Google Inc Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt challenged college graduates on Sunday to take the radical step — at least for their generation — of tearing their eyes away from their smartphones and computer screens.
“Take one hour a day and turn that thing off,” Schmidt told graduates at Boston University, where he received an honorary degree and was applauded by an audience that had grown up relying on the technology company’s search engine, e-mail and other services.
“Take your eyes off that screen and look into the eyes of the person you love. Have a conversation, a real conversation,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt’s advice came midway through his remarks and provided context around his broader message that electronic tools such as social media are positive forces. He said that “a distinctive feature of your new world is that you can be unique while being completely connected.” That feature, he said, is a “fulfillment of the American dream.”
Google executives are comfortable with broad statements, having made “Don’t be evil” a business motto and battled governments over Internet freedoms.
In his remarks, Schmidt did not address policy issues or business topics such as last week’s initial public offering of Facebook Inc, in many spaces a Google rival. Schmidt also offered traditional sentiments that included urging graduates to reach high and not be afraid to fail.
He also emphasized they will be armed with technology as never before. “You are emblems of the sense of possibility that will define this age,” he said, adding that, “If you’re awake, you’re online, you’re connected.
“Some of you are probably tweeting this speech right now.”
(Source: Reuters)
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9 Responses
When Eric Schmidt says it, it’s news. I guess the trick for them is to pick which hour to shut down. Believe me, the Goyish teen is much more reliant and involved in being online then anything else in life. It is their way of validating their thoughts and interest by “tweeting” and “likeing”.
The Hashpaot of the Asifa are starting to come out…
An excellent idea. Spend an hour on the gym, meditating, taking s nap,
Love?! Fooy internet!!
#2
I agree!
I turn off my cell phone once a week for at least 25 hours. Some times 2 days in a row and every so often 3 days.
My phone is off during teffliot, morning seder and evening seder.
#1: You think Jews are immune to this? And I don’t mean with the definition of “Goyim” meaning anyone who isn’t from certain neighborhoods or yeshivot.
Otherwise, this article is nice.
Great idea.
I think we should do it for a whole day.
We could call it “Shabbos.”
Shlomo2 : I was being nice. Goyim as a whole put much more importance on which club you’re a part of, which college you graduated, and who your favorite celebrity is. Maybe this isn’t the place for this but there is a growing epidemic called “Half Shabbos”. You don’t know what that is? You should. Normal everyday Frum kids,with a good frum education, caught in the grasp of texting addiction .The Asifa didn’t even scratch the surface, in fact they wouldn’t touch this subject with a ten foot poll.People of all ages and beliefs are addicted in some way or another. Is it a coincedence that Eric Schmidt made these comment on the same day as the Asifa- I think not. His reasoning may be different but he’s looking for the same goal- get rid of the distractions and enjoy more of your life.
Brooklynhocker
Rabbi Wachsman briefly touched on the issues of addiction and how much time it wastes. The asifa wasnt made for discussing every issue we have but it was intended to inspire us to moderate our internet use to cut down on our bittul zman. If the Rav says dont waste your time on the internet and use the time to learn instead it should be clear that he means that we should stop wasting time with technology in general. He doesnt mean get off the internet and now text an extra 2 hours a day!
If we started cutting back on our technology use (read abuse) and actually use the free time for mitzvos and Torah study. If enough people take this seriously and start exerting some self control it would change the pattern of the frum society and everyone would slow down with the texting and all that stuff. We are just so drunk with technology right now. We need to step back from it and become normal again.