After spending the majority of the past six years in small town America (Haviland-Western, Kansas and then Chandler-Central Oklahoma) I have now completed almost four months back in the 'city'.
I can't help but notice how many people are text messaging while riding their bikes to or from work or school. It seems dangerous to me. The next thing I've noticed is how many people are text messaging at the YMCA while lifting weights or running on the treadmills. I find that time a great one to turn the phone off or leave it in the car - but others feel the need to stay connected.
In conclusion, some might react initially to such observations with judgement, wishing for the "good ole days of the past" (i.e., no cell phones). While I do certainly believe that we have to have a rhythm in our lives of plugging in and working hard and staying connected and then resting, unplugging, and withdrawing from technology and the 'rat race'. But not that our culture and society today don't have serious issues, maybe the symptoms are just different? I think a better response and conclusion is "Hmm...interesting," instead of, "isn't that terrible"! Life will probably (ok...most certainly) change significantly more in the next 40 years and hopefully even then we'll be able to relaxingly say "hmm...that's different" instead of "wrong"!
Are some of these kind of societal changes "right", "wrong", or could they just be "different"?
