I'm Tired of these Cameras

            When I went to the Spring Fling concert for 3OH!3 and Fabulous I leaned over the fence right in front and as I watched the performers begin the show the boy next to me pulled out his iPhone and started recording.  This kid must have taken a million pictures and made several videos.  To my disappointment he wasn’t the only one; several people had their phones and cameras out during the entire concert, getting every second of it on film.

            I say “to my disappointment” because this makes me sad for our society and what it is becoming.  I’m disappointed that people feel the need to record every moment of every interesting activity in their lives.  A few pictures, sure, you want your friends to believe you when you say you got a selfy with the lead singer, but recording entire performances is unnecessary and a waste.  We were in the FRONT ROW, and all the memories that guy next to me will ever remember are the views of his phone’s screen making sure the video comes out alright.

            This weird concept of recording things resembles hoarding.  People today hoard their photographs and videos and continue to collect hundreds per event in their lives.  Humans are materialistic, and now with new forms of technology we have a way to “possess” things like the Eifel Tower or the Great Wall of China with just a click of a button.  The only good thing I can see out of this is the fact that this concept undermines the need for souvenirs like little Empire State Building figures or Taj Mahal key chains; why get a souvenir when you have pictures by which you can remember your trip?

            The worst thing about this new trend in behavior is the fact that those who partake in it miss out on truly experiencing whatever they’re recording.  The view of Sean Foreman singing was a lot better in person than through a camera.  When one spends their entire time looking at things through a camera or on a screen they do not get to fully experience seeing what they’re recording because they are too busy making sure the video or pictures turn out well.  People need to stop wasting their precious time trying to keep tiny pieces of an event or place and start trying to enjoy the experiences of life when they come.

            Go out and do something extraordinary without spending time looking at things through a lens or screen, I promise whatever it is looks better in person.  The people on Facebook and Instagram don’t really care anyway, and if they do then you should feel sorry for them.  You can’t truly live behind a camera or cell phone, so go out and live!