Narrowing down!
Having a meal with a friend (preferably in a restaurant!),
discussing a number of issues, is something that I always look forward to. Ever
since I met Mariano (just a week ago), I was surprised to see his curiosity to
know new things and his insightful opinions. He critically observes things
from a different perspective and tries to bring something new. We have had difference of opinions on number
of issues but this has not become a barrier in our friendship. Moreover,
reflecting over certain disputed issues that I had with him, made me more ‘awaken
to the realities’.
Let me share what we discussed during lunch. We were
trying to get ‘connotation and etymology’ of a particular word. At one point, he
went to bring his dictionary and eventually encyclopaedia to get the meaning. While
he was glancing through the pages, I took my smartphone and browsed into ‘google’.
He looked at me and commented smilingly, “this is the problem of our time. We want
everything instant, readymade and prepared. This small device (pointed to
smartphone) makes our world small. We are narrowing down our thinking patters,
working ability and creative sense.” I did not agree with him. I put forward my
own perspective of smartphone. He gave his own opinions and I gave my own
counter opinions. Eventually, after lunch, I returned to my room to take a
short nap.
While lazing on bed, I took my smartphone again. I wanted
to get some points as I was to give a talk in the same evening. But before putting
my password, I was reminded the words of friend, “smartphone is narrowing down
our world.” I asked myself, “what am I going to do with this device?” I was looking
for something instant, readymade and prepared. I stopped for a while. How true the
words of my friend!
