Etrian Oddity
Member
Too many people locking themselves into their iPhone and earbuds (don't forget the sunglasses, can't let people see you looking at them either!).
Is it just me or have people become less social?
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It's a Gift of the Magi situation. You only have enough money to party, relax and explore at your own pace when you're too old to appreciate it. My parents have spent the last few years going on 2-3 trips per year, but I wonder if they get frustrated they can't do everything on them that they could have in their younger years.
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
What constitutes social changes, too.
In the US, "social" for a lot of people, for a century, might have meant: going to social parties lubricated by alcohol, going to bars, and for the high class, going out to cocktail parties. Also going to sporting events. Or dance clubs.
Some of these things might be changing. For example, I know a number of people who certainly aren't internet shut-ins, and would like to head out with others, but they don't like drinking and don't like the club scene with the drugs in it. A lot of traditional social venues are put-offs. There may be less casual sex and pick-ups in a lot of social climes depending on where you are, as well.
By contrast, for some people I know "social" now means going out with small groups for outdoor activities. Hiking, biking, and trailblazing. I know more people who go out hiking today, than 20 years ago.
In the US, "social" for a lot of people, for a century, might have meant: going to social parties lubricated by alcohol, going to bars, and for the high class, going out to cocktail parties. Also going to sporting events. Or dance clubs.
Some of these things might be changing. For example, I know a number of people who certainly aren't internet shut-ins, and would like to head out with others, but they don't like drinking and don't like the club scene with the drugs in it. A lot of traditional social venues are put-offs. There may be less casual sex and pick-ups in a lot of social climes depending on where you are, as well.
By contrast, for some people I know "social" now means going out with small groups for outdoor activities. Hiking, biking, and trailblazing. I know more people who go out hiking today, than 20 years ago.
CommonSense
Banned
I make all of my sales reps put their phones in a bucket on my desk when we have meetings. Crude....but effective. Those dudes are slick at answering emails and appearing to pay attention lol.
I do notice that a lot. I have seen dudes texting EACH OTHER while 3 great looking girls sit a table across from them texting each other as well. Sad.
CommonSense
Banned
I am totally cool with replying to the wife or a friend quickly.....that is not even a big deal. However going to dinner and spending it staring at your phone is bullshit. Why bother?
I made a post about this before...
my 20 yr old younger sister (don't ask for pics) GAF.., invited about 7 of her friends over and while settling in for day
everyone of them was in the living room with a phone, laptop, or tablet
not really saying anything to each other for a couple of hours
then they wrangled each other and me "yelped" a place to wine and dine for the night
same scenario, dinner table, tablets and phones, barely F2F talking : /
what the fuck is going on ? The internet has changed everything
I miss the 90s
change this to a phone and thats pretty much whats going on these days.
my 20 yr old younger sister (don't ask for pics) GAF.., invited about 7 of her friends over and while settling in for day
everyone of them was in the living room with a phone, laptop, or tablet
not really saying anything to each other for a couple of hours
then they wrangled each other and me "yelped" a place to wine and dine for the night
same scenario, dinner table, tablets and phones, barely F2F talking : /
what the fuck is going on ? The internet has changed everything
I miss the 90s
change this to a phone and thats pretty much whats going on these days.
Seriously I feel sorry for this generation of low 20 year old
They are so ill prepared for the real world. They have been coddled and allow to do whatever they please growing up so have no idea how to over come adversity. Most of them still don't understand the basic concept of life isn't fair and you have to do best with the hand you're dealt.
Most just spend non stop bitching on why does so and so have this and I don't.
Parents should be guiding their children. It's the entire point of having wisdom.
CommonSense
Banned
Don't forget to add that there is no longer a winner or a loser. Everyone gets the same damn participation ribbon. I can't begin to explain how bad this sets up children for the real world.
Even in business I see this now.
My generation "We are going to get this shit done, let's figure it out and get it done"
College kids "Uh, what should I do now sir? And now sir? And now? Am I doing it right?"
if we lost
My generation "Fuck...this sucks. Alright let's figure out how to prevent this from happening again"
College kids "Oh well, we tried. Let's go have lunch"
Ninja Scooter
Member
People older than you said the same shit about your generation. I guarantee it. This kind of stuff doesn't change from generation to generation as much as you guys would like to believe it does. Someone who is an out going go-getter isn't going to not be this way because iPhones and the Internet exist, and someone who is a socially inept hermit isn't that way because iPhones and the Internet exist. They would have been the same way 10/15/20 years ago.
Yup. If you ask me, we're more social than ever. Twitter, Facebook, I'll even throw in G+.
Anyone that doesn't use those sites are anti-social. Get it. "ANTI" "SOCIAL".
captainnapalm
Member
It's undoubtedly true, and I am also undoubtedly part of the problem.
travisbickle
Member
Where do you work?
I'm a university professor and non of the students are like this.
I'd say they are more able and more social, because barriers and social norms are being broken/reassessed all the time.
Deadly Cyclone
Pride of Iowa State
I'm with you. I did do a good amount of partying in school, and now tat I am out I am still social, but the one thing I never did in school was the whole girlfriend thing, so now with less people around to go out with it's much harder to meet new people.
GungHo
Single-handedly caused Exxon-Mobil to sue FOX, start World War 3
I've seen people doing this when they were clearly on a date. At one point they were texting each other (could tell by the reactions). Made me feel old.
kutthoat5150
Member
I noticed this when working in retail, when it was time for somebody to pay, they would take out their phone act like they were texting or whatever, didn't even look up at me once while checking out. In college while walking to class on the sidewalk, when somebody is walking directly toward me they pull out their phone as they pass me. When I see girls walking by themselves around campus or out shopping, they have their phone glued to their ear which I'm pretty sure nobody is on the other line, but I think to myself how the conversation might go, " Hey I'm walking by myself right now, so if you could just talk to me for a bit so nobody will bother me that will be cool." Sad world we live in today
I'm in a similar situation. I've got plenty of time and money to go out and my friends have neither. Also given that I'm already hard to talk to if you've never met me, people around me constantly using their electronic devices aren't helping me fix that.
Sad because that's not how you had it when you were that age? Or if same age, sad it's different from whn you were younger?
As ninja scooter pointed out, guaranteed out older generation was lamenting in the same exact way, except it was probably about TVs and personal stereo systems. And video games. They would've felt that technology was replacing certain social norms.
Technology is about tools for enhacing life. It's not the fault of technology of any so-called social decline I it's what people choose to do with it. Something being an enabler of an issue isn't really the cause of it.
Admiral Bone to Pick
Banned
So which awesome generation is yours? The one of jaded slackers or the one of dirty hippies? What generational stereotype encapsulates you?
ThisWreckage
Banned
I've always been reclusive, but I think that the Internet, facebook, and especially text messaging have placed a cold wedge into human interaction.
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