About how I discovered the 'watering hole' of the 21st century digital age.
Power. As in, electricity. And connectivity. It's what we need, it's what we thirst for.
I was sitting in the airport of LaGuardia Airport in New York city. Our flight had already been delayed several hours due to inclement weather around the country. So more people than usual were starting to fill the terminal. Tensions were getting higher, the temperature rose, there was a mugginess in the air... kind of disgusting.
The modern day traveler (as well as many modern day people in general) come well equipped with a myriad of electronic devices that they rely on. The cell phone - the ipod - the camera - the ipad - the laptop. After many hours in an airport, these devices start to drain themselves of their life force. Especially after the many calls to loved ones and employers, explaining how they are stuck in New York, accompanied by frustrated obscenities.
The airport has set up powering stations, near the seating area, where people can plug in. There are actually several of them scattered about. Some are like pillars, and some more like tables. But no outlet was left un-tapped. Imagine dozens of people, both sitting and standing next to these stations with their devices, strapped in as if with an umbilical chord. If there were no more taps, people looked elsewhere and got creative.
Underneath the pay phones. In a hidden corner. Near a vending machine. A plug that would normally be used by the cleaning staff when plugging in a vacuum cleaner.
While at one of these watering holes, I made 2 friends. One was John, the other Kate. We told each other stories of our lives, shared internet videos, and bonded over our halted journey's. And now we're even facebook friends, so you know it's real. They say that we are losing our humanity because of technology. I think that we're not losing it, but it's just changing. What we do need, is more time to stop and interact with the people around us, even if we are still plugged in.
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