Most of us aren't this guy

There are certain memories from childhood that I hold very near and dear to my heart. And then I have not as good memories that I remember just as vivid. In one of the latter, I was walking down the hallway in junior high school minding my business on the way to social studies and a kid named Devon who stood about 6-foot, 175 (yes, in junior high school) ran me down from behind, leapt 5 feet into the air (I'm embellishing now) and slapped me across the back of my head as hard as I've been hit to date. "Open neck, no respect!" He shouted playfully as he continued to run off down the hallway. I immediately knew what happened. Until this day I thank Devon for contributing to a cruel, immature, yet so enlightening childrens game. I had been walking with my head down reading a love letter written to me moments ago by the hottest girl in the school (ok, it was a syllabus but I'm still embellishing) and had not been paying attention to my surroundings. I had earned a sore, stinging, and I swear swollen neck but had learned a valuable life lesson... Keep your eye on the ball.

In my travels I meet a lot of good people. And one of my recent conversations brought me painfully back to that childhood anecdote. I had the chance to speak with Joseph Piner of Cinefocus Media who is currently working on a documentary entitled 'Electronic Crack'. Joe shared with me that he had recently been to a Baltimore Orioles game and he couldn't help but notice, with all the action going on on the field, people were still heads-down, nose-deep in their mobile devices.

"People pay a lot of money for these seats," he explained, but end up missing a lot of the action. "It is a very real injury risk to be at these games and not be paying attention."

Piner shared with me a clip from that footage. While brief, you can see that even at an event for one of America's greatest past times, it is hard for society to break away from our addiction to social media and mobile devices. Piner has been an independent filmmaker since 1983 and his company, Cinefocus Media is dedicated to pieces that promote change. 'Electronic Crack' is sure to do that. The documentary will center around the risks and dangers of a society so consumed with this epidemic.

A further search of youtube and you will be sure to find many videos of fans in ballparks across the world being hit by baseballs, many of which are due to a fan being inattentive. These videos range from humorous to graphic and the injuries from minor to very severe.

The risk however doesnt end at the ballpark. When fans are walking and driving home, still tuned in to their phones, their surroundings get tuned out, leaving their proverbial neck open to dangers present in the environment.

In the film, Piner will dig deep into the roots of modern technology and the affects it can, and is, having on our social skills, attention span, freedom, and even health.

You can find the trailor and more information on how YOU can promote change and support this film Here

And next time you are out at a game, remember.. open neck, no res.... I mean, keep your eye on the ball.