The Simple Joy of 'No Phones Allowed'

by Volker Weber

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A few nights ago I saw Jack White in concert. It was a wonderful night, and a big part of that was due to a new rule he has imposed on all his tour dates: no phones.

When you arrive, you have to put your phone into a neoprene pouch, supplied by a company called Yondr, which they lock and give back to you. If you want to use your phone during the show, you can go into the concourse and unlock it by touching it to one of several unlocking bases. The concert area itself remains screen-free.

The effect was immediately noticeable upon entering the concert bowl. Aside from the time-travel-like strangeness of seeing a crowd devoid of blue screens, there was a palpable sense of engagement, as though—and it sounds so strange to say it—everyone came just so they could be there.

Fascinating read about the effect of smartphones on experiences. You may have noticed this yourself.

Distracted concert crowds are a problem worth addressing, but it’s a small one, relatively speaking. I don’t think we’ve even begun to comprehend the full cost of our devices on our lives, particularly on our social structures, the development of our children, and our overall mental health. When the long-term studies start coming out, we’re going to be appalled.

Time to make a change.

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Comments

Ich empfinde das mittlerweile auch sehr als störend. Ich genieße lieber den Moment als eine schlechte Aufnahme zu machen, die ich hinterher eh nicht mehr anschaue. An Jack White sollten sich noch andere ein Beispiel nehmen.

Karl Heindel, 2018-11-25

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