Spontaneity is officially dead.
Those heady days of catching a movie at the last minute are over. Attempting to do so now invariably results in disappointment. The family piles into the car, heads to the local cinema only to discover the much-anticipated movie is, alas, sold out.
A similar phenomenon occurs when going out for coffee. Sure, you can stop by your local Starbucks and the cashier there will gladly accept your payment with alacrity. And then you wait. And wait. And wait for the barista to call your order.
The smartphone is to blame for both of these occurrences. Admittedly, the ubiquitous device has made our lives easier in countless ways – everything is virtually (literally and figuratively) a push-of-the-button away.
But to see any halfway decent new film now requires advance planning. You must reserve online your precise movie theater seats – similar to commercial air travel – hours, days, even weeks ahead of time to ensure availability.
You may wonder too why you wait for your order at Starbucks when there appears to be no one ahead of you in line. This is because the barista is busy filling online orders. At that point, the best you can hope for is the orders preceding yours don’t include a Frappuccino. It’s quicker to whip up a soufflé than make one of those blended ice concoctions.
First world problems to be sure. But it’s worth noting there’s something lost as well as gained with technological “advancements.” I may drown my sorrows at my local watering hole unless, of course, the establishment suggests I pre-order my drink online.
Stacy Seiden
Northbrook
