Cell Phones

I'm cell phone-less. Yes, I am cell phone-impaired. Mobile communication challenged. Whatever you choose to call it.

Despite the urgings of family and friends, I'm still holding fast to eschewing a cell phone; at least that last bastion of personal privacy remains in my life. Everyone I know has a cell phone and they don't understand my holdout. They know I love technology and adopt new devices and mediums. So why haven't I joined the 92% of cell phone users? A friend gave the best example of why I don't have one. She said, "But Jeanette, if you have a cell phone, everyone can find you everywhere you go!"

I immediately said, "And that's why I don't have a cell phone." Because everyone could find me constantly. I like being able to shop without interruption, watch a movie without something vibrating at me. And everywhere I go, I see and hear people using their  cellphones in rude, inconsiderate ways. I have no wish to join that crowd. An entire generation is growing up being rude, dangerous boors.

Telephones used to be about phone booths for auditory privacy; excusing yourself to answer a phone call, talking discreetly in the next room briefly, then joining your face-to-face companion again. Nowadays a girlfriend of mine sees no problem with initiating a cell call AS we are eating at a restaurant, completing ignoring her lunch companion across the table, in favor of talking to someone else. She doesn't seem to realize the insanely rude, insulting thing she's doing to me. Not to mention when I can hear every word of someone else's cell call in the next booth. I'm an unwilling captive of a private conversation I have no wish to hear.

And don't even get me started on the frankly dangerous, homocidal propensities of the person who talks on a cell phone while driving. I'm looking at YOU, sis. And millions of other braindead idiots who endanger my safety on the road. When you drive, DRIVING is your job; it's all you're to do. Keep your eyes on the road and be careful around others. This is so common sense, it's sad that it needs to be mentioned. A LOT. Despite the overwhelming evidence that driving and talking on a cell phone has been proven, indisputably, to be as dangerous as driving while drunk. There are states that have made any form of using a cell phone while driving illegal; I would like all states to adopt this. Safety is more important than finding out if she really said that or if he's going to that event this weekend.

I only wish more people still cared about basic consideration for others and safety. If cell phones were used discreetly, sensibly and intelligently, I'd have one by now.