冰的起点

I'm neither an IPhone nor IPad owner, not even an Android phone user.  To me, the function that I most often use with my ordinary phone is only to make and answer phone calls, sms, and listen to songs, sometimes, taking picture with the build-in camera.  I know it may sound a bit old-fashioned, but that is basically what mobile phone means to me.

Having been here in Singapore for 3 months, I found that IPhone, IPad and Android phones are extremely common among the people here.  Perhaps I really can't understand the charms these electronic devices carry, because I don't own one.  Perhaps life in Singapore is just too boring that people need these devices too fill up their lives.  Everyday when I board the public transport to uni, I can see most of the people carrying their electronic devices, busy pointing/tabbing, or just merely "looking" at the devices.  Most of the times, they are just being so indulged with the devices that they tend to ignore the surroundings.

I can still recall my experience in Singapore during my last visit here, which was a couple of years back.  People are friendly and polite.  I tend to greet the people I met in the same neighbourhood and they always returned with a smile or "morning" or "Hello".  Sometimes, they greeted me even before I did so.  Some will listen to their MP4/IPod later on, but still will at least nod their heads towards each other.  In the public transports, occassionally I would see people giving away their seats to the elderly/pregnant women etc.  All and all, it gave me a very good impression of Singapore, that this is a civilized and caring society.

Today, I could hardly feel this sort of atmosphere in Singapore.  Some of people remain friendly, but only when you take the initiative to nod, or to say "hi".  That's fine.  Most of the time, however, they tend to be busy with their IPhone, IPad and electronic devices only.  A few occassions that I came across, young people (even university students - a social group which is supposed to be well-educated and considering and caring and observant) occupying the reserves seats first whenever they board the public transport.  Again that's fine.  Yet, the most common scenario I witnessed is that, they never intend to give away the seats to those who need.  Some of them pretend not seeing the old lady in front carrying a few plastic bags in her hands, some of them pretend to be sleeping, but most of them were busy with their IPhone, IPad and electronic devices.  I personally felt very much irritated for such ignorance.

Another scenario I saw very often is that, a family of four going out for dinner.  They sat down, the father was doing the ordering, the mother and the two kids were just busy, again, with their electronic devices, whether it's FB-ing,  chatting, sms-ing, "looking" at some interesting videos, or playing gawmes.  Dinner time is such a great family moment, but everyone ended up with their very own world.  Communication is gone.  I wonder how family institution can sustain without communication.

Maybe I'm too out of fashion, maybe I'm too conservative, maybe I'm too stubborn on holding up the importance of moral and norms.  I just can't understand why these people are so obssessed with their electronic devices which blind their senses towards the environment.  We are not heading towards a caring society.  Does the advent of information communication technology and globalization bring us closer, or has it actually created more invisible walls around us to reach out to the others?  I seriously think that one should ask oneself, how much time are you spending on your electronic devices, rather than with your family members?  Are you too obssessed with your electronic devices?