Cell phone shopping

published January 13, 2011

in the Stockton Sentinel,

Stockton, Kansas

Last Saturday evening, I wasted more than an hour of my life in Walmart trying to get everything crossed off my list. With Christmas shopping having been my most recent focus, my "Walmart list" was lengthy; so I knew going in it was going to take a while. Beyond that, I was not prepared for the jungle I was entering.

First of all, a big snowstorm was in the forecast. That alone had people in panic mode. Before I even got into the store, I could feel the impending scene because, not only was there hardly a parking spot to be found, but it looked like nearly all the carts were outside. It was obvious that the store was not only busy at the time, but had been busy earlier in the afternoon.

Once inside, things quickly went from bad to worse. The store was not only full of people, but was empty of product. Apparently it is inventory time because the shelves were nearly stripped bare. You either had to get down on your knees to find stuff clear at the back of the lowest shelves or stand on tiptoes to reach things towards the back of the top shelves.

But what really stirred my ire is that I felt like I was the only one shopping without a cell phone attached to either my ear or my thumbs. With the conditions as they were already, it was even more frustrating because people were walking along slowly with carts, looking for things, trying to keep kids in line, and either talking or texting on their cell phones. Or standing in the aisles, blocking the way with their cart, while describing everything on the shelf to someone on the other end of the line, asking whether they want this or this or that or that. Or trying to talk to their kids while their kids are texting on their own phones.

Cell phones are a convenience and even a life saver, but they shouldn't replace our minds. People used to be able to shop on their own without having to call home and read everything on the shelf to decide what is needed. People used to be able to think and even plan ahead. Now it seems like the easiest thing is just to get in the car and go and figure it out by phone later. Evidently that's why they're called "smart phones," because this little device is the smart thing; the person holding it no longer has to do the thinking.

I have heard some people say they could not live without their cell phone. Really" Stop to think about it; that's a very sad statement.