Checking in

Probably starting to sound like a grumpy old man now, but I have to admit: I don’t get the whole “checking in” thing. It all reminds me of the time me and one of my friends at school took out some girls for dinner because they seemed to be rather bored and had nothing planned for the night. As soon as we arrived at the restaurant, one girl took out her phone and wouldn’t even look at, let alone talk to us for the rest of the night. At the time, we found it extremely rude and disrespectful.

Jon Stewart probably put it best in one of his recent shows: 

“It’s becoming increasingly clear people do not like the people they’re with.”

Hipsters with iPhones. (screencap from eightbit.me introductory video)

I’ve caught myself doing the same thing to other people – I’m sure we all do from time to time. But I still find it difficult to get excited about yet another way to check in, even if it’s as nicely done as eightbit.me (check out their introductory video). I know it’s not meant to be taken seriously, but doesn’t that look a whole lot like an invitation to detach yourself from the people you’re with (and basically be a dick)? Also, do we really need incentives to get out of the house? Already?