Do people realize how dumb they look holding their phones up

[NightWatcher]

(cross post in the Lounge)

while they attempt to take video of a live event. I just watched thousands of these people who were at the Opening Ceremony spend the experience with their damn iPhones in the air.

First, you look like an idiot.

Second, you miss getting to experience the event cause you're to damn busy staring at your screen while you point your phone in the general direction of the excitement.

Put your phones in your pocket, people. Somewhere a professional is taking high quality video and stills that will shame your grainy, shaky iVideo.

Thank you for tolerating my rant.....typed on my iPhone as I watch tv in bed.

[IndyPragmatist123]

1. I completely agree

I was lucky enough to get to see the Super Bowl live this past year because of my job (security stuff). I was amazed at how many people were staring through the screen of their phone instead of looking at the spectacle in front of them. There were thousands of television cameras there. Let them do the recording and focus on enjoying a once in a lifetime experience.

[onehandle]

2. I saw a couple of athletes filming with their iPads.

Typed on my iPad in bed.

[freshwest]

5. 'Typed on my iPad in bed.'

[BeyondGeography]

3. The device-wielding American team won the gold for self-absorption

Ffs, put those damned things away and interact with the rest of the world like everyone else.

[chollybocker]

4. Yes! I hope this trend gets old real fast.

Yes, we all have magic phones. But does it need to block my view of the goddam LIVE BAND? Stupid fuckwads.

[Scootaloo]

6. I don't worry about what other people are doing with their phones...

But your rant resembles a similar one I stumbled across recently....

[randome]

17. Exactly what I was thinking.

Everyone ELSE is 'stupid' because they don't behave like ME!!!

[GoCubsGo]

29. I only worry when they are operating a motor vehicle.

Or, if they are interrupting or interfering with others' activities. Otherwise, I don't care, either.

[Jamaal510]

7. This is exactly what I think whenever

I see an Obama rally on TV. It always looks like a sea of camera phones at his events!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. Don't you know it's not "real" unless it's on a screen?

[HiPointDem]

11. sadly true.

[4lbs]

9. Stupid is as stupid does.

Unfortunately,

There are sure a hell of a lot of stupid people.

Some include the US athletes.

It reminds me of when people in the stands take flash pictures
'
Uh, stupid, you are too damn far away for the flash to make any impact.

But, hey, waste your battery taking flash pictures. I don't give a damn.

It's your camera and your battery.

[nichomachus]

23. 95 percent of them

Don't know how to turn off the flash

[Brother Buzz]

10. Grandma won't settle for tape delay

I'm just saying.

[TeamPooka]

12. Egocentric's R Us

It's the "me" generation on steroids...
Because it's not about NBC's pro video when each person there is sure that their individual experience is the only important thing that needs to be chronicled.
And they all want the hits on YouTube

[Bonobo]

13. Agree completely! It's a ceremony. A CEREMONY!

Comport yourself with a little dignity you numbskulls!

[rad51]

14. They did look silly.

I'm sure they were very excited. Most of the the athletes are young and prolly didn't realize how it looked to the TV viewer. Short side-note- my elderly mother doesn't understand that the Queen did not really parachute in!

[JI7]

16. wasn't Kobe Bryant doing it ?

along with others on the basketball team ? i don't watch basketball but i assume all of those people aren't some people new to getting this type of attention.

[JI7]

15. anyone know if they were given to them free and the company asked them to do that ?

i would easily believe they did it themselves. too many people just can't wait to put on facebook or somewhere else every little thing they are doing. i know this is a special occasion but it's not like there isn't going to be any pics of video of it .

i get annoyed with this when i go somewhere. i have family and friends who are always pushing to take pics. i'm more the type that wants to take in the experience and keep it in my head and heart. but it's like for some people it's more important to show other people where they have been.

[joshcryer]

18. Technolgy is moving so rapidly that stuff like this is going to be the norm.

Next thing you know people will be at restaurants with VR glasses on and not talking. Instead they'll be doing their thing in VR. It's going to be creepy to outside observers or non-participants.

