Its pretty sad isn't it? Decades ago I used to travel a lot and always brought a camera with me (SLR + lenses) - only ever 'saw' things thru the lens, missing the opportunity to be in the moment - I woke up to what was happening and now I rarely photograph places or events when I am experiencing them - if I want an awesome photo to look at of some noteworthy place or event, I can find thousands on line, many taken by people much more talented than me.<p>I feel like people don't really experience their lives anymore - they document them for social media and clicks.<p>Goto the L'ouvre in France, and there are hundreds of people waiting in line and jamming into the space in front of the Mona Lisa to get a picture of the painting (or more specifically selfies of them standing in a crowd with the Mona Lisa in the background) - and yet there are huge spaces and exhibits in the building of equally awesome pieces of art and history that people don't even bother to visit
I don't understand the shaming of how people choose to enjoy an event. Live and let live seems to be a much nicer way to enjoy life.<p>No one there is hurting anyone ... in fact all I see is a lot of people engaged in creating something: a video of their experience. Is it a good video? Maybe, maybe not, but it's their video.<p>Would I film it if I were there? Maybe? I don't know. I tend not to but I don't begrudge others who do.
All of us that would not use our cell phones, and be in the moment, would also likely be home and comfy vs out in that experience. This is the new generation, whatever makes them happy! I'm thankful that I can put my phone down and disconnect.
To be fair, the new year's countdown is a simulacrum (Baudrillard) of a moment to begin with. It's the perfect example of a meme without real substance. So people want to save this (hyperreal) moment, share it, fill it with meaning. That's not entirely sad.<p>Consider the reverse. People just standing there staring at a countdown? It would not be hard to travesty that either.
Took the family back to the place where my wife and I met as ski bums (small town in the mountains)<p>We went to a weekly music event and noticed that people were talking, dancing, laughing while the kids were playing in the grass/dirt and climbing trees. Not a single person was filming.<p>Felt nice. Not saying it’s not ok to be on your phone, but it does seem to act as “social armor” allowing people an easy way to avoid full immersion in situations.
1967, Guy Debord: The Society of the Spectacle<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Society_of_the_Spectacle" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Society_of_the_Spectacle</a><p>"Debord traces the development of a modern society in which authentic social life has been replaced with its representation"
There’s a beautiful book from the 60's, 'Homo Faber', about a Swiss engineer who lives life through technology (mainly a camera lens), but then falls in love, and starts living.<p>I think about that sometimes.
People either want to compassionately share the moment with others, which is wonderful and part of our humanity... or they want to build up their ego from it. Maybe both. Most illnesses are like that.<p>Also, let's not completely demonize it because people actually remember moments more when taking pictures.
The video is not meant as video. It's a shield and the taking of the content is how the shield works. It both protects from and reflects the world.<p>It's not a retreat from the world but a mediation.