Here’s the way I’m breaking this down, and also some ground rules that I want to cover. For starters, on this island I’m trapped on, I’m just assuming that I have access to food and water. Yes, I know, that probably wouldn’t be the case, but then I would just mention those types of things only. Secondly, I’m going to talk about the three things that I would take with me. Pretty simple, right? Okay, well let’s get this show on the road.

First Thing: Jennifer Love Hewitt

Yep, I think of all the celebrities that I’m most in love with, it would have to be Jennifer Love Hewitt. Everything about that woman I fell for a long time ago, from her amazing smile to her even better personality. Of course, she’s not too bad looking either. And considering that I don’t want to be left truly alone on the island that I end up getting stuck on, I think having her around would prove beneficial.

Second Thing: Cheez-Its

Yes, I know I started this whole thing by saying that I would have access to food and water, but I would have to have me some Cheez-Its. They are far and away my favorite snack food of all-time, and given the different flavor and style variations, I would be set with Cheez-Its. I certainly wouldn’t want them to be the only thing I was eating on the island, but they would more than certainly have to be there.

Third Thing: My Golf Bag

Okay, so it’s going to be very hard to not get bored on this mythical island that I end up getting trapped on. So, given my favorite thing to do is go golfing, I would bring along my golf bag. Now, you see, I’m kind of cheating here as my golf bag would be filled with everything I need (from my clubs to balls to tees and so on). Of course, I know what you’re thinking, what’s the point of playing golf on an island with no golf courses? Well, fair point, but at least I could still hit some golf balls around. I would just have to locate them, which could prove to be a tricky task.

Even I’ll say it, that’s a pretty unorthodox list, and it goes to show just how weird I really am. Well, who cares, but I just hope that I never actually end up getting stranded on an island. Then again, with the way things have been going in this world, it actually doesn’t sound like a bad alternative when thinking about it again.

Perhaps I’m alone with this feeling as more and more people migrate to their cellphones. They certainly have their usefulness and real-world value. However, I’m also not one of those millennials that need to be glued to their smartphone screen for hours on end. Not only do I not need to, but I deliberately choose not to.

Alright, so what’s my beef with smartphones, then? Clearly, I have negative feelings toward them. Well, let me mildly entertain you for just a few minutes as I explain why I don’t like being on my smartphone.

The Interface

The word “strongly” doesn’t do this next statement justice. I strongly prefer the interface of a computer screen over a smartphone. Getting past the sheer size difference, it’s also a matter of interaction. I’m an old-school personality and like typing with a physical keyboard and moving a cursor with a physical mouse.

With smartphones, it’s all centered upon a touchscreen interface. Sure, this style of navigation is probably more convenient, but, for me, it can also be more infuriating. Additionally, I absolutely despise using touchscreen keypads when having a conversation with someone. Just give me a dang keyboard as I can’t tell you how many times I have almost broken my phone because of it.

It Can Be Overwhelming

How about this? Do you ever get overwhelmed when you’re on your smartphone? Some people are geared to always be communicating with friends, family, co-workers, etc. I can only speak for myself, but I get overwhelmed really quickly.

Whether via email notifications, new texts, or news stories, sometimes it’s nice to escape from all of it. When I’m relaxing or getting my “me” time in, I always leave my phone out of reach and mute the sucker. I don’t even want to hear it go off once. I’ll leave my ringtone on, though, as physical calls are a different story.

Because Everyone Else Does

Next time you’re in a waiting room of any kind, count the people that are staring at their smartphones. Heck, even in a restaurant, glance at the people who are on them. It’s quite a startling revelation. The bottom line, pretty much everyone these days is on their phones in some capacity.

And, I’ve always considered myself somewhat of an outsider. I prefer to do things differently than most of society. I feel like this mindset has subconsciously made me dislike smartphones. Whether this is fair or foul, it’s the truth.

Hey, this is just the way that I feel. Again, I appreciate the value that owning a smartphone brings. However, when it comes down to it, I like it when it rests on my countertop not being looked at.

While I certainly support everyone’s right to live however the hell they would like to live, I’ve been more keen on the aesthetic nature of all the logos in rainbow colors, which I think look great. I would be remiss if I didn’t make it clear that just as much as a company not sporting the rainbow flag doesn’t mean that they’re anti-LGBT, a company waving those colors doesn’t necessarily mean that they actually are pro-LGBT either.

In other words, some of these companies may simply be following the trend purely for the public relations and marketing nature of it, without really caring otherwise.

Either way, I think it’s cool, so I made a rainbow version of our own logo:

And for fun, I gathered up all the rainbow logos I could find, to share with you in the gallery below:

Writer

Writer is a term that has been very romanticized. It’s often reserved for someone who writes novels, journals, essays, and the like. However, many people, regardless of exactly what it is that they write, how much, or how successfully, would have no shame in claiming the title of writer. But, who decides if someone is a writer, your peers, critics? Perhaps it really only is a matter of you deciding that that’s who you are. Not what you do (especially for a living), but who you are, like an artist (and writing very much is a form of art), and maybe it only requires that intent.

Journalist

Journalism is a very different beast. What makes for a good writer, is exactly what’s all wrong, for what it takes to be a good journalist. Journalists are non-fiction writers, reporting the facts, and like judges and juries (despite it being quite impossible to escape subjective opinion completely), aim to bring the facts as fairly and neutrally as possible, keeping personal opinion, bias, agenda, politics, and religion out of it. In other words, truth for the sake of truth. The best journalists, the ones that can exemplify these virtues most honorably, I have come to consider synonymous with the Pulitzer Prize (I could be wrong).

Blogger

This is the space in which 99% of writers, including myself, live in. It’s neither as romantic or glamorous or financially rewarding as being a writer, nor does it come with as much scrutiny or pressure for integrity as a journalist (although I certainly try my best to be as honest and accurate as possible). I’ve written hundreds of articles, essays, poetry, fictional stories, etc., but I’ve never quite had the stomach for claiming to be a writer. It just always felt so arrogant and self-important.

Not everyone can be a writer or journalist, but anyone can be a blogger. Since they let any ol’ dumb-dumb (like myself) with access to a keyboard share their thoughts with the world, it can be a tool, like any other, used for hate. Words really do have power. We’re currently experiencing some very confusing times where words are concerned. On one hand, I care very strongly about free speech, and on the other, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to provide a soapbox for others to say anything they like.

I think the biggest misconception about free speech, is that it’s the right to say out loud or write down publicly absolutely anything that pops into your head. That’s not how it works at all. Intent is everything. For example, defamation is illegal. You cannot be libelous (writing untrue statements) or slanderous (speaking untrue statements) about someone in a way that could hurt their reputation, livelihood, or very safety. There’s some gray area when it comes to celebrities and public figures, especially in regard to parody, but it’s pretty simple. Using words to incite hate and violence toward someone is not a defendable use of free speech.

However, if you merely disagree with the views of others or they offend you, that does not give you the right to censor them. Rather, you should openly disagree with and debate their views. That is what free speech is about. The ability to both share your views and disagree with other people’s views without the fear of being silenced. Of course, it’s a complex subject, and I’m not an expert. That’s why I can only claim to be a blogger, no longer hip, that word may be.