After Hours

The weekly newsletter covering tech, culture, & life outside our digital world

ISSUE #008: No Phones in Augusta

1. 1 Thing From Me: personal letter from the writer

2. From The Feed: the best stories & posts of the week

3. What's Next: preview of upcoming news & events

1 Thing From Me

THE INTRO

The Masters came and went this past weekend. Maybe you watched, maybe you didn’t. Either way, two things stand out to me as unforgettable:

• Rory's shot on 15 (and win)

• The no phone policy

The mystique of the Masters is unmatched in sports. It’s unlike any golf major in that it’s played on the same course every year. There’s a rich history of tradition, prestige, and exclusivity in Augusta; you can even sense it through the television.

That’s part due to the tournament not allowing cell phones. The rule has been in effect since 2016. Nobody on the course— patrons to players to staff— is allowed to carry one.

Some may call it old-fashioned, I call it classy. I can only imagine how the tranquil atmosphere teemed with excitement and how the crowds mingled patiently, everyone eager to burst into joyous cheer. There were no phones to disrupt the aura of the scene.

Discourse on the policy made waves across social media, more than I can remember from years prior. The immersive factor of the experience wasn’t just romanticized, it was real. Don’t take it from me though, take it from Caitlin Clark:

So why does this matter? More people are starting to take notice and speak out on the power of phone-free spaces. The conversation is entering the mainstream as there’s been a lot of traction in sports and entertainment:

• Comedian Dave Chapelle pioneered a no phone policy at his shows in 2017 and numerous entertainers, musicians, even schools have followed suit since.

• Anaheim Angels manager Ron Washington has banned phones from the clubhouse to facilitate more interaction and bonding between players.

• Venues across Europe are banning attendees from using their phones on the dancefloor to reinvigorate club culture.

& there’s so much more. I could do a whole separate issue on this.

THE OFFLINE

Here at After Hours we are huge proponents of offline spaces. If you go back and read our founding issues (pt. I & pt. II) you’ll recall a key clause in our thesis:

1. The radical act is simple but increasingly profound: Remove technology, so we can learn for ourselves what it means to be present and embrace our shared humanity. Not a permanent rejection of technology—I'm writing this on a computer, you're reading it on a screen—but a temporary space where we can be freed of technology-spawned problems, if only for the night.

The Masters is just one example of this. The same rules can apply to other spaces in our lives, it doesn’t have to exclusive to ticketed events. Few of us can afford a trip to Augusta or concert venues every weekend but we can all benefit from creating offline spaces and authentic experiences for ourselves.

I’m not one to prescribe how you should go about that. But I will anyways: think of any leisurely activity or place you enjoy— going for a walk, playing an instrument, sitting in a cafe, meeting your friends at a bar. Next time give it a try without your phone. Just leave it at home or keep it far away from you.

See how you respond. Take note of what you feel arise. I guarantee you’ll exhibit some unusual thoughts and behavior, so it’s important you take note of your biofeedback and reflect on it.

An example from my life:

My Sunday night meal is often at this Viet place right beneath my apartment. I’ll usually dine alone and leave my phone at home. I order the beef pho and a coke, always.

Resting my chin on my knuckles, I reflect on the past week and steel myself for the one ahead. My eyes then wander to the paintings of rice farmers and my ears eavesdrop on the conversations around me. I feel so mysterious as I read the room.

My broth finally arrives with a heavenly scent. I sway back and fourth in famished excitement as I instinctually reach for my pocket. I want to take a picture but my pocket’s empty. My phone’s not there. I start to feel anxious and a panicked energy rises in my chest. Then I remember, have a laugh at myself, and start eating. (I always do this, without fail)

There is no phone to distract me from being with my thoughts. There is no phone to comfort me through a temporary bout of anxiety. My beautiful meal will go undocumented. And that’s okay, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

THE EXIT

Patrons left Augusta rejuvenated and keen to implement some semblance of the offline practice in their personal lives. As for the downsides of disconnecting, one interviewee confessed:

“The biggest challenge is we’re trying to gamble on the par 3 competition and we don’t know who’s playing, so we gotta go get that information so we can make a little friendly wager amongst ourselves.”

That’s a problem I’d like to have. No phones rules.

FINAL NOTE

That’s it from me for this week. I hope you enjoyed. I’ve been experimenting with different formats and topics for this newsletter these past few weeks and it’s been a some fun. But now it’s time to lock in and figure out wtf I’m doing.

I’d love to hear from you, beloved reader, on what—if anything— you’ve enjoyed reading from me. What do you want more of? Why do you bother opening these emails?

There’s ~100 of you who are reading my stuff every week. For one reason or another. So go ahead and reply to this email if you’re one of them, don’t be shy. There are dozens of us.

That’s okay if not. I’ll still see you next Friday.

— Kyle

From The Feed

What’s Next

1. You’ll be hearing a lot more from me. If you enjoyed reading this issue, please consider subscribing to receive a new edition of After Hours every Friday.

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