Phony Phones

 A phone was invented as communication. That made sense, and for decades did just that. And, to me, that make perfect sense. I don't need to take photographs of everything around me, including me and/or whatever I stand next to. Who needs that? Really? Used to be, you took a photo of something you wanted keep other than in your memory. When slides came along, those who travelled insisted upon boring you with every Hawaiian sunset they holidayed on for three weeks. I lost a lot of friends  due to falling asleep after the first few oohs and ahhs. When computers came along, I adored them because I like playing games, games with computers because I can be a good sport when I play with them. I do swear at the ones who beat me, but they don't mind. Next someone thought how much fun it would be to shrink down the computer into what it is now. A cell phone and you're in the cell. These things worth a few thousand bucks, live in your pocket or your hand and do everything - almost.  Young couples used to hold hands in the past. Now they hold their phones and text each other standing a foot away. The spoken word or spelled one, died long ago. I have a cell phone a few years old which makes my friends shriek - you don't get a new one each sale? they yell. I hear also, I called you and you didn't answer; where were you? Why do they care? No matter how many times I remind them that I do not want to lug a phone around all day, in my own home, they don't get it. With email, I have time to consider what I say back and furthermore have hands free to squeeze the tomatoes when I shop. I have no interest in hearing what anyone did in the last hour. What's a land line? they gasp. Yup, and that is the one I like and don't tell me how old fashioned I am. I am new fashioned because  the world is realizing the downside of becoming enslaved by technology other than the opposite. Anyway, when anyone texts now, there is AI. You don't have to speak or think. Just hum.  However, if you don't hum the right key, you might find yourself ghosted or trolled, when your long false acrylic nails hit a wrong button. No worry, you can find someone else just as addicted, among the millions online.