Monday, 04 March 2013
In Thrall to Technology
By Ross Middleton
There can be too many questions
But without some
We cannot get answers
And
Though no answer suffices forever
What we find out can give us insight
And in today’s world
It’s not something to be sneezed at
There is underneath it all
Not always recognized
The belief we’re somehow progressing
Technology is going on apace
And many people seem happy with it
Of course there’s the problem
Not everyone can afford it
But we’re assured
By those who know
Everyone will eventually catch up with everyone
And we’ll all have what we want
An assumption underneath this assumption
Is that even if some are left behind
It doesn’t really matter
That’s how things are
Progress of sorts
More refined machines
Tiny technology allowing marvellous things
Today the wonder is the handset
Endlessly fascinating
Everything is contained therein
Lists games information
Contact with the world
Outside the cafes they sit
Their eyes glued to the phone
A slight deferential bow
Acknowledging their master
What do you learn in these minutes of random wandering?
What do you miss?
There are moments sitting there
When you relax
Thoughts come into your mind
Or as you look around you see
The people walking past
Somebody might interest you
Old or young
You can read character in a face
Understand physicality in a gait
Sometimes somebody smiles at you
Don’t fool yourself
None of this is on the screen
It’s all information
How full do you want to be?
The introspective self about to burst
Another byte would be nice
The old folk are inside
The café is close to full
Their phones are not as much in evidence
Not immediately essential
Not needed to define themselves
The oldies are progressing too
They are moving towards death
Who is worse off?
Are the phones shutting us all down
Negating our potential
Do we need them as much as they tell us
Or can we
Sometimes
Leave them alone?
[INVITATION: All elders, 50 and older, are welcome to submit stories for this blog. They can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, etc. Please read instructions for submitting.]
Posted by Ronni Bennett at 05:30 AM | Permalink | Email this post
Comments
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Well said, indeed! I see teens on the bus who are so absorbed by their phones that they can't see the elderly or expectant moms who need to sit down. Ten years ago, this same age-group pretended to be asleep to avoid giving up their seats.
Posted by: ~ Sil in Corea | Wednesday, 06 March 2013 at 03:51 AM