Hi..friends..so many people and magazines are giving the statment that because of phone and internet we are unable to give our time to family,friends, and society..

i started to think seriously about marrying my Samsung Note-3

Absolutely..if it becomes an addiction or obsession.

Because of internet I can now see my daughter as often as I want (Skype). Without the internet I wouldn't have seen her for nearly 2 years! --> She lives in the States.

I made new friends (in real life) because of the internet, both in my own country as in the UK (met up with them).

My ex found an old schoolmate because of the internet. Ever since they meet up regularly, usually it's the "English mob" coming over, and I'm still in touch with them as well. Started with just that 1 friend and his missus, now it's 8 English ppl that frequent the village. Most of them all old schoolmates of my ex. Most of the (Dutch) village speaks Essex now, lol.

Without the internet these things would never have happened!

Because of internet you know what's going on in friends' lives, some of mine don't live close by, so without internet, I wouldn't have known.

Plus .. the support I got from ppl online when I was going through my last divorce .. Not sure how I would have fared without them! And I've never met any of these ppl. Just online friends, ppl with warm hearts, on a forum.

So I don't agree.

It is a terrific communication tool. I definitely agree.
But I know people, personally, who started living their entire life online.
Their mental health and well being suffered.
And the people living with them suffered as well.

I would make the argument that the internet isn't a bad thing, but the cellular or mobile devices are.

I saw a "family dinner" in a restaurant one evening where all 4 members of the family were each looking at their phone/ipod. They went an entire meal without talking to each other. I was fascinated, but I must admit, that doesn't cover my definition of spending time with the family.

I've had similar situations occur when out with friends. On more than one occasion, I've all of a sudden noticed a "hush" fall over a group of a dozen or so friends, only to find that I was the only one not looking at a phone. Everyone was doing whatever one does with one of those devices (I wouldn't know, I don't one), and ignoring the people they actually came there to "see."

While the internet puts information at our fingertips, and allows us to conquer distances to keep up with friends and family easily, mobile devices are ruining the social fabric of society. The ease at which one can disconnect from the situation they are in is much to easy. At least when "skypeing," usually a specific timeframe is set up to meet, as I've never seen anyone Skype in a public place or while walking. However, the ease at which people will dig into the internet on their phones, even to just play games, really cuts into the social nature of those around us.

I believe in the Zen phrase, "Be here now." The things and people on the other end of that phone should not be as important as the places and people you are with at the time.

I think that people who waste family time on social media, probably would have wasted the family time over something else if their phones didn't exist

I think you might be on to something Deuce :-))...Our "gadgets" are like anything else, in the right hands a positive, in the wrong hands a negative...I think the biggest danger lies with kids, especially teens...Unmonitored apps, texts and pictures can be the gateway to hell for them and their parents...Sexually explicit content, abusive language, photos that disappear in ten seconds flat, private messages that only a select group can access, bullying...The list goes on...And just how much time and effort can concerned parents devote to monitoring?...It's complicated for sure...Sometimes it feels like the price we pay to STAY CONNECTED to a select group represents a major DISCONNECT with everything else...

Humm I have this little pet peeve if your sitting at the table with me while eating all phones and gadgets are turned off. Some of the family balks at first then they end up enjoying those that are around them.

I have found this works with friends as well when we are all together doing something... But seems nothing has to be said at that time for we are enjoying the company we have instead of glued to the phone.

The Internet can be a wonderful asset or it can cut off communication with others if they are pre occupied with it when they are around people.

It is amazing how just a simple request to put phones down while you are around friends/family...makes a difference..

Yeah, you're right.teenagers are exposed to make these mistakes, serious matter! On the other extreme of thought, it just might be start for change, for society to not take these things *** seriously, focus more on quality of performance rather than their reputation /:) maybe

Wasn't perving, but wanted learn your age! ...From your answers, I figured you were young :-)...This brings up another good point, which is how age reflects in our answers and comments...I love hearing your take because it is the younger generation who has ultimate control of the outcome, be it good or bad...The younger generation sees it as positives FAR outweighing negatives and that is a very good thing....

Yeah, when socializing with friends or family the frigging things should be tucked away, switched off it prolly best for some.
It doesn't bother me to not use it, when it doesn't suit me, I don't reply to texts, calls, Apps, and when I'm socializing, it doesn't suit me. But some ppl ... seen 'em in diners eating together and both on their phones communicating with other ppl. That's insane.

The WHO, several years ago, said cell phones were the fastest growing addiction.
I don't doubt it.
I don't see it so much in my nearby area. But I drove someone to a medical appointment, in a
city, 80 miles from here. While he was in the clinic, I sat in my truck enjoying the beautiful spring day.
Almost everyone I saw walking by, had their faces stuck to their cell phone screens. They were
totally oblivious to everything around them. This included a young woman with several toddlers with her.
They could have run out in the street, with her none the wiser.

I thought that was Three Dogs Night.

Nope.
They said mama told me not to come.

That's very nice of you to say, but I won't be what represent my generation, Many people around my age disagree with a lot of things /:)

I agree with that. no collective absolute of 'we', because many people still do engage in real time

but I do feel there is such a move to be 'plugged' in to something:
a phone
a computer
a tablet
an mp3 or ipod
a video game

that interaction via 'technology' is replacing via the 'human'connecteion


we are getting so used to having access to it all, instantly , and all the time,, our patience and understanding of the human quality of life is disappearing

I will unplug as soon as I have my first date with msharmony.

I do not agree... Sure things are changing, and sure some ppl are way over the top with how they use all these gadgets and internet.
But in a way I think internet is one of the best invention for the greater good of mankind! Goes a bit far to get into any depth on that view... but it's because of internet that we know what's going on in countries elsewhere, stuff that before internet would've been hidden, manipulated etc. Now we KNOW what's going on, it gets more and more difficult to sell lies to the world. When someone's shot by a cop, or an entire village annihilated for political reasons or a military mistake, we know about it in a sec.
Ppl with cellphones everywhere who shoot vids and photos, post them online.
It is opening up the world, digs up all the chit that was always kept from us, making us think we live in a happy wonderful world, while the ones in power get richer at our expense, and often the expense of ppl's lives.
Internet, cell phones etc are the best means, if not the only means, to make this world a better place.

Apart from that it connects people from all over the world. And yes, it's different from RL socializing, but I have so many contacts that I would lose touch with without internet. I'm not gonna pick up the phone to call my mate in Yorkshire. I will reply on FB, occasionally chat etc.

Internet makes getting in touch with other ppl 'low threshold', esp with ppl that live far away.

And yes, times are changing, but ... times are, and always will be, changing! And that's how it should be, that's called life and being human. We'd prolly go extinct if life became stagnant.

Doesn't mean that living with your face in your phone or pc is the way to go, but we gotta learn... Took us half a century to work out smoking wasn't cool but lethal... give it some time, we're human, not necessarily fast learners, lol

There's an app for that. You set the timer & your time will equally distributed to each. :)