Welcome to Real Time, a community building blog that seeks to provoke thought, encourage conversation, and help our friends and colleagues understand what goes on "behind the scenes" at the Maine Community Foundation.
Feb
8
Written by:
Meredith Jones
2/8/2010 3:54 PM
I spent last week in the sun in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I love Maine, but after an endless stretch of cold, biting wind, and snow, I was ready for a dose of humidity, warmth, and the sounds of summer. My sainted spouse (an Aroostook County native) joined me, dragging his feet at the thought of enduring the same things that delight me. His ideal is a mountain of snow to shovel and he has two snow scoops to prove it.
We enjoy small town living and the sense of community it engenders. It’s why we live in Belfast. In spite of obvious differences, San Juan has its own community flavor: A compact historic district filled with tourists on the prowl for art, jewelry and crafts; historic forts and architecture dating back to the 16th century; great restaurants on every corner; an abundance of parks and green squares; and, most importantly, friendly residents.
One of the ultimate expressions of community is the interaction between and among people. Throughout our week’s adventure, we were regularly greeted in both Spanish and English, helped when lost, and treated graciously in restaurants. But it was in many of these same restaurants that we were reminded of the power of technology to change the way we interact with one another, and it’s more than a little disconcerting.
Shortly after we were seated at one restaurant, a man and woman arrived with his and her smart phones, each with a glowing screen. Seated at an adjacent table, they put their heads down and began to text away, fingers flying non-stop for the next five minutes. Neither looked at nor spoke to the other until the server arrived with menus and interrupted their flow. Meanwhile, a person at another table excused himself on several occasions to answer his cell phone, talking in a loud voice so close that we could have easily been part of his conversation. At another restaurant we watched a parent text away while his young child watched, speechless.
I confess to my own compulsive behavior with my BlackBerry, but even I have boundaries. Have we forgotten that relationships depend on face-to-face interaction? Does this bode well for those of us who pride ourselves on work that builds community? Am I missing something?
I’m back in Maine, thrilled that the snow hit DC and not us, and planning to leave the BlackBerry at home when I leave in a few minutes for dinner. What about you?
Tags:
6 comment(s) so far...
Re: Too Much Texting in San Juan
My husband's Blackberry wouldn't turn on last week and he was thrilled! After months of pages, texts, emails, social networking updates, and calls, finally! a little peace and quiet. He planned to march right out the next day and downgrade to a regular cell, but alas, it turned on as normal the next morning. The whole ordeal just made me thankful I don't have one, and my job, as of now, doesn't demand it. Glad to hear that you are comfortable leaving it at home every now and then.
By Meredith E. on
2/9/2010 8:30 AM
|
Re: Too Much Texting in San Juan
My dear Meredith: I am sorry for your husband that his trusted BB crashed. Have you two set ground rules for acceptable BB behavior?
By Meredith Jones on
2/9/2010 1:22 PM
|
Re: Too Much Texting in San Juan
One of the joys of living in our part of Downeast Maine, is that we can proudly say to visitors, "Sorry, cell phones don't work here!" We truly are a throwback to the time before cellphones (until we are forced to travel back into "civilization") when the person talking next to you was actually talking to you. All these people using social networking sites and madly texting "friends" as they ignore the person next to them - are they truly searching for cyber community while ignoring the real people around them? I think your questions about how this affects relationships and community building are valid.
By Ruta Jordans on
2/10/2010 9:05 AM
|
Re: Too Much Texting in San Juan
Hi Meredith! You've inspired me with this post. I'm fascinated with how teenagers are using texting. My daughter has a limit of 750 texts a month which she usually depletes by the third week. While she still talks with her girlfriends on the phone, there are some friends she will only communicate with by texting and refuses to call if she's run her monthly limit and has a question. Of course, some days I think her communication with me might be better relayed ONLY via text message but I'm sort of nervous that 10 years or so from now I'll get a text w/something like: "ur grndbaby brn @ 1 a. lol sams" I guess this will be okay if she sends a pic, too.
By Tanya S. on
2/10/2010 9:06 AM
|
Re: Too Much Texting in San Juan
MJ
Drives me NUTS. We stopped smoking in restaurants - how about boxes by the door for cell phones?
Unplugging is so important.
Thanks for writing this - and helping us THINK, once again, about relationships.
By wendy penley on
2/16/2010 9:00 AM
|
Re: Too Much Texting in San Juan
So - what are we learning from all of this texting? Our young (and not so young) are becoming "bilingual" - i.e. - written english and "abbreviated english!" So much for devoting time to a real foreign language - since texting lingo is becoming universal. Remember Esperanto? It is here! For those of you too young to remember - google it! Ann
By Ann V Quinlan on
2/16/2010 9:01 AM
|
|
|