Really Microsoft?

Have you seen the new advertising campaign for the Microsoft Windows phone? The one where people are buried in their smartphones. A little boy throws a baseball straight at his dad's head because the father is checking his phone. A wife dressed in lingerie throws a pillow at her husband because he's looking at his phone and not her. The best? A guy who drops his phone in the urinal because he's texting and peeing at the same time. And to that, the people being ignored ask "Really?!?"

Its smart and completely realistic but what I'm finding hard to believe is that the commercial infers its the person's poorly designed phone that's making them completely oblivious. To that I say "Really, Microsoft? You're blaming people's atrocious anti-social behavior on a phone?"

Yes, cell phones come with all kinds of bells and whistles now and can pretty much control anything in your life, and yes, they can be distracting - but that is the fault of the person using that phone, not the phone itself.

I think this commercial is hilarious but I also think it will give some people the wrong message. I think some people will watch the commercial and think, so its okay for me to bury my head in my phone as long as its the right phone, one that will help me navigate more quickly and help get me back to the real world faster. Well surprise, you are in the real world all the time and I find it annoying when you constantly glance at your phone to check for voicemails or text messages or box scores or Facebook updates.

In fact, I find it incredibly rude when I sit down at a table in a restaurant or saddle up to a bar stool and the person(s) I'm supposed to be hanging out with is riding sidecar with their phone out on the table. The glowing faceplate of that smartphone is making me feel inadequate as a companion. Am I not interesting enough? Perhaps I should start all of my comments with a chime or a beep to let you know that I'm updating you on my life -- in real time, in front of your face!

And while I'm on the subject. Perhaps that Windows phone commercial should include some other scenarios. For instance, texting while driving. Really, random person behind the wheel on the highway, do you need to text your friend, mother or significant other and risk an accident or possibly death? Could it maybe wait, or could you maybe just call that person because your bluetooth is hanging out of your ear anyway and its not licking up your ear wax for nothing.

Yes, I'm angry and no, I don't blame the Windows phone. I don't blame the iPhone. I blame people. When did we become so self-absorbed? When did technology replace normal human interaction? Why do open lines of communication now have to include poking someone or "checking in" at a certain hot spot ... what are we homing devices? Really?

P.S. I acknowledge the hypocrisy of this post because I am going to share it on Twitter and Facebook but a girl's gotta do what she can to get noticed these days.