And that's why we're always bumping into each other.

I look up all the time.
And depending on where, when and how you do it, it is not hard to get a bunch of people to do it, too, even though they have no idea of why or anything to look at.
The last time I made note: over fifty people for over two hours. I came back two hours later and there were still five people there. None of them knew what they were supposedly looking at, why, or had bothered to ask anyone. Their explanations all screamed of post hoc rationalizations.

That tumblr is kind of depressing.

And that's why I don't slip on the ice.

I don't own a smartphone. I hate 'em and the whole "always connected" culture. I've noticed this exact thing that the tumblr is pointing out. Eyes always glued to the little screen. It's pretty sad, really.

I find the pictures depressing too.

I love my smartphone and it's been a great help in many instances, but I've been very deliberate about setting personal parameters about using it. Other than the obvious safety and courtesy issues, one of the joys of being out in public is observing and interacting with the world. I would feel isolated even when surrounded by a group of people if I just stared at the screen of my phone. It's way too easy to remove yourself from your environment with a smart phone, which is sort of depressing. People are spending so much time trying to be connected with the world as whole they're becoming more disconnected with the world around them.

At least they're not driving.

What Slack said. I do love my phone, but the more I notice that, if I look around in a public place I'm the ONLY person looking around and not staring at a screen, the more I leave it in my pocket when I'm out in public.

Smartphones are like invisible car bubbles.

I'm concerned about kids growing up crosseyed from using an 18" focal point all day long, that and the 'eyes on the phone and only the phone' pics make the phones look like a drug or totem of sorts.

Caveat: I'm also jealous 'cuz I don't have a smart phone; but I partially don't because I would have my face in it alll day loong. .

In field school for archaeology, we were taught to always look down. So I am practiced.

That is why I am always bumping my head on low clearences. Not that I am always looking at my phone, but just because I NEVER LOOK UP.

In field school for archaeology, we were taught to always look down. So I am practiced.

That's always my wife's excuse (she's ABD in archaeology)

Makes me want to learn pickpocketing.

We look up and to the opposite side of our dominant hand when trying to remember something. Looking up to the same side as the dominant hand may be a sign of fabricating a lie.

I recently saw a lovely woman give herself over utterly to this process, she looked like she was in rapture.