Solis is quoted several times in an article by Marissa Stephenson on Outside Online titled “Let’s Stop Judging People For Using Phones Outdoors.”

Using personal experience about “tech shaming,” her premise is that we shouldn’t judge people for not being purists when it comes to running, camping or participating in outdoor activities. Incorporating podcasts, music or entertainment into those activities are a matter of personal preference and should not be judged.

She quotes a 2014 study from the University of Northern Colorado, in which 73 people—mostly hikers and campers—completed a questionnaire that gauged what effects, if any, technology use had on their enjoyment of outdoor experiences. The verdict: no matter how much technology people used, it had no bearing on how happy, relaxed, or satisfied they were with their outdoor experiences.

Referencing “Lifescale” as an instructional on how to live alongside technology, she turns to Solis for possible answers to the question, “So why do we judge?”

Solis says, “There’s natural tribalism happening here. Anyone who does something a certain way will surround themselves with others who do something a certain way—and then, together, they protect that way. Because of the cognitive biases that we all have, our way is the right way. It’s the same thing you see playing out in politics.”

Though not in direct quotes, the article continues, “one reason why we feel comfortable policing others about their tech use stems from the insular worlds we’ve crafted for ourselves on social media, Solis adds. If it really pisses you off to pass someone on a hike who’s lost in his phone, and you air that grievance on Facebook, chances are your like-minded community will echo and amplify your beliefs, and you’ll double down on your anger.” Then a direct quote: “We live in a highly emotional world that is charged by the nature of our technology—social media essentially converts us into accidental narcissists.”

Read the entire article here: https://www.outsideonline.com/2405198/phones-outdoors-tech-shaming-guilt#close