Are we losing our connection with physical reality and nature?
Is eye contact down? Loneliness up?
Your thoughts
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I have lost my connection to reality several times, but not because of smartphones 
.
As a more serious answer.
Technology always has its ups and downs.
When I was a kid, couch potatoes were the problem. Everybody just sitting around the boob tube watching tv.
Then the internet and computers and home video games ate up huge chunks of peoples time
Now smartphones.
I think the key to all of these is moderation. I sometimes get absorbed here on the forum more than I should, but I really do believe that moderation of all of these things is the key. Its probably healthier mentally to do a variety of things rather than just focus all your time on one.
I think we are probably better off having these technologies than not. They do more good than harm.
This reminds me of a news story I saw recently on the TODAY show when I was at my parents before work. It was talking about the trend of buying landline phones for peoples children instead of allowing them access to a smartphone at young ages. Maybe a good idea? Maybe better to get a grip on the real world before becoming an addict to such technology?
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Bam say what ?
I can say im losing touch because of my phone.
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you really know how to enjoy life, very inspiring. its feels good to go out in nature, sometimes i just walk around my neighborhood when its dull and each step turns into a kick drum, every breath a snare brush, and the peace of not thinking forms lyrics andis the melody,
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Same issues arose with the Walkman in 1979.
You are at a Bus stop with your headphones on…ignoring everyone…in your own world…not having to be polite or say ‘Hi’ to anyone.
The Walkman was the beginning of the end of polite face-to-face conversation and connection with others. Cell Phones have just made it worse.
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Not everyone is interested in having others in their face. Nothing worse than wearing the largest headphones you can buy and someone you don’t know still insists on talking to you in public.
Rude.
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Everthing has advantages and disadvantages. Everthing in moderation. Balance is the key. We have a saying that goes, “too much of anything is good for nothing”
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I’m on my phone 9 hours a day
It’s an obsession
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Those are some amazing pictures
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Yes, I’m phone addict..
I never use phone out on streets,or out of apartment.
Went for an hour walk at 5 am. No phone. No MP3 player. Just the quiet.
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I wear at least my Apple Watch with cellular connectivity when I step outside my house.
We are living in an unsafe and unpredictable world.
I want to be prepared to make calls just in case something bad happens
I regularly go places without a phone, but I do have this:
Portable satellite GPS beacon. Works anywhere in North America. It’s my go to for safety without having to be connected to others.
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I can go days without anyone calling or texting me, but as soon as I leave my phone at home to charge, I suddenly become mister popularity and get like a dozen texts and voice mails I have to return.
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I’m obsessed with my phone but in actuality hardly anyone calls or texts me.
I mainly use my phone to go online
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I used to not carry my phone at all. I got into the habit of carrying it more when I had the marriage and house stuff going on and was receiving a lot of calls and texts.
I really would like to get back to not carrying it so much because its cracked to hell as it is and the more you carry it the more likely a drop is to happen.
I know…..I know…buy a case……unfortunately I cant because work has a sticker on the back of my phone that has to be able to be seen when I exit the building……
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I don’t use mine much, I just keep it around if my mom gets worried she calls she has bad anxiety.
It had some minor cracks and then when I was visiting my parents my dad knocked it off the kitchen table when he was wiping it off. The screen is just awful now.