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Deep Human Insights from How We Use Smartphones On the Subway
There are two types of people on public transportation:
- People who are on their smartphones
- People who judge the first category with arrogance, as if they are superior
I belonged to the second group. I preach compassion, but I couldn’t help but feel superior when I saw others as zombies enslaved by their screens. I had no idea that it would only take one notification for me to turn into a zombie in the same way.
Overuse of smartphones is not a choice.
We pride ourselves for being adaptable creatures. Why do we ignore that we adapt to the environment? We do it both if it’s natural and if it’s man-made.
Instead we expect to behave regardless of our circumstances.
Surround people with prompts and opportunities for high appeal foods and expect them to eat the same as if these do not exist.
Really?
If we were so rigid, natural selection would have culled us a long time ago.
Subways behaviour is adaptation
The people on the subway are the same. They are in a situation which is both boring and scary.
