An interesting thing happened recently when I was eating out at a restaurant in Marshall, something that says a great deal about the value of face to face communication.

A family composed of adults and teens walked in and was escorted to a table. As soon as they sat down, all of them pulled out mobile devices. They instantly became absorbed in them.

This continued right up to when their food arrived, except for the time they took to check the menu and place their orders.

The only moments when they interacted with each other were when someone showed someone else something on a phone. The mobile device remained the center of attention.

Their behavior seemed foreign to me. They had a perfect opportunity to talk and to enjoy each other’s company. Instead they chose to monkey around with their gadgets.

I use the phrase “monkey around” because I’m concerned about how mobile devices seem to be affecting human relations. Many people spend a large amount of their time focused on their virtual world, a world they for the most part create for themselves.

If it’s become the norm in the 21st century, that’s a sign that the 21st century is not my century. I think mine was the 20th, the era when I was born and raised.

I don’t feel I live in the past. I’m still very interested in what goes on locally and worldwide. I just remember a time when big superstores weren’t as prevalent, when people still used reference books and when people didn’t carry a phone with them everywhere they go.

There’s a balance between mobile devices and face to face interaction, a balance that I don’t think we’ve found yet.

British author Samuel Johnson from the 18th century wrote that when a man is tired of London he’s tired of life. I wonder if that applies to many mobile device users. I wonder if they have a lack of interest in their surroundings.

When Johnson spoke of London, he was speaking of the people and things that make up the city, the things people can experience when they venture out.

To really experience it, there’s a need to be observant. There’s a need to take note of things that are out of place or exceptional.

It leads to stories that people can tell their family members, friends, or co-workers. They don’t have to be earth shattering. Sometimes an item that’s just a little different from the norm is worth mentioning.

When I taught environmental learning between 2007 and 2011 I had mixed feelings about the value of geocaching, the process of locating a marker with the help of a Global Positioning System (GPS).

It offers the opportunity to blend technology with the outdoors. It’s possible that some people who spend more than an average amount of time using technology might decide to experience the outdoors because of geocaching.

The down side is that the GPS is a distraction. Part of the reward of going to a nature site is to experience the quiet solitude. It’s good to just stand still, listen and observe.

For everything gained by using electronics, there’s something lost by not paying attention to the actual world in which we live. People might miss things that are important and interesting.

I have a crafted sign above my front door at home that says “Hello World”. I bought it because it reflects the attitude I want to have every time I go somewhere.

I want to be open to whatever awaits. I want to enjoy what’s out there. I don’t want to be glued to an electronic gadget that monopolizes my time and attention.

Everyone has to decide what type of balance is best for them. At some point, however, a person sitting across the table deserves undivided attention. He or she deserves to become a higher priority than whatever can be found on a machine.

— Jim Muchlinski is a former reporter and contributor to the Marshall Independent