"When did this obsession begin? Do we blame Steve Jobs or Apple?" I blustered while standing in the Apple store and softly caressing the new watch.
I find myself constantly fighting the urge to respond to the pinging of the iPhone. Looking around I see that I'm not the only one.
Standing at the traffic light with cars on either side of me, I watch with amusement at drivers texting frantically or doing something with their phone .. there were people on the sidewalk, head bent concentrated on the phone .. even a nice walk in the nature is nothing without YouTube blaring .. what has become to all of us?
The introduction of iPhone in 2000's marked of the beginning of the age of connectivity. People slowly got dragged into this and soon addicted to this artificial world ..
Their eyes focused on the iPhone
hands typing vigorously
oblivious to their surroundings
They sat like zombies in the metro passivelyWith a white cable dangling from their ears
a weird noise blaring untimely
Their feet tapping to silent rhythm
they were lost in their gung-ho world frequently
- an excerpt from the poem "zombies", 2013
and it is not just our daily life that has been impacted. Our relationships suffer too .. the rise of Tick Toks and Instagrams adds to this craving and deprives nurturing a healthy relationship .. we seldom talk to the spouse next to us but prefer texting .. we are more interested in "others" than someone next to us .. the insatiable FOMO - fear of missing out .. we are constantly looking online with fatal results ..
She yearned for him
Her eyes scanning the horizon
to quickly zoom into him
for in him she found her perfect partnerShe could not wait to chat
to drench him in her emotional rain
Narrate every moment of her day
to drown him in her sorrow, joy and stain
- an excerpt from the poem "perfect partner", 2007
The light changed to green and the cars moved forward. I chuckled while continuing to drive back home.