The Revolution will not be Televised – NOT

I wonder what Gil Scot-Heron, who popularized the phrase “the revolution will not be televised,” thinks about present-day Egypt? After all not only was the revolution in Egypt televised, it was codified, sanctified and fortified by the use of smart devices. At least that’s what the media told us. Smart devices opened the window to urgent cell phone calls, critical text messages and streaming video that catapulted a nation into spontaneous yet deliberate action. Then at the drop of a pin, the government shut it down. Could the revolution in Egypt have happened without smart devices?

Bearing Witness to Cruelty

By now most of us have seen the video of 13 year old Nadin Khoury being chased, beaten in the soiled snow of Philadelphia and hung from the spikes of a cold metal fence. The grainy video was taken using the cell phone of one of the suspected adolescent assailants. It is imagery that is hard to view, yet someone angled a cell phone close enough to hear the victim’s entreaty and to record the full heinous assault - including the passersby who ignored the beaten boy’s pleas.

Without this cell phone video, the majority of us would have no idea that this crime was committed. But do we want to bear witness to the cruelty that has taken residence in our communities and our psyches? However the video can possibly be used as evidence leading to the conviction of the attackers. Does the end justify the means? Is this what we expect our youth to do with the tools we have so willingly proffered? Perhaps the video was to serve as a trophy for the perpetrators of the cowardly act (that was passing for a sport).  Would you record such an event? And if so, for what purpose?

psst...the world is listening

Birds do it. Bees do it. Even tweens and teens do it. They’re just doing it through smart devices with pics etc. Maybe this is the ultimate in safer sex. Or maybe it’s rude, crude and approaching sexual harassment. Your thoughts?

is your conversation for public consumption?: psst....the world is listening

is your conversation for public consumption?: psst....the world is listening

psst....the world is listening

 

The HLP Group wants to contribute to our world being a kinder and gentler planet through the use of our smart devices. Ours is an information in the palm-of-your-hand world and we want it now, we want it fast. Some of us are willing to sacrifice our privacy, kindness and civility for connection. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can keep our self respect by using good old common sense and courtesy to guide our use of smart devices. Here’s an opportunity to share new ideas and ways in which all humans (smart device users and non smart device users) can coexist in this new smart world. Our blog creates a platform for this dialogue. We’re multigenerational and multicultural and we’re listening…

We were chillaxin, drinking yerba mate tea and checking our messages. After a time away from our devices it happened: a conversation, in person, in real time. We all concluded that we needed some guidelines on ways to be present and virtual - all at the same time. So we want to hear from you. We believe in freedom of speech (smart or otherwise) and want to make sure all points of view are heard on this subject.

• If you’re one of the many human beings using smart devices to manage your private or professional life in public and private spaces, we want to hear from you

• If you’re one of the many human beings annoyed by smart device users we want to hear from you.

The only requests are be respectful (no foul language/profanity) and please, please do not personalize (no names). Check in a few times a week to add your insight on a new scenario. That’s it.

we want to know....

It’s the holidaze. You’ve traveled 2,000 miles to be with the fam, but your special person (SP) couldn’t make it. During the family dinner you take out your device, Skype your SP and place the device on the table (next to the salad) so SP can chat, see and hear what’s goin on.    People, is this cool?