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Health & Fitness

Do You LUI? (Live Under the Influence)

Friends don't let friends LUI.

You know DUI (driving under the influence) and BUI (ditto but on boats) but are you really aware of the issues of LUI?

Yes, LUI-Living Under the Influence—is a growing issue in our society.  Now I’m not speaking of the influence of drugs, booze, gambling, etc. I’m talking about living under the influence of gadgets. 

You’ve probably seen the YouTube video of some woman at a mall that was texting and simply walked into a fountain. Not a drinking fountain, mind you, but one of those big pools that folks throw pennies into.  It was a good foot deep, had a built-in bench around it and was large enough as to be hard to miss---if you were paying attention.  She, obviously, was NOT paying attention.

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This inattentiveness to the world around you can be dangerous.  People will be on the phone or texting or wearing ear-phones to the point of being oblivious to everything else. I’ve seen folks step out in front of traffic while staring at their
phones. I know that drivers wearing ear-phones can’t hear an emergency vehicle—I’ve witnessed near-hits many times.  The drivers with the ear-phones seem so surprised when an enormous fire truck appears in very close proximity.  It’s like magic—POOF—there’s a fire truck! Where the heck did that come from??

And it’s just plain rude to have personal conversations in public.  I know.  I was nattering on to my Mom over my cell phone while waiting for an elevator at the doctor’s building.  I hung up and got into the elevator.  When I was getting out a man who’d been waiting with me offered his sympathy on my medical condition and wished me a speedy recovery.  I was beyond mortified.  It’s a lesson I’ve never forgotten. 

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The LUI epidemic is growing and it’s becoming ubiquitous.  Does everyone around you really need to hear about your latest hemorrhoid problems?  Do you really need to plan the week’s menu while you’re standing in the grocery? 

The cashiers, bank tellers, waiters and other folks that deal with the general public deserve to be elevated to sainthood for not just killing the jerks with the phones stuck to their heads.  Yet I’m willing to bet it’s those same jerks who complain about poor customer service! 

I personally think everyone should have to work a minimum of one year in retail or food service in order to appreciate what those folks go through.  (Unfortunately, that situation also gets reversed when the cashier is the one on the phone.  Remember that the customer in front of you is the one with money in hand.)

All joking aside, LUI can be dangerous.  Please put your gadgets away when you get behind the wheel.  Of if you’re walking in public.  Or if you’re in front of a cashier that’s trying to help you.  And thanks, but we really don’t want to know about your hemorrhoids.

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