The world today is full of distractions and constant stimulation. It’s come to a point where the newer generations are becoming used to, and even becoming solely dependent on technology. But it’s not only the newer generation, adults living in the current world have been molded by technology as well. The rise of technology has had many upsides and a lot of good has come of it, but the way it’s affected how people live is evident every day.
In a time where almost everyone has a smartphone, it’s easier than ever to connect less with people in person. Phones have been turned into an excuse to avoid unwanted contact.
Due to people having a distraction ready at all times, they find themselves unable to cope with boredom anymore.
Boredom is one of the most important emotions to feel, and it must be an everyday thing. It’s what allows people to experience joy because if there was no boredom, fun, and contentment wouldn’t be special anymore. It forces the mind to create ways to entertain itself, and in a time before cell phones, people could find themselves content without always having something to do.
With modern utilities unavailable, television was typically the only source of technological entertainment people used. And even then, not many people would be that invested in TV, with it being just another pass-time instead of a main source of entertainment. Many people would choose reading or some kind of activity to cure their boredom.
A 1985 documentary titled ‘God’s Country’ exemplifies old-school boredom perfectly when French filmmaker Louis Malle stops in the town of Glencoe, Minnesota. He follows different people in the town in their day-to-day lives, where they express the fact that boredom is an everyday thing where they live. They mow lawns, meet in bars, walk with neighbors, and do just about anything to cure it. But the main takeaway is how they interact with each other instead of just staying inside all day, mostly because there was not much to do indoors besides read or eat.
People have become less connected with the outside world as well. The loss of finding enjoyment and beauty outside of a phone screen is something that affects many people without them knowing. As people continue to seek artificial stimuli, there will be a loss of engagement with nature and social interaction.
It’s not uncommon to see people walking outside with their heads down looking at their phones. It seems like more recent generations can’t see the everyday beauty of nature, partly due to being unimpressed after seeing videos online of breathtaking landscapes that someone’s typical neighborhood can’t offer. If the world humans live in is forgotten about, what will become of it?
