Time with friends . . . really ???

It was enough to make you wonder what “The Last Supper” would have looked like had it depicted a scene from modern times.  Perhaps all the disciples would have been looking at their cell phones, reading a text message portending an act of betrayal being committed by one of them.

What was actually occurring was the celebration of a friend’s birthday.  More than 30 people were attending the event at a local restaurant.

It was reminiscent of several such events from the past, dating back to the time of my childhood.  Most memorable from those was the sense of camaraderie and cheer that was truly shared by everyone.  That is why I was not ready upon my arrival for what was occurring.

Upon entering the room for the party, there were a number of people seated at several tables.  But none of them were talking to each other.  Instead, they all had their heads down, staring at their cell phones.  Some of them were obviously engaged in texting because their fingers were moving frantically.

The few persons not involved in texting, sending or receiving, were sitting there in abject silence.  

Nobody was conversing.

The first thought that came to mind was wondering whether any of them were texting one another.  The idea seems absurd at first, but not when compared to something I saw in the workplace about ten years ago.  A front-line supervisor attempted to verbally tell his manager something.  The manager, however, insisted it be relayed through an email.

The supervisor was older in age, and not accustomed to using email.  That is why, two hours after the initial conversation, he was still sitting at his desk, attempting to complete typing of the message so it could be sent.  The manager was sitting at his desk – several feet away – the entire time this was happening.  Whatever it was that he needed to be told, he hadn’t been yet.

So it did not seem so absurd to think the party attendees could be texting each other, as improbable as it was.  They certainly were not speaking to one another, and that seemed rather sad.  After all, the whole idea of a party or celebration is to bring people together, with the hope that their interactions with one another bring a shared happiness.

Such joy seemed to be missing from this event.  Not because it was not necessarily being felt by each person, but because it was not being shared.  The entire evening maintained the same pattern.  There was some small talk, but attention to each other was largely subdued.  The attention to the cell phones was not.

It is an absurd irony that texting makes it easier to communicate while simultaneously making it more difficult.

On the way home that evening, I could not help but imagine all the Facebook and Twitter posts that would likely follow.  Undoubtedly, most would be to the effect of, “I had a great time tonight.   Spent it with more than 30 friends.”