I believe that before technological advancements that brought about innovative inventions such as smart phones, man kind must have been very lonely. 95% of activities I engage in everyday involves the usage of my smart phone. My kind of lifestyle is a lot different from regular people, not that I'm special or anything spectacular, It is just that my outdoor activities is very limited. I enjoy the company of myself a lot, based on my personality, I was considered an introvert some years ago but a lot has changed about my personality, regardless I'm still a work in progress.
Ever since I came back from service, after the whole P.O.P paparazzi, I have been at home doing my thing and seeking better employment offers which is taking longer than expected. Though I have received some job offers and there are some with attractive salaries but the distance of the job location to my neighbourhood is beyond what the salary could cover. Judging by how transportation fee has skyrocketed it is not advisable to accept a long distance job. In Nigeria only gigantic companies or ministries offer jobs with accommodation.
Being at home most times and all day my only partner is my smartphone, I frequently read virtual books, write, listen to music, watch movies and trade when necessary. My phone and I have a solidarity relationship or should I say a symbiotic relationship. if I'm being sincere before the whole graduation and NYSC stuff it has always been my phone and I, I'm not really a fan of sharing my thoughts or talk about it. The only way I know how to do that is probably to write poems, which I write down either on my note app or my poem book. Well recently I have been fond of writing short quotes on threads and ecency deck.
Due to the kind of activities I use my smart phone for, it is very difficult for me to do without it. I remember a time my phone was snatched by pick pockets {Swindlers or thiefs that make a living by stealing through deeping hands into people's bags or pocket on the street or bus stop} they are mostly common in crowded areas. This incident happened in acme street, agidigbi, Ikeja, Lagos State. we were rushing to board a bus, my phone was in my front pocket. I noticed a hand in my pocket but before I could find time to get hold of it the phone is already gone. That was one of the most saddest moment of my life because I had a lot of files on that phone, it took me about a week before I could get another smartphone but that one week without my phone felt like forever.
How long can I be without my smartphone? well, before I became involved in the crypto space, being without my smartphone for an hour or two wouldn't be so difficult, especially if I'm in a place that I don't feel convenient making use of my phone. A lot as changed ever since I started trading more often and performing other Airdrop/testnet related activities. My most visited app on my phone right now is coinmarketcap, followed by WhatsApp and hive keychain. The reason keychain is among the list is due to how often I play risingstar game on hive keychain extension.
So it is not just about having fun on my phone, the increased usage of my phone is due to the activities I use it for. So being without my phone means something is wrong, probably my phone battery is flat which rarely happens or I'm asleep or in a church related service but apart from these, the only thing else is probably doing something on my laptop which doesn't warrant the usage of my phone but being without my phone or my laptop for an hour without anything to keep me busy, is almost impossible.
Is our reliance on phone not concerning? It is. Having to depend on my smartphone for lot of things has reduced my physical interaction with people. Not just that, I prefer to be on my phone throughout a month than to go out with friends or make some family time. It is as if my phone has become a perfect substitute for any physical relation with anyone. The fact is, a lot is changing about the dynamics of relationship and companionship, seeing how smart phones have diverse features, it has further increased the need for its usage. I wouldn't call my relationship with my smartphone an obsessive one, I just need my smartphone more often than most things.
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled Without a phone in hive learners community.
Cover image - 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖺
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