Without you I am nobody

You leave your phone for an hour because you have to do something, like being at the dentist's office or an activity that doesn't let you keep it with you, as other activities do – or you make them do so – like being in a bar with friends, being in a meeting, walking, walking with someone, being on public transport, or participating in a paid TV discussion. When the dentist has finished their work and explains how you should take care of your teeth, you listen, of course, but you go to get your phone (you left it, charging, on the shelf with the dental instruments) and unlock it (how many times a day do you do this gesture?). Without realizing it, you become absorbed, completely absorbed, in one message or another. A message as important as what the dentist is telling you, but more addictive, because it's on the screen. Everything is more addictive on the screen. If you've arranged to meet a friend who is telling you about her marital breakup, you'll listen to her halfway, because on WhatsApp someone will tell you about a marital breakup. And the WhatsApp marital breakup will always excite more parts of your brain than the one in front of you. On your phone, it will be fun to play online billiards. The real thing, you won't think of playing.

Suddenly, you realize. The doctor, with whom you've had a cordial relationship during the visit, with whom you've talked about her children, about books, no longer interests you. Or rather, you've minimized her. You haven't realized it and you've let her speak without listening to her. You get angry with yourself: you are not, you don't want to be, rude, but you've cut her off mid-sentence. You didn't do it consciously, of course. But you did it. You do it. Since you've been an hour without your phone, you've had to dive into it immediately. The doctor smiles and gathers her things. Suddenly, your cordiality has disappeared. You've acted like one of those arrogant celebrities who ask you how you are and by the time you're about to answer, they're already with someone else. Yes, you can't be without your phone.