Dystopian Society

O.K. - we went to the store to pick up a couple of little things.  As we left, a woman walked in through what is usually the exit door, looking everywhere but where she was going.  When she looked forward (her head had been turned over 90 degrees to the side) she seemed surprised to see us waiting to exit. 

as we drove out of the lot, a person started backing up as we were driving by  --  it was obvious she had not looked to check if anyone was behind her  --  she stopped to TEXT, thus avoiding an accident she most likely did not know was going to happen.

Stuff like that happens just about every day.  People are not aware of their surroundings - they are engrossed by their "smartphones", tablets, games, and what have you.  Either that, or they're on their phones - damn near oblivious to their surroundings.

Then we have some "interesting" headlines from "Raw Story" - http://www.rawstory.com/  :

Michigan students suspended for riding bikes to school

 

Student having asthma attack denied inhaler by school nurse

 

Florida man to plead guilty after threatening to ‘put a bullet through’ Obama’s head

 

Church member defends NC pastor: LGBT people ‘worthy of death’

 

Now, that's just a sample of what passes for "news" and "conversation" in the USA today.

More to come.