Taking Time

I think a huge problem in our society is instant gratification.  The problem with First World societies has to do with the fact that everything we could want or need is so easily attainable or can ship between seven to eight business days.  People want convenience and brand names and something I worry about is our fluent with easy technologies-next generation.  Kids today are growing up with everything handed to them and communication skills that stop at the end of their IPhones.   I was a part time waitress at one point and can recall a scenario consisting of a table of eight that literally scared me.  There were three adults and five children—all of which were seated with eyes glued to their cell phones.  If one of the adults tried to get the attention of a particular child (all of whom were about twelve and under) they were met with bratty whining and disrespectful responses.  The adults would give up after a time, losing to the battle of a game on a cell phone, I’m betting not for the first time.  Five kids sat through that whole lunch, and did not interact with each other.  I was disgusted with the situation and saddened by the parents handling of it.  However, when I thought about it later I wondered if I could have done any better.  When you are raising a child in the day and age, how do you keep the latest popular technology from dictating their life?  And if you do figure out a way, are they going to be less adept to how their generation will one day run the world?  We are a spoiled, bratty society that I wish were more compassionate, social (and I do not mean social media)  and active.  I am guilty of all of these things as much as the next person.  Especially since photography is my niche—I spend hours upon hours a day dependent on computers and cell phones…but I sometimes wish I weren’t. 

For my Flash project, I think I’d like to do a short called “Taking Time.”  I’d like to somehow show people amidst this technology dependent society doing timeless things that we’ve been doing for years.  I think I’d like to actually see kids outside playing and interacting or baking cookies with a parent.  I remember a time when a neighbor a quarter mile away would walk to my house and knock to see if I was home and if I could come out and play.  I think people need to remember how to be simple.  I’d maybe show people sitting around a campfire or playing fetch with their dog—who is unleashed (because God forbid you let your dog of its leash in my town).  I’d like to show people taking the time from their busy lives and actually enjoying being alive and surrounded by all the things that down involve wasting minutes or hours staring at a screen.  Maybe one of these days I’ll even put down my camera and just enjoy, instead of “document,” which is what we’ve all learned how to do, relentlessly via blogs, twitter or facebook.