On my soapbox!

As you know I'm fascinated by President Nelsons quote about being "immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions" by daily reading of the Book of Mormon.  Well, he says to "daily immerse yourself" in the book so that is more than a glancing at the written page!  Since I read that Prophetic promise I've wondered/thought/prayed/pondered as to what qualifies as "other mind-numbing addictions".

What ended up #1 on my list is mis-use of the marvels of the marvelous technology that is so readily available.  I felt backed up when I read what Elder Neil L. Andersen posted on May 10.

To have the help of the Holy Ghost, we have to prepare our mind and heart. In today’s world, you need discipline and restraint in how you use your technological devices.

Adam Alter, in his book called “Irresistible,” speaks about the addictive behavior of technology and social media. He quotes Greg Hochmuth, one of Instagram’s founding engineers, commenting: “‘There’s always another hashtag to click on. Then it takes on its own life, like an organism, and people can become obsessive.’ Instagram, like so many social media platforms, is bottomless. Facebook has an endless feed; Netflix automatically moves on to the next episode in a series; Tinder encourages users to keep swiping in search of a better option.”

For the Spirit to dwell in us, we have to have time and space. Learn to put your smartphones down. Insert time when your technology is intentionally not accessible.

In conference, President M. Russell Ballard said: “Too many allow themselves to almost live online with their smart devices—screens illuminating their faces day and night and earbuds in their ears blocking out the still, small voice of the Spirit. If we do not find time to unplug, we may miss opportunities to hear the voice of Him who said, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10). Now, there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of the advances in the technologies inspired by the Lord, but we must be wise in their use.”

I ordered the book he quoted from and also two others.  My favorite one is the really quick read Disconnected.  I could easily be a book salesman for that little book!

Disconnected  here      Irresistible here   Reset your childs brain  here

My home houses just my Hubby and I.  We have no children here and all those decisions to be made and how to do it and when and what devices to buy and how to monitor and how to limit and etc. etc. are not anything we address at all.... so why do I care?  From the things I read...it can easily become an addiction.  So yes, I do care.  It impacts my life even with my being in the age of dinosaurs and thinking email is a big deal and why doesn't everyone use it to communicate and also...still having a landline  plus loving the feel of paper and holding a book.  Very old school but I am old so isn't that age appropriate!?

At the recent wedding reception preparations, there were probably 6 phones laying on the counter.  Pinging and dinging with different ring tones.  Fingers wiping and swiping.  It was so interesting to see that managing those phones was as natural as breathing.  How do people relax and not have to tend these phones every minute?  It's like hauling an oxygen bottle and most are never free of it.  Phones are seldom lost or misplaced or accidentally left behind.  People will sit in a room and never speak!  Airports are totally quiet with everyone thumb wiggling...so for a reader, that is really a bonus!  a quiet crowd.

I find myself ignorant of the etiquette rules of contacting people on PM.  I am the minority in wanting to write sentences and not abbreviate and speak a language that is foreign.  I don't even know when to call people and not interrupt them.  Maybe I'm a mess and don't know it?  One thing though that I do know is this...IF you call someone on their smart phone- they will immediately see that you called. That is awkward when they don't answer or return the call!  I'm equally bad though as I don't check messages and I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the number and if my phone is in another room and I don't get it before the 3rd ring...I have no idea who called as the caller ID goes blank.

In today's world, I appreciate the safety factor of having a phone to travel with, even just to grocery shop.  I like the idea of that feeling I can reach someone.  For years I had a little tiny flip phone and I'd make sure I had it with me in the car.  I shared the number with my sister and a son and a close friend.  Eventually, actually not to long ago, it died with no chance of revival.  My son found me a new phone but not a flip phone.  He was showing me how to use it and suddenly a little keyboard popped up and he said...this is for texting.  I said...I don't want to text but this is nice... Sort of like a training a person for using a Smart Phone.  A trainer phone.  He said...Mom!  This is a Smart Phone. I was shocked and said I didn't want a smart phone etc. etc.  Well, I have one.  I have learned to take pictures with it and I may learn to do FaceTime with Grandkids.  I do need to do that FaceTime deal.  I feel I'm being held hostage in a way and I know I need to embrace more than I now do but....

I don't know if I'm old and rebellious and stubborn or what!!!  I do know that I have enough challenges in my life without adding what I now, totally believe, can (and most likely will) become an addiction to the mix of my own life messes!  I also know that I'm on my soap box...ranting and raving!

Even Bill Gates and Steve Jobs and Silicon Valley tech nerds recognize there are dangers and guard their children.

Silicon Valley parents raising tech-free kiddos here

46 second clip...Bill Gates/Steve Jobs  here