While cell phones certainly made it more convenient to contact each other, it was the smartphone that really made people almost infinitely accessible. I’ve warned a number of co-workers that while they think getting an iPhone is cool, the moment they have their email with them everywhere, the expectation immediately becomes that they should answer it quickly. Add to that the ease of using that texting thing that has the kids all turned to zombies, and suddenly people and the information in their heads is expected to be as immediately available as the Internet itself. But email and SMS wasn’t good enough. Now phones have to support push notification, because we have to know the instant a Facebook friend has decided to have grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. The problem is, my phone buzzes for everything, no nothing gets my attention anymore. We talked about this phenomenon in this space before; how car alarms do nothing but annoy the neighbours. The era of the smart device and the ubiquity of wireless service may have just backfired on itself.
Has all this connectedness made us more productive as intended, or just increased the level of distraction and hindered its own goals?
["User Input" is the AtomicToasters Question of the Day™ asking you, the teeming millions, to answer our pressing questions.]
I can only speak from my personal experiences but I think it has increased the level of distraction and is becoming a hindrance. Suddenly (well, the last 10 years) our society has become instant. Instant everything, from shopping to conversations to getting up in the morning.
I've seen a drastic change in our business, Auto repair, with customers not scheduling anything in advance, just showing up. I have some customers that will only email, only chat on facebook and some that will text message to set up repairs. Most don't understand that I can't possibly carry every possible part for every possible make and model so yes, your broken Widget will be down for a day…or two. Add in the economic collapse we are still crawling out of and suppliers are carrying less on the shelves and in stock. So the down time is even longer. To compound the problem people can google their problem and parts needed and then wonder why I am more expensive the bendyouover.net when it comes to a repair. Many times I've given the keyboard commando's a choice. Have the Internet fix it or me. What is that? You don't have the tools, experience or ability. Oh…that is why the Internet isn't going to fix it.
The actual face time with customers is also becoming a little frustrating. Rude is a better word. As I am explaining the repairs, showing them the broken part on the car which is racked I'd rather not have them texting their BFF about the awesomeness planking,flash mob, protest or whatever is the fad they are going to do later.
The more technology seems to advance the more I seem to dislike it. Maybe I am just getting to be the old guy like my dad is. Who has never sat down in front of a PC because he sees no need to. I have found myself shutting the world off more and more when I have free time and just causing chaos in our Green Zone while the rest of the world discusses the latest youtube video featured on GMA.
You really have guys ask you, essentially, why you charge for labor? That's rich. Amazing how some people don't think about what they're saying.
I'd say at least 5% do.
One guy called at 5:45 pm on a Friday night. We close at 5pm but normally stick around to have a few drinks with friends who stop in. He was ecstatic that I was still there. The phone conversation went something like this.
"Hey, lil willie. I just took the steering knuckles off my Honda and need the bearings pressed out tonight."
"Sorry ****, we are all shut down for the day."
"You answered the phone?"
"I figured you were the wife wanting me home, she just tried my cell and I ignored it."
"Well. I really need these hubs pressed out tonight. I'd even pay you."
"You'd pay me? Wow, thanks!. I think I'll pass though since you still haven't paid for the last work I did for you."
"Oh…..so…..how do I get the bearings pressed out?"
"Call me Monday at 7:30 am and have the money for last time and the money for this time and I'd be glad to press them out."
"Oh….ok."
Needless to say, I didn't hear from him Monday. The car sat for a few days I did notice. Eventually someone pressed them in. Hope they got paid.
And that is why many think I am the greatest guy in the world or the biggest asshole. Just one phone call can do it.
Another night, late like the other, having a few drinks with friends. A couple from Milwaukee catch a nail and shread a tire on the highway on a cold night. They call and it goes something like this.
"Thank God you answered the phone. The young lady at the nursing home said you may still be there even though it is late. She said you may be able to help us. We got a flat tire and are on our way to Milwaukee. My husband cannot get the tire off and it is just to cold for him. Is there any way you could help us this evening."
"Yup, be there in 10 minutes."
"But you don't know where we are?"
"If you are at the nursing home you spoke to Mia, tell her I said hi."
"Oh…..great, see you soon."
I love your stories. We seriously could start a whole series of articles just dedicated to you telling stories. If you want to write them, that is.
Problem is, they're all tech-related, but they're also all automotive tech. So do we put you on Hooniverse, or put you here on Toasters? I vote Toasters, obviously…
I am still trying to get myself to sit down in front of the PC and put what is in my head to print. My Dad always said we could have made Millions in the Reality TV market if we could have put a camera up and record the chaos.
Engrish is also my second language. My first being incoherent gibberish. Thank you, Wisconsin Heights.
<img src="http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i65/lilwillie_wi/BJs%20photos/DCP_0003-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
I really shouldn't be surprised though. Our high school is named after a battle where we got slaughtered to hell by some Indians crossing the River. Our sports team is named after a rocket that failed to launch and our Mascot is a man on a horse jousting. None of the three make sense put together.
