Diving with a whale shark was a dream. And it happened after a year and a half of preparation, on a trip to Mexico. At the time, I didn't know whether to seize the moment or try to capture the image of the largest species of fish. Of course the video was terrible and I had a halfhearted experience. A stupidity. The person has the opportunity to come face to face with a stunning creature and wants to take a selfie.
As stupid as the thousands who filled the Avenue des ChampsÉlysées to celebrate New Year's Eve in Paris. Everyone pointed their cell phones at the Arc de Triomphe. At the very moment when the clocks mark the turn of the year, when we traditionally take communion, we renew our vows, we strengthen our bonds, there were no hugs, no kisses, no champagne explosions. But there are thousands of photos. Same, lifeless photos.
It is an impressive image that perfectly reflects the spirit of the times. It is the xray image of the mind of the intellectual, sociological and cultural times in which we live. The moment in history when it is more important for a society to record life than to live it fully. We care more about showing that we look happy than about enjoying moments of happiness. We stop entertaining ourselves and become entertainment.
FOMO (fear of missing out), the fear of not keeping up with events and therefore the need to always be connected, seems to have undergone an important improvement: if I haven't posted, I haven't lived. Through this behavior we gain social connections and engagement. The paradox is that the longer we spend on social networks, the more isolation, anxiety and depression we experience.
The last year has been marked by concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on our lives. It is equally urgent to minimize the dumbing down process that humanity is going through. The ability to interpret texts, converse politely, listen to the interlocutor and, tragically, live in the present has been lost.