Stop Phubbing

A boy plays mobile game in the screening room. (Photo/China Youth Daily)

A young man stares at his mobile phone screen in the subway. (Photo/China Youth Daily)

A fixed gear rider checks his mobile phone in the road during the evening peak. (Photo/China Youth Daily)
The indifference and rudeness of the information age are spreading...

Last month, Justin Valdez, a college student was shot in subway in San Francisco, the U.S. The surveillance video showed that before Justin was killed, the killer pulled out the pistol several times, and even wiped his nose with it. However, nobody noticed the killer. The surrounding passengers all focused on their cell phones.

We may see the same scene everywhere in the life: in subway, restaurants, elevators, roads, people are watching their mobile phones. From family reunion to date with a friend, people couldn't stop checking their twitter, WeChat, facebook on the mobile phone and snubbing the persons in front completely. Phubbing trends not only to involve the young people, but also the elderly and kids.

"Phubbing" is a newly coined term which comes from the words "phone" and "snub". It describes the habit of snubbing someone in favor of a mobile phone. The word "phubbing" was included in the Australian National Dictionary in 2012. Apparently, the indifference and rudeness of the information age are spreading globally. A Stop Phubbing campaign site has been launched. You can find the slogan of the website as follows: "stop twittering, stop posting photos…enjoy your food, enjoy the music and respect your campaign."

Phubbing appears innocuous; however, it does disturb our life. Shen Hongfei, an epicure, wrote in his blog:"I can no longer focus on what I am eating since I started twittering. My skill of food photography has improved very fast, while my interest in food drops correspondingly."

Let us put down the cell phone ad re-savor the real taste of food and the warmth of interpersonal communication.

Edited and translated by Huang Jin, People's Daily Online


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