OFF YOUR SCREEN!

Have you ever been in a scenario where you are out with your friends, be it to watch a movie, meet them for lunch, or just to hang around town and all they focus on is their smartphones?

Well, like anybody else living in this technologically-driven and digitally-connected world, I have. 

I don't get it, are the people they are meeting up with that boring to talk to? Are their smartphones better companions than their friends?  If that's the case, then why meet up in the first place? 

It's fine if they received a call or text message and they need to check their phones to see if it's anything urgent, but if all they do is check their Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, you name it, I don't see how they should be doing any of that. They can do it on their way home LATER, but when hanging out with friends, just enjoy the meet-up. It's not difficult to give your friends your undivided attention, isn't it? 

Now, having said this, some of you may be eager to ask me, " So, Hans, do you use the phone when you're with friends? ( I bet you do ) ? 

Well, honestly, I BARELY use the phone when out with friends. Like I've mentioned, unless I have an urgent call to answer, I don't see the need to use my phone when I have friends to spend time with. I do use the phone to tweet, check my Facebook and all but I can do those things at home or on the bus later on so why would I prioritise a gadget over people? I ask my friends out for a reason and that's to spend time with them.

So if I don't reply to your SMSes or don't answer some of your calls, chances are I'm with my friends. 



Most of you may be extremely familiar with this quote by Albert Einstein and I think what he said is absolutely right. We often see group of friends outside where all of them would be glued and engaged in their handphones but not talking to each other. 



If that's the case then just stay home and Whatsapp each other in a group, there's no need to meet up. LOL? 

There was this one time when I was travelling on the train with a friend and as I was talking to him, his eyes was glued to his phone. It's alright as he doesn't completely ignore me but I find it extremely annoying. It's like, I'm talking to you dude! Look at me. 

A social campaign called, " Put It On Friend Mode " (www.putitonfriendmode.com) was recently launched which I think is really good. It was initiated by four students from the Nanyang Technological University Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and information. Its purpose is to remind us to put our phones down and give our friends our utmost attention.  





Here are some of their videos

In a nutshell, when you're out with people, try to enjoy their company instead of being engaged in your phone all the time. In my opinion, what bonds people together are those deep conversations and memorable time spent with one another. So nurture your friendships now by getting OFF YOUR SCREEN! 

A Personal Frustration

Having lived on this planet for the past 16 years or so, I guess one of the biggest personal frustrations that I face on a daily basis is to perfectly say the " right things " that would appease everyone. 

I know that you can't please society, but sometimes I am just confused as to why some are offended by the things I say. I mean, most of the time, I don't mean any offence and definitely do not have any intention to hurt anyone. 

My intentions would be to compliment someone, crack a joke, or just wanting to give my honest opinion on something. But sometimes, there would be a small minority who get all offended and be like, " How can you say that? That's so insensitive of you. " 

I admit, there are times when my words can be really insensitive since I'm a blunt and brutally honest person and in those cases I would certainly apologise to not make any enemies. But in other times I just couldn't figure out what the person was offended about. Even if I did find out, it would be because of some silly and trivial matter ( WHUT -.-) 


Why are some people so emotional and too easily offended? 

Anyway, here's a video titled " No Offence! " by TreePotatoes. Watch how Tim struggles to help Herman look more presentable for work. A brief story of my life. 

Rebellious Years

Almost every normal teenager would go through rebellious years. It's part of growing up and natural 

It's just a period of time whereby we are already a young adult and we feel the need to break off from the confinements and conformations of society. We feel the need to be free, to be the true ruler of our own lives and not having to follow rules.

I started going through my rebellious years in Primary 6 when I started to have my own saying in life and rebelled a little against my parents and the school. I remember in Primary 6, somehow I was being very disruptive in class, making a fool of myself. I would say stupid shit in the middle of class which I assumed was amusing. 

My form teacher was really angered and annoyed by my actions in class. I was lectured and scolded on a regular basis but I would just say, " okay... okaay... " while showing a stupid grin of mine. 

As time goes by, I started to be more matured and I no longer behave like that. If I had a time machine I would definitely go back in time and slap myself in the face, SERIOUSLY -.- 

I think the reason behind the development of rebellious years is because as a kid, we obediently followed our parents' and the school rules, without questioning why things were as such, because we feel that we could entrust our lives in their hands. 


But as we grow older and find out more about ourselves and society, we feel the need to control our lives ourselves, and thus the problem of " rebellious teenagers " arises. 

I remember when I was a child my parents would dress me up and I would wear any clothes they bought me. But as I got older I came to a sad realisation that they dressed me LIKE CRAP. 

So right now I would pick my own clothing... Not gonna trust them on fashion anymore..

Most rebellions may just be simple acts of disobedience, but if a person rebels to the extent that he does criminal activities, such as taking drugs, drinking underage, then the rebellion needs to be controlled. Is it okay? OF COURSE IT'S NOT OKAY. 

Many people believe that these kids have to be punished severely in order for them to mature and get them to realise that what they're doing is wrong and could endanger themselves. 

But I think that punishment may be able to control them temporarily, but it doesn't entirely solve the problem. 

Most of these kids are troubled, either to find a belonging in society, or going through family issues. Hence they end up turning to joining gangs, smoking, etc. 

I know because I used to be troubled as well. I was struggling to fit in from Primary 6 to Secondary 1. I had lots of insecurities and honestly I did fight. But I managed to finally fit into groups of friends which I can relate to so I guess that saved me ^^

In order to solve this problem, I believe that we need to find ways to help them with their struggles. I heard an analogy from a teacher of mine which says if you have a hole in your bag, you need to fix the hole before trying to store anything inside it. You need to solve the problem from its root. 

Most of you should be familiar with this short film. It was swirling all over the local Television about a year ago ( If I'm not wrong ) and it shows that what changed Glenn was not the punishments he received, but the encouragement and dedication of Mr Kumar to help him get through his teenage struggles. 

Mr Kumar knew he would be a great man, and he was right :) 

I really like watching this series on Youtube called " World's strictest parents ". It's a show where troubled and rebellious teens would leave their homes and live with strict parents in another country. 

Here's one of the episodes that I really like

They say that teenage years are the best years of your life, and it is. But I think there are also obstacles that you have to go through as a teenager and it's a phase that would be very impactful to your life. I know sometimes parents just don't understand us, but they are still your parents who want the best for you, don't forget that fact.