关于我戒掉iPhone的过程用了iPhone后,我隔三差五就想摸一下心爱的手机,只要一离开它就会感到惊慌失措,这些迹象表明:我患上了iPhone上瘾症……
My name is Amy. I’m a 25-year-old graduate student who likes yoga,
home-decorating shows and eating spoonfuls of peanut butter straight from the
jar. [2] Oh yeah, and I’m an iPhone addict.
I wasn’t always an addict. In fact, for many years I told myself I didn’t
want a fancy[3] cellphone. They seemed like too much work, always beeping[4],
ringing and demanding attention. I was perfectly content with my simple
antique[5], and I didn’t anticipate changing my mind any time soon.
However, about a year ago, I found myself envious of all those proud iPhone
owners, cradling their shiny new phones and showing them off to all their
friends. [6] I started eavesdropping on conversations about “iPhone apps”,[7]
feeling like a tourist listening to a language I couldn’t speak.
Eventually I couldn’t ignore my iPhone instinct any longer, and I welcomed my
new iPhone into my life. I instantly fell in love with the little bundle of joy,
and could no longer imagine a life without it.
To my surprise, I suddenly found myself with a whole new circle of
friends—other iPhone owners I could go to for advice and support as I learned
the various functions of my new device. They responded to my iPhone-related
queries when my other friends couldn’t, and didn’t roll their eyes when I
bragged about all the things little Eloise (yes, I named her) could do. [8]
For a couple months I was living on iCloud nine[9] as I built my new life
with Eloise. However, I realized I had a problem when one day I found myself
Google-mapping[10] my way to my mailbox. Which happens to be right outside my
front door.
When I reflected upon[11] the past few months, I couldn’t believe I didn’t
see this coming. All the warning signs were there. Eloise slept right beside me
and was the first thing I reached for in the morning. I checked my e-mail about
20 times a day. I also experienced attachment anxiety when I left poor Eloise in
the change room at the gym. [12] What if she beeped and needed my response? Or,
even worse, what if a careless gym-goer knocked her out of my bag and caused her
screen to (I hardly dared to imagine it) crack? [13]
Okay, so I was addicted to my iPhone.
Once I admitted I had a problem, things started to change. What used to feel
like friendly notifications now felt like constant nagging to respond. [14] I
hated that I could no longer leave the house without Eloise in my hand.
Eventually, I resented Eloise so much I wanted to throw her at the wall—and
would have, too, if I weren’t so worried about being reported for iPhone
abuse.
I decided something had to be done. But, as I quickly realized, iPhones are
like cigarettes and not easy to quit.
Then, while taking the bus to work one day, I was unexpectedly forced to
quit—at least temporarily. When I reached into my purse to grab Eloise (to check
my e-mail for only the seventh time that morning), I found her overcome by
fever. She was so hot that I dropped her immediately back into my bag with
barely enough time to comprehend the words “overheating” and “power-off” that
flashed with angst[15] upon her screen. When I picked her up again, she was
gone.
My head swam with panic as I attempted to problem-solve without avail. [16] I
couldn’t call anyone for advice. I couldn’t Google whether this had happened to
any fellow iPhone parents. And when I finally arrived at work (luckily I found
my office without Google maps to guide me), I learned that sick days do not
apply to one’s iPhone children.
The Apple Store was closed by the time I finished work, so I headed home with
dread[17] into an Eloise-less night. But, after a couple hours without any text
alerts, push notifications, or even good old-fashioned phone calls, I felt . . .
calmer. After a few more hours I felt like a whole new woman, rising above the
need for a silly. . . what was it called again? It had been so long I could hardly
remember.
Without my electronic bed partner, I drifted off into the deepest slumber[18]
I’d had in months. The next morning, I read the news from the simplicity of the
newspaper, instead of from my iPhone. I even noticed the cherry blossoms
blooming. [19]
My goodness, what had I been missing?
But although it went against my newly redefined principles, I made my way to
the Apple Store later that afternoon after admitting I’d need a phone sooner or
later. [20]
Half an hour and one friendly Apple employee later, I found myself yet again
the proud owner of a new iPhone. When I turned it on, a wave of familiarity
washed over me as it buzzed with two days worth of missed texts and
notifications. [21]
As I rode home, I found myself frenziedly responding to messages of “where
are u? ” and “c u soon? ”[22] Suddenly, I was reminded of an old Alanis Morissette
song: “I’ve got one hand in my pocket, and the other one’s death-gripping an
iPhone. ”. . . [23]
Without finishing my text, I put my phone back into my purse and decided to
just enjoy the ride for a while.
Vocabulary
1. abuse: 滥用。
2. yoga: 瑜伽;spoonful: 一匙之量。
3. fancy: 高遥的,奢华的。
4. beep: 嘟嘟响。
5. antique: 古董,此处用比喻义,指旧手机。
6. envious: 妒忌的,羡慕的;cradle: 轻轻地抱着,此处用比喻义。
7. eavesdrop: 偷听(别人的谈话);app: =application,应用程序。
8. query: 问题,疑问;roll one's eyes: 翻白眼;brag about: 吹嘘。
9. be on cloud
nine:〈口〉遥为高兴。 此处形近字的用法很巧妙,iCloud是苹果公司的云服务,其功能是将存储内容,包括购买的音乐、应用、电子书等推送到用户的所有苹果设备。
10. Google-map: v. 用Google在线地图进行搜索。
11. Reflect upon: 仔细思考。
12. attachment: 喜爱,依恋;change room: 遥室;gym: 健身房。
13. knock out: 撞倒;crack:(使)破裂,(使)裂开。
14. notification: 通知;nagging: 唠叨的。
15. angst: 焦虑不安,烦恼。
16. swim: 发昏,眩晕;without avail: 徒劳。
17. dread: 恐惧。
18. slumber: 睡眠。
19. cherry blossom: 樱花;bloom: 开花。
20. redefined: 重新定义的;sooner or later: 迟早。
21. wash over:(感觉)突然袭来;buzz: 发嗡嗡声,忙乱。
22. frenziedly: 忙乱地,激动地;c u soon: =see you soon的缩写。
23. Alanis Morissette: 艾拉妮丝•莫莉塞特,加拿大摇滚女歌手;death-gripping: 紧紧握住。