GADGETS AND THE RULES OF CIVILITY

Life as we know it has changed since we transitioned to the digital age.

- JOY LUMAWIG BUENSALIDO

“He spends more time with his friends over the phone than face-to-face.”

(Illustration by ELBERT OR)

Gadgets and gizmos are now a vital force in our lifestyles, with social media and continually evolving apps and digital platforms changing the way we work, play, communicate with people, and entertain ourselves. It's not an exaggeration to say that many of us cannot live without one or more devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers allowing us to do practically everything -from checking the time and the weather to doing online shopping to bills payment and bank transactions to ordering food and booking our rides.Sometimes, I think back to those years when life was slower and unrushed, when we could choose to simply do nothing and not feel shortchanged by it. These days, it seems like one has to be constantly wired or connected in order to accomplish anything, but it is what it is.

This brings us to certain situations where the use of gadgets seems to have transformed the rules of civility and good manners, as in the three questions that we are focusing on this week.

Q: Each time I travel, whether on a plane, a train, a cruise ship or even on a bus, I bring my own earphones or headphones so I can work on my laptop or even speak to someone on the phone without bothering anyone around me. This works especially when I'm in an airport lounge or a coffee shop while waiting for my flight.

There are times, however, when I come across people who watch movies on their phones or laptops minus the use of headphones, with their gadgets on full volume — a practice that may be extremely annoying to those in their immediate vicinity. For instance, individuals that are seated next to them or right behind them or even across the aisle from them may be bothered by the sound and sight of whatever it is they're watching.