Viewpoint: Horrifying rise of the shuffling phone zombie

Horrifying rise of the shuffling phone zombie

Some people may well remember the comedy sketch by Dom Joly with his ridiculously oversized fake mobile phone, into which he bellowed his every move, however inane and irrelevant.

This was a satirical take on how phone culture was at that time, this being at least 20 years ago when people did indeed feel the need to shout into their mobile phones to inform the call recipient of their current location, intended location and just about everything in between!

It was a curious and irritating situation especially when confined for a period of time within earshot of these individuals, said earshot being at least 60 feet!

Nowadays however far fewer folk actually speak into their phones, and do so in far quieter tones.

The modern menace is what I term Phone Zombies – and they’re everywhere!

They’re known for their slightly shuffling side-to-side gait, glazed expressions and inconsistent walking speed pattern.

So engrossed in their screens, they will frequently walk into you, or nearly do so.

Try to pass one from behind, zig zag, zig zag, speed up, slow down – it took me nine attempts to pass one the other day, and this one was a small-statured woman too.

I even see couples – lost in screen world and ignoring one another entirely in pubs or restaurants and for considerable amounts of time.

Is it really worth going out just to do this?

Worse still are the cycling versions, pushing or even riding a bicycle one handed whilst totally transfixed onto a screen, at nighttime often wearing dark clothes and without lights.

Perhaps they believe pedestrians and motorists will spot the glow of the screen, but whatever the belief is, the practice is dangerous and foolhardy, not just to themselves but everyone else they may cross paths with.

Obviously mobile or rather smart phones are becoming increasingly integral to our lives these days, sadly it is the way things are going in the increasingly paperless world. Books, magazines and newspapers seem to be going out of fashion, to be replaced by this constant and obsessive staring at screens – to the point the devices almost appear to be a hand extension!

What will it be next – miniature versions surgically implanted in the wrist?

And what on earth can be so fascinating to watch endlessly and concurrently with all other activities?

Perhaps Dom Joly could produce a contemporary sketch entitled Phone Zombies: Dawn Of The Dead 25!

TONY BECK

Frogmill Spinney

Hurley

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ANNABELL DOWNEY

Mencap supporter