iPhones impede mutual understanding, says Patriots owner
Commentary: In an interview, Robert Kraft says that iPhones and texting have even impacted Washington's ability to make agreements. He also explained that the president is a good person.
Technically Incorrect offers a slightly twisted take on the tech that's taken over our lives.
Has it made us unidirectional?
Technology can be blamed for a lot of things.
So how about blaming it for the impasse in Washington?
In an interview with Bloomberg, New England Patriots' owner and staunch Donald Trump friend Robert Kraft suggested that iPhones have destroyed our ability to get along.
Kraft spoke about the importance in business of building relationships.
"With iPhones and texting, a lot of things are one-way," he explained. "I think it's impacted Washington because there's not the discussion and the empathy and understanding people's point of view that's different than yours."
He continued: "The only way you can change things is to convince people to do what you think is right, but you can't do that if you're only one-way."
Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but it's not as if iPhones and texting only incite one-way communication. Don't most people at least say "thank you" when they get a sext?
It's a fascinating thought, though, that technology has somehow made us so self-centered and polarized us so much that we simply won't accept any views different from our own. It's true that on social media, people do seem to gravitate toward those of similar socio-political hues (helped along by algorithms designed to show us stuff we're already interested in). Their attitude toward opponents is to scream first and ask questions later, if at all.
Some might say that the First Twitterer -- President Trump -- is that way inclined too. Kraft disagrees.
He explained how Trump was a great friend to him after his wife died. He said that "loyalty and friendship trumps politics for me."
"He does things or says things that sometimes ... you know, he doesn't mean everything he says," Kraft revealed.
He added: "I don't believe that he is portrayed properly." Kraft conceded that "part of it is self-inflicted with some of the style he uses, but I really hope things will be much better three to six months from now."
Perhaps, some will mutter, if Trump puts away his iPhone and stops tweeting, he might sound more a president for all. It might help him understand everyone better, too.
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