On the spur of the moment

Are children losing their innocence too early in life? 

The world may have gone mobile, but with this transition, Bangaloreans have witnessed a marked shift in their lifestyle. Now that cellphones are considered a necessity rather than a luxury, the need to chart out a daily routine in advance has evaporated.

Any kind of planning or organisation is generally done on the move — in cars, over the roar of buses and sometimes, spur-of-the-moment visits to a friend’s place. The downside of this, however, is that stepping out of the house without cellphone in hand can often leave avid users feeling handicapped and cut off from the world.
Metrolife speaks to a few Bangaloreans to find out whether they feel dependent on their mobiles.

When it comes to admitting to this addiction, students are often the first to do so. Devavrat Jadeja, a student of Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, points out that life sans cellphone can be frustrating to the extreme.

“For me, it’s mainly a connectivity issue. On one hand, I believe that being without my cellphone in an emergency can be a huge problem. But it isn’t just about emergencies — it’s tough to tackle day-to-day life without a mobile. Without it, all the small meetings and plans I make throughout the day won’t happen. My friends and I don’t make plans in advance — we tend to reach a certain place, and then call each other to tell where we
are,” he explains.

Since he also uses his phone to access the internet, his isolation doubles when he’s without it. “I check mails on my phone throughout the day, and it’s really frustrating not to be able to do that. Besides, I have close friends in other cities who I keep in touch with throughout the day, via texts,” he adds.

Rishabh, another student, admits that mobile phones aren’t just used to coordinate day-to-day activities — they’re also a vital means to keep in touch with his family, since he lives in a hostel.

“Cellphones are necessary to stay connected to one’s friends and family. And now, plenty of people also use their phones to check their mail and browse their web, which is contributing to increased dependency,” he says. Interestingly, he points out that for many, mobiles have come to replace watches. “I always check the clock on my phone to keep track of the time. It’s an important thing to have with you when you’re on the go,” he adds.

Nithya, a professor at NIFT, believes that being constantly connected to the people around her has both its positive and negative aspects. “Cellphones are both a boon and a bane. Today, they’re a mandate across classes — but I think it’s essential for people to ensure that they aren’t ruled by their cellphones, and that their phones remain tools of convenience,” she says.

However, she has no qualms in admitting that this is easier said than done. “It’s difficult — there have been times when my phone has run out battery, and I’ve been clueless about how to contact people, since I didn’t have the foresight to keep a back-up of my contact list in my good old travel diary,” she concludes.