Gadget envy to hide loneliness

If smart phones keep people occupied and happy, what harm can it really do?

When four of my friends whipped out their iPhones in unison to check their micro blogs, I'll admit I felt a sense of uneasiness and isolation creep in. Suddenly I was the odd one out for not having a phone that gave me a direct link to the social network. As they busily updated their status with illustrative shots of the very dinner we were eating together, I sat in silence.

I've always held that the obsession with gadgets, like cutting-edge cell phones, only indicates the severity of the loneliness among metropolitans. I was proud of the fact I was able to resist the temptation and stick to my artless propensities, such as hanging out with my friends and enjoying some quality time reading or writing. Yet, at that moment I was deprived of companionship.