Are 'screens' Somehow Addictive

[nailit]

Ive been out all day (painting my aunties house....not that its relevant) But first thing this morning, about 7ish I was waking up with a cuppa and just looking out of my flat window at the people going to work below. Apart from a man walking his dog and a couple walking together, EVERYONE was walking with their nose in their phone (or whatever the latest gadget is) I actually tried to see if there was anyone else out and about that wasn't staring at a screen. There wasn't.
Since the invention of TV people have been glued to screens for endless hours. Then comes computers and people spend countless hours on computer screens (not just for work either) Then mobiles with wifi capability and people are now WALKING with a screen in front of them, tweeting/facebooking every minutiae of their lives.
WHY for God's sake? Are we incapable of interacting with each other without a screen?

(And yes, I'm well aware that Ive just written this on a screen but have spent the better part of the day interacting with real people...this is a diversion, not the norm)
Thanks.

[nailit]

Everybody must be glued to their TV's screens...
lol

[Tilly2]

It's not the screens per se, it's what's on them. I would say that I'm addicted to AB but other 'screens' don't hold much interest for me.

I spend most of my day interacting with others but I would miss my sessions on AB if it all folded.
I would rather talk to someone on the phone than send them a text message,then again, I'm a bit of a luddite. :-)

[nailit]

//I would rather talk to someone on the phone than send them a text message//
So would I Tills, even better I would rather talk face to face.
All a bit unnerving if you ask me.
Just WHEN did humans stop communicating with each other and start to communicate with techno instead?

[marval]

I see so many people glued to their screens, even at the doctors or in the hospital. I quite happily turn my phone off. I saw a young woman pushing a baby buggy, all the time glued to her phone. She even crossed a side road without looking, very lucky not to have an accident.

[237SJ]

One man (Mark Zuckerberg) has changed the whole way that people interact with each other the world over. Quite scary really. I think Facebook will implode eventually (not yet though)

[237SJ]

It's not just in the UK either. You should go on the tube in Hong Kong. Everyone is on their phone - young and old alike

[jno]

Phones are techno too. So are pen and paper, though pretty low tech: in Victorian times, people actually conversed by letter - deliveries were so frequent you could “chat” with someone across town. These are all replacements for face-to-face conversation.

Don’t forget, lots of people on screens are just playing games or listening to music, they’re not nessarily avoiding communication with others. And many are actually on their phones.

[Old_Geezer]

I'd agree with Tilly.
The brain chases after whatever is considered a reward. The screen is just a tool to interact with that which you enjoy. And after a while do not wish to deprive yourself of.

[pixie374]

I think people have far more communication with others now. Not less. There are just more options now.

[237SJ]

Someone told me that inventions used to be time saving but nowadays, they are time wasting.

[nailit]

///You should go on the tube in Hong Kong. Everyone is on their phone//
Not just the tube in Hong Kong!
Just my local Bus station will do, I want to SCREAM get of that phone...
People have become automatons.....

[237SJ]

No, trust me. If you think we are bad, you should go to the Far East. The land of gadgets. They love their gadgets.

[pixie374]

You wouldn't know any of us otherwise, nailit, and how tragic would that be? Lol.
I remember feeling quite isolated as a single parent with small children and I'm glad that has changed- my daughter seems to appreciate it too. Although there can be too much information sometimes, which isn't always helpful either.

[nailit]

I don't doubt you 237, just proving my point if anything. People are sheep. We will follow anything. I despair!

[237SJ]

Well, I guess there is nothing we can do about it. It is the way it is

[nailit]

///You wouldn't know any of us otherwise, nailit, and how tragic would that be? Lol//
In the great scheme of things probably not that tragic Pix.
Just another screen within a screen.Pixels withen pixels. peoples opinions within opinions....

[ummmm]

You’d think my son was glued to his phone but he’s not, he’s listening to music