Project Vision 21

Last week I read a story about the fact that fewer people are now using Blackberry devices because those devices provide less “fun” options than the competitors. It seems Blackberry was created for executives, but now, some years later, those executives are looking for more fun in their work.

Also last week, I received an invitation to attend a couple of classes, as an observer, as part of my continuing education as a Spanish-language teacher. The teacher in charge of the classes asked me to postpone my visit for a couple of week, so I could then have the opportunity of observing “funnier” classes.

I have to confess I don’t like this obsession with fun. How is it possible that somebody is unable to do business unless that person has a phone full of fun? Or how is it possible I can’t attend a class because perhaps the class is not funny enough?

How much fun do we want in our lives? And what kind of fun are we talking about? I think this is the selfish fun of avoiding thinking and responsibilities, leading us to forget about serious issues and to seek only the immediate satisfaction of our desires.

I am not promoting a life lived with such a level of fictitious seriousness as to leave no room for any laugh or amusement. But I am against a life where fun (understanding it in its crass sense) is used as the only criteria to judge the quality of a product, a task, or a service.

Is a phone less than a phone because it may not have of the “funny” options other devices include? I believe we are not distinguishing between “fun” and “addiction to continuous distraction and entertainment.” Allow me to share an example of what I mean.

Last Sunday, as millions of others did all around the world, I attended a religious service in celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. After several decades of studying philosophy and theology, my beliefs are no longer those of the traditional Christianity. However, I sincerely respect the faith of those who attend a religious service.

But last Sunday, a very important day in the liturgical calendar, a lady at church caught my attention, because during the whole service (very lively and not boring at all) she never stopped using one of those “fun” phones to check her messages.

This lady knew when to stand up and what hymns to sing, and she did it, but she never left the phone, not even during communion, one of the most sacred moments of the service for those who share this faith.

The image of a lady in church with the bread and wine on one hand and the cell phone on her other hand, using a couple of free fingers of the hand holding the elements to check the messages on the phone she held at the same time her other hand, clearly reveals how addiction we are in our society to novelties and fun.