[rfranklin]

24. Just plug into the Matrix...

a blob of protoplasm connected to the Grid.

[Baclava]

19. It's their time to remember - who cares what YOU think about appearances?

I'd be taking pics of everything thing too - once in a lifetime event, oh I better not take any pics, someone might be looking at our team during the 10 sec the world's eyes are on us, screw my family and kids with memories I could share from the Olympics, I better button down, look at the ground and look humble, we aren't allowed to have fun, let the state show my family which picures are allowed.

what a load of crap


there- my rant

[Robb]

26. No kidding.

Considering the athletes spent their entire lives getting there, they can do whatever they want.

[xmas74]

33. Exactly.

They weren't in bed, typing on iPhones or IPads. They were out every single day, practicing until they were good enough to make the team. For most, that walk will be their only glory-they won't be bringing home medals. As for the pros who've been there before or who are pro players (yep, talking about LeBron and the others, though sad I missed the Anthony Davis eyebrows-moving on) some of them were taking pics and tweeting the experience for the majority of us who will never be there. It's a personal moment that they've found a way to let the fans enjoy in a more up-close manner than ever before.

Leave them alone. There are worse things they can do-much worse.

[Phentex]

20. Had I been the queen, I'd have forbidden it...

Buy the commemorative dvd like everyone else! Enjoy the moment!

[alphafemale]

21. At least we have to watch flashes going off less often.

Used to love that. People taking flash pictures at a concert.

Yeah dumass.

You just got a great shot of the backhead of the person in front of you.

[Motown_Johnny]

22. Have you ever read "Shooting An Elephant" by George Orwell?

http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/887/

[MineralMan]

25. I guess I don't see the harm in it.

Folks want their personal video of the event to mark their being there. Who am I to tell them not to do that?

[BumRushDaShow]

27. Wow. A generation gap in here

I saw some psyched up athletes who finally get to have their time in the sun. Most have struggled raising money for training and travel and juggling work, school, and families. I loved their excitement and desire to "capture the moment". For a couple weeks, they are looking forward to putting the nastiness of politics and world rancor aside and just compete on their own physical and mental merits.

As it is, if it weren't for their documentation of the "moment", surely their government mouth-pieces would fill in the blanks with bullshit and propaganda - just like the NBC gasbags tried to do. I want to see what THEY saw. Not what Vieira, Costas, and Lauer INSIST that they saw.

Let 'em be!

[Spazito]

28. +1! n/t

[charlyvi]

32. No generation gap.

I'm 61 and fully agree with you. If I were there, I'd be snapping pics, taking movies, going the whole nine yards. If anyone didn't like it, fuck 'em. I'm too old to care.

[RKP5637]

30. Almost as dumb as the ones tripping down the sidewalk in a crowd

of people hypnotized staring at their stupid phone screen.

[William Seger]

31. If I was in that parade, I'd have video camera in one hand

... and a DSLR in the other, and the LAST thing I'd care about is what YOU think about it.

[noamnety]

34. Hmmm, I'm not sure ...

But I'm gonna guess: Things Mitt Romney said when greeting the Olympic athletes.

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. Doesn't bother me in the least

It's the 21st century. Get used to it.

[progressoid]

36. They should have shelled out the extra money for the new Eyephone.

[Control-Z]

37. They looked like they were having a blast!!

What's to hate? Would it have been better if they were all using cameras instead of phones?

I love having pictures and videos of the greater events in my life. The one time I didn't take my own and left it up to newspapers and friends I was disappointed. I still kick myself for it.

Why should anyone pass up documenting such an exciting time in their life? I just don't understand.

[RayOfHope]

38. If it were cameras instead of phones, no one would have batted an eye

But since they are phones that happen to take pictures and video, people are anxious to jump on the 'technology is ruining our society" bandwagon.


Their worked their asses off and many have made incredible sacrifices to get there. Let em take some damn pictures.