I’m not a subscriber, Jeremy, but I didn’t read the opening lines. Yes, it’s quite frightening to watch today’s people wander through town, across streets, etc. while viewing their cell phones, iPads and other devices along with taking selfies. They seem oblivious to the rest of reality – until of course, they are hit by it.
Two weeks ago there was a fellow here who was run over (and killed) by a streetcar. He seemed to have been so engulfed in his viewing (not selfie-taking), that he didn’t hear the warning calls. As Charlie Brown says, “good grief!”