I posed the following question on Twitter:
Do you think humans were more free BEFORE or AFTER cell phones?
The majority vote was BEFORE.
Which makes my take an unpopular opinion. Here we go:
I think when cell phones restrict freedom is when WE become addicted to THEM.
I don’t think there’s anything inherently freedom-restricting in having a cellphone.
In fact, if we’re disciplined and mindful, I think they’ve unlocked an incredible realm of freedom that was otherwise unavailable to us pre-cellphone.
Today, we’re able to do the same things we were before: nature retreats, family dinner, walk, hike, play outside, twiddle our thumbs, shoot the shit with neighbors, sit in silence… WITH the added option(s) of being able to connect with a friend who live in Malaysia or coach clients who live in Colorado or learn from the Dalai Lama who’s giving a live talk in Tibet.
The freedom is unprecedented.
But, generally speaking, so are the low levels of self-discipline (an observation not a fact).
No one says we must use cell phones; we choose to use them because of the opportunities they provide. Otherwise, why not just ditch the cellphone altogether and backpedal to a more “free” life you once knew before?
Maybe, if we start treating our (possible) addiction to them more seriously and draw more firm boundaries, have some planned media detoxes, and find ways to untangle their intertwined connection to our lives… maybe we’ll discover a type of freedom that far exceeds anything we might remember having before.
But, that’s just my take.
I digress.
P.s. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to reply on Twitter, LinkedIn, or via email. :)