Some months ago, a friend invited me over one evening for a viewing of “The Empire Strikes Back.” I’m a sucker for the original Star Wars trilogy and I didn’t have anything going on that night, so I agreed. It was cold and spitting snow outside at the time, so the episode of the saga that opens on the ice planet of Hoth seemed like the logical choice.

Six people turned up at the host’s house and we brewed a large batch of hot coffee and settled in as the opening credits scrolled by to the sound of John William’s iconic score. It had been awhile since I’d last seen “Empire,” so I was enjoying it with a fresh perspective and noticing details I had either missed in prior viewings or forgotten. Around the point in the film when the Rebels’ defense of Echo Base fails, I looked around the room and noticed that everyone else had either a laptop open or a tablet or smartphone in hand and were only occasionally glancing up at the movie. This struck me as so odd I felt compelled to ask what they were doing.

Reading my twitter feed. Checking out Facebook. Posted a status a few minutes ago about watching this movie. I’ve got six new comments on it. People think it’s cool that I’m watching “Empire Strikes Back.” Surfing ESPN. Good blog about the NFL Playoffs. Some people posted pictures from playing in the snow earlier. And so on.

I was a bit miffed at this. I thought there might have been breaking international news, like a political scandal or first contact with an alien species. But no, just routine social media and web surfing. It seemed odd to me. Since when was Facebook more interesting than “The Empire Strikes Back?”

“I find your lack of attention disturbing”

Darth Vader, probably

There is a growing worldwide obsession with smart devices. Whether you’re waiting for a meeting to start at work, in line at a store, or waiting on your food at a restaurant, the standard convention is to whip out your phone and flip through social media sites or play a game of some kind. It’s comical to observe crowds at movie theaters frantically tapping at tiny geometric shapes until the film starts. Phones are pocketed at the last possible second only to be whipped out again as soon as the credits roll.

Time to Disconnect

I’m not demonizing technology, smart devices, or social media. These are all good things that have simplified communication and provided access to real, meaningful information for the masses in ways not thought possible a generation ago. I simply think one should moderate usage of such technologies and avoid feeling the need to be always “connected.” If one is always consuming, digestion becomes difficult. With constant stimulation, there is little time for synthesis, analysis, and critical thought. If we do not dissect the information we gather, form opinions, and discuss with others, the consumption of information becomes rather meaningless, another form of entertainment as opposed to a step toward the growth of one’s knowledge.