I don't have a problem with portable tech specifically, our devices facilitate our lives, but it is making people seriously fucking dull...
I started to photograph people in company on their phones as there was a certain symmetry to them and it appealed on a visual level but as I continued I noticed an inherent sadness to the proceedings.
Here were two people who had chosen to be together at that moment but had nothing to say to one another or were too awkward to speak.
Before mobile phones were invented people would have had no choice but to interact but that is no longer necessary as we can all now "pretend' we are doing something "important" on our devices rather than think of something to say.
This is killing conversation. We are losing our interactive skills and its kinda just plain rude - you're in company, so act like it. I know it feels like its smoothing over social pain but it is actually increasing it.
They have done research which revealed that people who conversed with their phones visible on the table (not even in use) were less likely to bond than those who kept them hidden away. Having the phone out is basically saying that anyone else is more important than you, the person in front of me.
Sadly its just social ineptitude that is driving this, which in a catch 22 situation is exacerbated by our increased screen-based non-interactive lives.
Most people used to use cigarettes as a social prop which were admittedly bad for your health but at least they didn't turn people into 'plugged in' bores. Together we must be strong and release ourselves from the shackles of smartphones and bring face to face chat back!
babycakes romero
I started to photograph people in company on their phones as there was a certain symmetry to them and it appealed on a visual level but as I continued I noticed an inherent sadness to the proceedings.
Here were two people who had chosen to be together at that moment but had nothing to say to one another or were too awkward to speak.
Before mobile phones were invented people would have had no choice but to interact but that is no longer necessary as we can all now "pretend' we are doing something "important" on our devices rather than think of something to say.
This is killing conversation. We are losing our interactive skills and its kinda just plain rude - you're in company, so act like it. I know it feels like its smoothing over social pain but it is actually increasing it.
They have done research which revealed that people who conversed with their phones visible on the table (not even in use) were less likely to bond than those who kept them hidden away. Having the phone out is basically saying that anyone else is more important than you, the person in front of me.
Sadly its just social ineptitude that is driving this, which in a catch 22 situation is exacerbated by our increased screen-based non-interactive lives.
Most people used to use cigarettes as a social prop which were admittedly bad for your health but at least they didn't turn people into 'plugged in' bores. Together we must be strong and release ourselves from the shackles of smartphones and bring face to face chat back!
babycakes romero
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Image by: babycakes romero

Image by: babycakes romero

Image by: babycakes romero

Image by: babycakes romero

Image by: babycakes romero

Image by: babycakes romero

Image by: babycakes romero

Image by: babycakes romero

Image by: babycakes romero

Image by: babycakes romero

Image by: babycakes romero

Image by: babycakes romero
Excerpt
I don't have a problem with portable tech specifically, our devices facilitate our lives, but it is making people seriously fucking dull...
I started to photograph people in company on their phones as there was a certain symmetry to them and it appealed on a visual level but as I continued I noticed an inherent sadness to the proceedings.
Here were two people who had chosen to be together at that moment but had nothing to say to one another or were too awkward to speak.
Before mobile phones were invented people would have had no choice but to interact but that is no longer necessary as we can all now "pretend' we are doing something "important" on our devices rather than think of something to say.
This is killing conversation. We are losing our interactive skills and its kinda just plain rude - you're in company, so act like it. I know it feels like its smoothing over social pain but it is actually increasing it.
They have done research which revealed that people who conversed with their phones visible on the table (not even in use) were less likely to bond than those who kept them hidden away. Having the phone out is basically saying that anyone else is more important than you, the person in front of me.
Sadly its just social ineptitude that is driving this, which in a catch 22 situation is exacerbated by our increased screen-based non-interactive lives.
Most people used to use cigarettes as a social prop which were admittedly bad for your health but at least they didn't turn people into 'plugged in' bores. Together we must be strong and release ourselves from the shackles of smartphones and bring face to face chat back!
babycakes romero
I started to photograph people in company on their phones as there was a certain symmetry to them and it appealed on a visual level but as I continued I noticed an inherent sadness to the proceedings.
Here were two people who had chosen to be together at that moment but had nothing to say to one another or were too awkward to speak.
Before mobile phones were invented people would have had no choice but to interact but that is no longer necessary as we can all now "pretend' we are doing something "important" on our devices rather than think of something to say.
This is killing conversation. We are losing our interactive skills and its kinda just plain rude - you're in company, so act like it. I know it feels like its smoothing over social pain but it is actually increasing it.
They have done research which revealed that people who conversed with their phones visible on the table (not even in use) were less likely to bond than those who kept them hidden away. Having the phone out is basically saying that anyone else is more important than you, the person in front of me.
Sadly its just social ineptitude that is driving this, which in a catch 22 situation is exacerbated by our increased screen-based non-interactive lives.
Most people used to use cigarettes as a social prop which were admittedly bad for your health but at least they didn't turn people into 'plugged in' bores. Together we must be strong and release ourselves from the shackles of smartphones and bring face to face chat back!
babycakes romero
