Wonderful Experience Today

[Scrappile]

I had a wonderful experience today and just got to say something about it.  I was in the waiting room, waiting to have blood drawn for a test.  There were around 15 people waiting.   Young, and old like me.  All were sitting there, their heads down, working their cell phones, except me and another old guy (like me) sitting across from me.  I smiled at him and said, "No cell phone either?"  He laughed and responded, "No, I leave that technical stuff to my wife.  She handles it", and then we started conversing with each other.  After about one minute of talking to each other, a younger lady in her 30's,  put phone and side, and said "if you don't mind, and she entered the conversation.  We talk, the three of us, for a solid 30 minutes.  Just talked about the old days and the current days.  Our younger day, kids, grandkids, and dogs. Telling stories and such. The young lady was right in the conversation, and I think we were kinda disappointed when they called our names to go give the blood samples.  I also noticed there were several others there who had put down their phones and were listening and smiling.  The other old guy came out and, as he went by me, patted my shoulder and said, "Have a great day, it was great talking to you."  The young lady got out while I was in having my blood drawn.  But as I was walking out to the parking lot, she was leaving in her car.  She lowered her window and said, "Thanks for the great conversation, I hope you have a great day."  In this day and age of uncertainty and chaos, this was a big deal to me.  I went home feeling great.  

Edited March 27 by Scrappile

[JJB]

This made me smile.

[jerry walters]

That is amazing Paul.  The last time I went to the Dr. a bunch of us old guys had struck up a conversation about mostly military.  It was at the VA sp we naturally had a subject matter.  A Navy guy, an Army guy, and me an Air Force guy.  So naturally me being Air Force I said I took the easy way.  Of cource the aggreed.  I get that a lot.  Soon the conversation lead to grand kids and dogs.  About that time we all got called for our appointments.  Like you Paul, made the waiting go faster.

Jerry

[Dan]

Yes,humanity still exists. Maybe if we pay it forward we can carry on a little longer.

[JimNC]

34 minutes ago, Dan said:

Yes,humanity still exists. Maybe if we pay it forward we can carry on a little longer.

My wife and I 4 years ago moved from Charlotte, North Carolina to a small town in central NC. Not that we really wanted to but because of the cost of living in the larger cities. We love it, people actually talk to you here, and we don't miss the "big" city rudeness.  

[OCtoolguy]

If given the opportunity, we seniors might just have a positive influence on the younger folks. Thanks Paul, great story.

[Bill WIlson]

As another "older" guy who isn't welded to his cell phone, I loved your story.  It gives me hope that real human contact and conversation still has some legs in this culture.

By the way, along those lines, I had a 3 hour breakfast this morning with several old friends.  This is a regular, bi-weekly event that, up until today, I had to rush off early to get to work.  Today was he first time I could sit and leisurely enjoy the company of these old friends for as long as I wanted.  It was great!

[rjweb]

Paul, there is still hope, when you go to a resturant to eat, and look around seems like everyone is on their phone, I liked the old days parents talking, kids playing games and coloring, RJ

[kmmcrafts]

Something similar happen to me last fall while at a doctors office... while we didn't get much talking in but there was still mention of everyone using their phones. I had mine but I rarely look at it when in a office or even out in public as I like to be alert to what's happening around me when out and about. Never know these days, I might have to fire a round at some fool and save people that have no idea what's going on because they're looking at their phones. There was a older lady and she seen me put my phone in my pocket as I sat down. She looked at me kinda surprised I think she started talking but I got called in really quick so didn't get to talk really. 

[barb.j.enders]

Okay,  to put a slightly different take on the phone use.  While hubby and I are out for dinner, phones are generally not allowed.  However,  if there is something that is said or questioned, the phone tends to be quickly pulled out to do some fact checking.  It often will add to the conversation and move us to a different tangent.  

[Scrappile]

We weren't disparaging cell phones; they definitely have great purpose,  I just think is was so nice for the three of us, different generations to have such a nice conversation.  More of that and there would be less stress in this world, I think,

[Hawk]

I am always amazed at when I'm at a restaurant of waiting room, everybody, head down buried in their phone. While mine is in my pocket "just in case" I can't say as I've ever done that. People are funny to watch. 

[Scrappile]

I guess, it is up to us old timers. Just start having a conversation.  May work, may not, but this experience made me try harder.

[Bill WIlson]

Studies are being released more & more, showing the detrimental effects of too much device time (social media, video games, etc) and too little socialization is having on our society, especially our kids.  Eventually, this premise will work its way into the cultural zeitgeist and maybe in a generation or two we will have begun to reverse the trend.  Unfortunately, we'll all have to live with the damage that is being done in the interim.  Then there is the Pandora's Box of AI that we are just beginning to open up.

I'm not a total Luddite.  I understand the benefits of technology, but so many younger folks today fail to see any downside.  They're just growing up with it and not knowing anything else.  Us older folks have to keep trying to point out the potential dangers and show them alternatives.

Apologies for getting all serious about this, but I expect there will be a significant price to pay for all of this dependence upon technology.  I may not be around to see it, but my kids and grandkids likely will.

[Scrappile]

I think the COVID lockdown helped our world to become less social also.  Heck, it is difficult to talk to some one and not stay 

6' distance!