Are the obsequious smart phones destroying human relationships?

Editor's note:

Texting is illegal now in New York State while driving a car. It also should be made illegal while riding a bicycle and crossing a street both of which I saw last week in Brockport, NY.

Today, Saturday, 09/07/13, I went to see The Butler at the Strand Theater at the 1:00 PM matinee and a young woman sitting two rows in front of me to the right with her boyfriend held her smart phone up to her face to read text messages at 4 different times during the movie. Should I have complained to her or to the management or is it something that my 67 year old ego just has to get used to and accommodate in this upcoming generation?

 There are days when I am glad I am getting to the end of the my life because I don't think I really want to live too much longer with all the electronic gadgetry which has taken over people's lives in the most disrespectful and obnoxious ways. It is world that is being taken over by robots and in closely observing the developing relationships which humans have with their gadgets in many cases it is very clear that the gadgets are controlling the human behavior and not the other way around.

Having been a psychotherapist now for almost 45 years, problems with the cell phones come up continually in our psychotherapy sessions. The impact these devices have on human behavior and human relationships is extremely significant in both positive and negative ways, but once a person allows the electronic gadgets to take over his/her life and interfere with his/her relationships, trouble arrives which can be quite destructive on individual and interpersonal functioning in some cases resulting in "accidental" deaths which aren't really accidental because the operator allowed the robot to steal his/her attention.

Will a call to be more mindful be heard above the seductive vibration or ring tone of the robot? The most precious gift we have to give to another is our attention. To be there for another is precious. Don't get distracted by a seductive robot that cares nothing about you or your relationships with your loved ones.