Advancement of technology is fast becoming a nuisance for the ethically inclined – it is transforming itself from being a boon to being a bane of our progressive, educated, tech-savvy and young society. High-tech gadgets, most notably mobile phones, are making many of us forget the time and place which we are in, when we do use them. To people around us, this seems to be very unprofessional (if indiscretions happen at the workplace), rude and sometimes out-and-out offensive.
These days, none of us can afford to switch off our mobile phones even for a few hours even if we want to. It’s fast becoming a highly essential piece of non-sense that keeps us bothering most of the time. The silly little idiot-piece just rings anytime anywhere causing loss of concentration to many. Sometimes we do not even have the basic common sense to use a soft, pleasant ring tone, or if we cannot get one, to at least keep our phones on vibration mode.
We carry it anywhere, starting from conference rooms, to public transport, libraries, movie theatres, ICCU wards and even to funerals. People make or take phone calls in places like hospitals and libraries, even when the posters are admonishing at their face with words like “Please switch off your mobile phones.” I have seen a couple of funeral services myself, where even elderly gentlemen fail to understand the gravity of the situation around them and keep their mobile phones not only switched on, but also in sound mode. To me, these guys should go back to some good schools and learn some basic etiquette which we teach to class V kids.
It is true that manners change as society changes, and perhaps with technology invading our private space far too often for our liking, we are definitely in need of a manifesto which would provide us with a new set of manners.
No comments:
Post a Comment