Showerthought: My phone dying at the grocery store made me see how I use it

I was at the big Kroger on Main Street last Tuesday, halfway through my list, when my phone just shut off. I forgot to charge it the night before. I had my list, my coupons, and my payment app all on that thing. For a second I felt totally stuck. I had to find a pen and a scrap of receipt paper to write down what I needed, and I paid with my actual wallet card. The weird part was, I got done faster and I wasn't looking at my screen every two seconds. I even talked to the cashier instead of just nodding. It made me realize how much I use my phone as a crutch for simple stuff. Has anyone else had a tech fail that actually made things easier?

3 comments

3 Comments

hugomurray1d ago

My car GPS died near Akron, I just followed the highway signs.

the_linda9d ago

That "crutch for simple stuff" line hits hard. My GPS died once and I had to actually read street signs. Felt like a weird superpower, getting somewhere without a voice telling me when to turn. Sometimes the tech just gets in the way.

stella_lane9d ago

Honestly, @the_linda, that exact thing happened to me last month. My phone battery died on a long drive and I had to use an old paper map I found in the glove box. Took me twice as long but I actually remembered the route later. Felt weirdly good to not be told what to do for once. Makes you wonder what other simple skills we're letting get rusty.