Immersed in cell phones,
ear-phones on ear, engrossed in reading a recent tweet or up-date, hypnotized by
the spell of smart-phones, unconscious from their next door neighbor,
extrinsically pleasant but intrinsically exhausted, frustrated, worn out and
fatigued, I find zombies everywhere, technological zombies.
If I go twenty years back, I feel like that we were quite happy when the phone
was only an instrument, a call making or text receiving instrument. But in
modern age it seems that our young generation is hardly unaware about “phone”
existing in their smart-phones. We are not just mortified by smart phones;
rather there are tabs, palmtops and many other electronic devices.
To greet birthdays, marriages, momentous events physical visit was considered
pivotal. Each rendezvous used to result in strengthened family bonds, fastened
relationships and shortened spiritual distance. There was no sensation of
alienation and loneliness. We were sure of having people side by side in the
time distress and demoralization. Then “phone” was thrown in our lives same as a
stone is thrown in rivers to disrupt the peace of river. Preferences were
changed, life was transformed, and new patterns of living were evolved.
Initially the feeling of having an instrument that could connect you to your
dear-ones living hundred and thousand miles away was very delightful. Voice of
those could be heard daily, with whom meeting was only possible in a year. At
start we used to control our phone, later it started controlling our lives.
Instead of making a visit it was great comfort to say “happy birthday” or “Eid
Muabarak” through a phne-call.
Then we stepped forward ahead. We got more thrifty and parsimonious. Rather
making a “call” we placed reliance on sending a “wish-full” text. Days passed
by, we got more advanced and sophisticated but perplexed and exhausted. Now we
don’t make a call or send a text rather we update a status on face book, tweet
on tweeter account or keep the others informed through whats aap.
The one who receives a baby or gets married, gets a job or accomplish a degree
posts a status and those who want to wish him either open-heatedly or
close-fistedly comments below the status. No facial interaction, no
warm-exchange of feeling just a hollow or dry “congratulation” we give or
receive. I feel like that it is not the celebration rather an insult of the
bounty that we receive.
Technology was introduced to make our life easier and comfortable so that we
could have more time to celebrate, interact and to exhale a sigh of grieve. It
was made the part of our lives to give us “something” may be some relief. But it
seems that it has taken away more as compared to what it has given to us. I am
not against the use of technology or communicating devices rather I just want
the people to make their cell phones wait not the dear-ones.
We keep an eye on cell phone while walking, eating, drinking, driving and some
time breathing. Those who are expert can even write a text without looking at
the screen. We are mesmerized by their spell. This unbridled spell seems on
approaching more rather than diminishing. I don’t want anyone to flush out his
smart phone as I myself can’t do that. But do decide its time in your life, not
let it to be control you as it is only an instrument not your boss. A call that
is coming while you are having a family lunch can wait, or come again. It is not
the last call or not the end of the world. If its interference in our life isn’t
curtailed then a time would come when we would completely be a zombie, bitten,
stricken, suffered by technology.
Furthermore scientist has suggested there is strong connection between the
excessive use of cell phone and various hazardous diseases. People who use
social medial excessively are more prone to depression, anxiety and
hypertension. This is not the end of the story rather a beginning. Unbridled use
of smart phones while driving has exceeded the number of road accidents. Rapid
invention and transformation in communication industry has widened the
generation gap. Menace of morally weaken society from increasing cross-gender
relationships by the uncontrolled use of phone and social media are yet to
unearth.
None the thing is bad itself rather it is we who make it good or bad. Technology
isn’t horrifying itself but the way we are using it is quite dreadful.
Unrestrained use of mechanical tool is same as we are riding an unbridled horse,
where it would lead us, is yet unknown.