. It is fuelled by the mind that gives it importance.”
============================================================================
=======================\
Wish you all an enjoyable and safe weekend.
MOHANDAS. KIZHAKKE
===============================
Much time has elapsed since my previous dispatch in Shared Thoughts. I
confess the culprits were some hectic travel schedule and an issue with
sitting for a long while.
Blame game.
We had a nice trip to USA and Canada that lasted 25 days. The sights and
sounds are etched not only in our memory but also in the memory of our very
smart phone. This device acts as a phone more as a third or fourth option;
others being the role of a camera; it is used widely to connect with the
world of friends and relatives thru social media and if need be as a phone.
In our earlier travels, I used to carry my good old digital camera, very
good old video camera ; sure, the phone will be in a corner, hardly called
to perform, because the calls are far and few between.
During travels to various places, camera functions as the best recorder of
all that is good our eyes have seen. Yet, I recall having to quickly grab my
video camera to record a good passing moment before it ceases to exist…
camera will be in one hand, video in another, often shooting with one hand,
both the devices strapped across my shoulder to prevent a fatal fall..As
soon as we are back to base from such tours, the first thing I do is to
transfer the pictures to a CD or a flash drive, where it is safe.
Since the smart phones came into being, it is sad to see that this bully is
pushing off the loyal camera and video camera into oblivion and assume multi
roles like the Bollywood hero who sometimes don not only double role but
also that of a dozen roles. Today this contraption which is aptly named
‘smart’ phone not only rules our life, but also make us rue its overpowering
influence on our daily life.
Coming back to our trip to US, we returned with a good 350 plus pictures all
stuffed into our mobile Note4’s memory. To all those who greeted us on our
return, it was a good feeling to show off the pictures and videos that
captured the chill in minus 16 deg C outdoors and the famous landmarks in
the back drop of several cities traversed.
But then, my smart phone has a mind of its own.. seemingly to justify why it
is smart. It just decided enough is enough.. the entire picture gallery got
wiped off without any provocation or a prompt. All pictures just vanished
out its memory !!! I had such deep faith in the reliability of my smart
phone, that it never seemed necessary for me to sit and transfer all the
pictures to a safer location, as was my habit until recently, presumably
thinking if I did that immediately on my return, my smart phone would feel
offended.
I had to find somebody to blame. Looking around, I could blame that shop
keeper who took my phone and gave it a new protective tempered glass and a
new back cover.
If it was not him, then it might have been at the hands of my nephew who
went through all the pictures.. he must have done something. How comforting
if only I could find someone to blame.
============================================================================
=============\
Modern day slaves.
The day began as usual. The dawn of yet another day... anything can happen
when you look at the day yet to unfold. With positive feelings I recited my
simple short morning prayers to thank God and remembering those whom my
memory hold dear. Getting up from bed, my hands go to search for the phone
on the night stand. With the phone in one hand, I walk to the wash room.. a
quick glance at whatsapp. ..then to the kitchen to make my own cup of green
tea and a glass of cinnamon water, all the while reading the messages.
With the phone held tight on one hand, I then walk to my work desk, with my
tea cup in the other hand. Comfortably seated, it is time to connect with
friends and relatives to exchange morning pleasantries.. from silent mode,
I activate my notification sound. I can hear the incoming good morning
wishes from loved ones. I reply to each of them. Further I recall all those
who mean something to me, who have not yet thought of me. How can I leave
them alone? So here goes. One warm good morning message to many of them.
Laptop is opened and then I am available to my vendors, colleagues and
customers far and wide, beyond continents. I am satisfied that the day has
begun well.. Visit to wash room is not complete without the phone in hand to
catch up with the latest breaking news ! This smart device has obliterated
the good old newspaper and cross word puzzle & pen!! It was so common to see
until very recently, days of newspapers stuffed in a corner of the washroom,
in whichever house one would visit.
Time for morning walk and then a session of exercises. Shower, prayer,
breakfast, dress up and out of home to office. .. and then it happened.
Totally unexpected and unplanned. I am already at the first signal and it is
red. Hands go to look for the phone to while away the good 2-3 minutes at
the signal. And then the sudden realisation that something is missing on
myself.. a part of myself is missing.. .. oh my God.. forgot to carry the
phone… but then it is too late to get back What happens next is pure
horror.. highly edgy, restless hours not just for myself but for those
trying to reach me wondering what happened. To some, this can be even a life
threatening experience.
No use crying over it, blaming anyone else, kicking myself how this could
happen.
Try doing this.. a very difficult thing to do… for just one day.. nay, one
full day it is too much. You may not survive. Try this most difficult thing
to do, for half a day.
Leave your phone at home and go out. Or simply switch off the phone &
computer for half a day. Check your BP levels before and after the duration.
If you have survived, then my congratulations.
We have humbly submitted ourselves to the influence of electronics to rule
our life. We are nothing but modern day slaves to these devices. There is no
escape.
Writing and reading are the casualties of this electronic invasion into our
households and office. It is a pity to see the so called graduates fumbling
with a pen unable to scribble anything coherent, rather the doctors would
find their hand writing highly legible before the present generation growing
up without paper.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------\
“ The battle you are going through is not fuelled by the words or actions of
others. It is fuelled by the mind that gives it importance.”
============================================================================
=======================\
Wish you all an enjoyable and safe weekend.
MOHANDAS. KIZHAKKE
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