So how do you deal with the guys who attempt their own repairs out of
financial necessityenthusiasm, then realize they're in over their heads? I've found the internet to be a great resource, and I love to work on my car. The issue I have is that I don't always know what things should be like, and it's hard to get the internet to tell me what exactly is wrong with my car. Do you have a diagnostic rate that someone can come in and pay you, and you can tell them what exactly is wrong?Let them in with open arms. That is until they act like a jack wagon. Then I'll find a way to be to busy or charge them enough to make it worth my while.
A majority of the DIYer's are really cool guys and Hoon's like we all are. They know enough to do enough and they also know when they may be in over their head. Most times it isn't from a lack of knowledge it is from a lack of tooling, experience and space to do it.
So for those guys I'll gladly give advice if they are patient and understanding that the money making jobs come first. I have the benefit of a small town so everyone knows everyone and that way most everyone knows to bug me towards the end of the work day as I am winding things down. Most everyone knows I don't work for free but will gladly give advice for free. I'll scan a Check Engine light for free but diagnostic time to actually verify problems costs the hourly rate. Most also know coming in with a twelver of Shandy gets front of the line service
If they actually want me to put hands on I will go inspect their issue at their place when it is convenient, give them some advice and see how they go. I won't spin wrenches there. If I do it once, word will spread and everyone will expect they can have me make house calls. Spinning wrenches occurs at the shop. Then I'll explain costs and let them decide.
Every situation is different. It usually comes down to their attitude towards me. I'm by no means a expert but I'd rather have a little respect thrown towards me when people come in. If the DIYer comes in with a attitude it is really easy to just say I am to busy.
I have unplugged,3 people have my phone#. Absolutely no t.v.and no commercial radio.My life is much quieter and stress free.
At the risk of making you feel unwelcome — and you're not unwelcome at all, don't think that for a moment — I'm curious. If you've unplugged, and forsaken technology to the best of your ability… what draws you to AtomicToasters?
Well, I don't have a cell phone or a television, nor do I have radios in my vehicles, nor do I listen to the radio at home or at work, yet here I am, too. I'm just in it for the fabulous prizes.
Again, absolutely no criticism intended at all, purely curiosity about what about a tech site draws in someone who avoids technology. Specifically because I know we have quite a few people who don't like high-tech goodies who seem to enjoy the site. I think that's beyond fantastic, but it certainly makes me curious!
More to the point, if fully unplugged, how does one get here in the first place? Am I missing out on the print edition?
The price of convenience is loss of control, loss even of understanding. And we wonder: How far can we trust what we cannot follow? – John H. Lienhard
So here we are, swooning over familiar, antiquated technology.
It is more an issue of selective input than total technological avoidance.I spend six hours plus daily at my computer. As for t.v. and commercial radio,I cannot stand the relentless advertising.So I should have said "partially unplugged"
I read a study not too long ago that due to the web, people's tolerance for reading things has dropped precipitously. Sadly, I've noticed it myself. You get used to reading a 500 word or less blog post, and then you lose interest reading anything longer than that. My brain started getting programmed to go into ADHD mode after more than a few hundred words.
Because of that, I started reading books a lot more than I had been. Just to try to keep my brain programmed not to expect all information in the span of a blog post or short magazine article.
I've gotten that way with videos. Unless a video is particularly mesmerizing, I find myself fast forwarding to see the cute kitten/funny comedian/nutshot/double rainbow without sitting through the interminable 45 seconds of stuff that should have been edited out. How pathetic is that – I can't wait 45 seconds for a laugh.
TL;DR.
Don't get me wrong I have friends like that too , if it's done out of necessity then I totally understand it , i don't mind phone calls I actually prefer them to text msg . I just find it really irritating when someone is 100 meters away and they are to lazy to walk that distance so they try to have a conversation by text .
I dropped cable and sat too. I really love the Playon program for the PS3 and XBOX. Lets me get Hulu, Netflix (even when Sony's network is down), most network online feeds, and a thing called TV links with a bunch of torrent type stuff like full BBC episodes of the complete Top Gear series all on the PS3, XBOX, or Wii.
Lots of great stuff posted here. The only thing I think I can add is how frustrating it can be to keep a limit on some of these technologies. To keep them separate. I actually like using my phone for light email, text, facebook and the occasional atomic toasting. Stopping it from texting or emailing me my facebook updates was a challenge though. Is there anyone out there that wants to get a text that someone "poked" them. Seriously, you want to be notified immediately of this meaningless non-communication? For me, one of the attractions of facebook is that it has dramatically cut down the number of forwarded emails with stupid jokes or links. People just post them on facebook and if I'm in the mood for such frivolity, I check in. This leaves email for real communication. I've often been told that I have a keen eye for the obvious but I just think the real problem is that it all becomes static noise when it gets mixed together.