Face who?

I read this article about Facebook addiction. And I don't quite get it. I have a Facebook page that I visit every couple of months. Maybe. If I remember.

I suspect that it's a generational thing, but I simply don't understand the fascination with all things electronic from cell phones to text messaging to i-Pods to Facebook and MySpace. Aren't there other things to do? Like talking face to face with real people?

The house hunk and I went out for a hamburger yesterday afternoon. Naturally, because of Valentines Day, the place was packed. We were sitting in one of those weird little half booth-half tables where you're generally so crowded that you can't help but hear the conversation from the tables next to you.

A nice young couple was seated next to us. Both were dressed in what I think of as "young professional" style. From a couple of things the woman said, I have an idea that it was a first date and by the time they left it was clear that there wasn't going to be a second date. He was talking on his cell when they were seated. And I counted twelve more calls while they dined.

Hello. If you're taking me out, don't even think about answering the telephone unless you're a cop on call. And somebody died. Everyone else can hold on for that thirty minutes we spend wolfing down some lightly singed meat.

Are we so entwined with the electronic gadgetry that we can't set it aside for a few minutes? Is is so important that it's worth losing our own life or taking the lives of others? How many families are splintered by one spouse--or even both spouses--spending all their time with online games or social pages?

Maybe its time to take a step back and re-evaluate our priorities. Time to find real people to interact with. Time to see some real faces.

anny