WISDOM TRAILS: The backcountry and your electronic gadgets do not mix. You cannot have both.
First seen in Facebook
November 19, 2018
=> => => o0o
<= <= <=
MOBILE PHONES PER SE are not
distasteful to have and carry with in an outdoor outing. In fact, it is your
lifeline for help when your trip turns out bad, given you can catch a good
signal. It is just unthinkable to spend time with it oblivious of the natural
beauty of the landscape evolving around you which everyone are relishing.
While it is rude to see people tinkering on their phones when someone is talking to them as an audience, it is just as rude on yourself to shortchange your time in the outdoors by willful and compulsive use of your phone or like gadgets. Freedom of the hills simply forgot about the topic on mobile phones.
I know MOST of us are beholden to our cellular phones in all of our waking hours. Phones, because of its numerous apps, evolved as our own personal assistant. Without it, some would feel listless and helpless in how they make their day enjoyable. It is beginning to be a very obnoxious habit which you have little control of. Sometimes.
But it can be controlled unlike
cigarettes, alcoholic drinks and prohibited drugs where substance is inhaled,
induced or injected into our body system that influenced our thoughts and moods.
Battery life makes a habitual phone user shrink from continuous use. Absence of
cellular connections makes them surrender to that situation.
There are no withdrawal syndromes experienced. No uncontrollable shakes. Just a feeling of anxiety and disorientation for a few minutes before one diverts his attention to his surroundings, unresponsive at first, but not for long. It is just a manageable psychological thing and a temporary emotional hang-up.
There are places where your mobile phone is enjoyable and there are places where it is not needed and, therefore, kept in silent mode, unless you are expecting a call or a message. By the time you are finished, hopefully, it would not dominate your attention. Chuck it back in a safe place and enjoy nature with much vigor.
One thing about using electronic devices in mountain environments is you may increase the risk of being in the way of lightning. The elevated areas has a climate of its own which usually differs from the usual weather forecasts. When the first sign of lightning appear, turn off gadgets and go indoors if there are structures. If not, stay away from highest trees and long conductors.
The first photo shows a plastic box
full of mobile phones. It belonged to students in a Girl Scout camp organized
by Ateneo de Cebu Girl Scout Council of the Philippines. It simply is good
common sense to separate these from its owners when you are in an outdoors
activity or otherwise. It is teaching the adolescents discipline and prudence.
It seems the new values triggered by the arrival of the new versions of mobile phones – smart phones as they are called – have subverted the accepted human values on social etiquettes and behavior. Too much dependence on gadgets is frowned upon by society and use has to be regulated and the first place to learn that is the home.
=> => => o0o
<= <= <=
WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions.
Through tutorship, experience, folk
knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful
information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL BUSHCRAFT.
He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions; in
his social-media account; and in this blog.
Photo Nr 2 grabbed from Bicycling.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment