Have cell phones become too intrusive in our lives?
151510
I woldn't say it's intrusive to our privacy, however, I would say that with the advent of these devices, and the ongoing decline in manners... Sometimes cell phones can be annoying!
1096505
I don't know what some people's problem is!  At the last college I went to, there was this guy (40-something years old) that was ALWAYS on his phone in the hallway or the courtyard or the cafeteria.  And he would always be talking incredibly loudly, so you were pretty much forced to listen to his conversation, and a lot of them were inappropriate.  I finally walked up to him and told him off after he was outside one day talking (more like shouting, actually) about some co-worker of his who had a pelvic exam and all her gynecological problems... and used her first and last name and phone number. I told him that I didn't know who that lady was, but I was pretty sure she didn't want me and the rest of the world knowing about all her personal business.  And the guy just kind of shrugged and went on his way, and told whoever he was talking to about how some "little girl"(me) was trying to teach him manners!\nAnd BlueTooth/handsfree users can be so obnoxious too!  Especially the ones who have super tiny headsets and look toward you while saying something like "Hi! How are you?" and then get annoyed when you respond!  \nI totally understand that people like having cell phones, I use mine pretty frequently, but I wish they would keep in mind that they are still in public, and they need to be polite to the people around them.
154485
I know an 8-year-old whose parents gave him a specially-programmed cell phone for emergencies. It's programmed with only two or three numbers he can call, like the parents and 911. I think that's a good idea with all the predators out there.
597054
Some have, too many haven't. I don't believe that it's necessarily a matter of driving, it's a matter of driving while doing other things. Cell phone use is a HUGE culprit. In fact, there was an instance the other day where I was at a 4-way stop and a lady just blew the stop sign as I was starting out (after waiting my turn following 2 vehicles)...and she had a little girl in the care with her! Sure enough, she had a cell phone stuck to the side of her face....and a CHILD with her. I don't have any children of my own, but that doesn't mean I don't care for them. It is a sad situation when you have to wait two turns through a light opposed to one just because some egotistical chick in the car ahead of you is fluffing her hair or applying makeup (and not paying attention, of course). I, like many other women, wear makeup - but I apply and touch up in the appropriate places, while not moving in a vehicle. It doesn't matter what your makeup looks like if your brains are splattered all over the road due to a wreck. I can't say I have never seen someone read paperwork or a magazine while driving because I have, more than once - what the heck?!? Then some people don't even need an in-car distraction to inhibit their driving skills - they just naturally suck. There's the slow drivers in the passing lane, the swervers, the non-signalers...ugh! I could go on and on, but we just don't have that kind of time. I do feel a little better for ranting a bit, though. What it all boils down to is a blatant disregard for human life...stop multitasking (or attempting to) and pay attention to the road and what's happening around you. If my father (when teaching me to drive) hadn't instilled in me that you always have to watch out for the other guy, I would sure as hell be dead at the moment. ;)
151687
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Even though I am a teenager and live for text messaging, there are just some cirumstances that are non-negotiable. It is sad enough that we live in a "point and click" world. I believe this has created a fear of networking within people. Therefore, we MUST keep the remaining forms of communication alive and APPROPRIATE. We CANNOT afford for our language to be destroyed by slang.
839779
Technology has made our world so much smaller. It is through this wonderful thing called the internet that we are able of discuss religion with monks in tibet and rock music with hippees in england all without leaving our homes.\nTechnology has allowed us to keep a close knit family relationship cheaply and more easily despite the impedances of distance. Through advances such as webcams and cellular phones I am able to talk to my dad in California for a fraction of what it would have cost just ten years ago.\nTechnology is modelling our society into one without boundaries. It is ever bringing us closer to one another. Whether we want to be close or not.
327902
Mobile what? Phones I assume? Yes, they are WONDERFUL. I'm always in touch. Sometimes, I call my husband when he's in another part of our house. LOL. Sad but true...
920038
with our scanner, we have a frequency that allows you to pick up both sides of your nearby neighbors phone conversation as long as one is talking on a cordless phone.\nwhen we lived near the college, I heard people talking about cooking drugs, cheating on their wife, drunk people,etc.\ni stopped listening when we moved into a neighborhood of mostly retired people. I swear they talk about being constipated and not getting enough fiber, and arthritis... I haven't listened in since\n\nohhh did you know we can pick up baby monitors too? And guess where most parents put one of the radios- in their bedroom!\nat first I thought it was porn or something i was hearing(those kind of sounds ) then I heard a baby!!  It took me a little bit to figure out because they were mexican and didn't speak english, but i could hear what went on in their house 24/7 \nI'm sure most people are unaware of this juicy little fact :-)
886446
yes it is... absolute power corrupts absolutely.. what with the low cost of technology these days, everyone has a cellphone or camera now, it will get better slowly
317689
Yes! I am sure that it is, especially communications, ie, Telephone, text, e-mail etc. with a mobile phone you can be tracked throughout the world, if they have your number and now car recognition, they have you made.\nStay clean honest and safe and you have a lot less to worry about.\nBig brother is watching you, George Orwell.
176776
:0 Now that you've mentioned it yes! Thanks! :) Also, thank goodness for self-setting cell phones!
444516
i am slowly liberating myself. I used to panic when i accidentally left it home. I've been doing it so much lately that yesterday when i left it home i was just like"oh, who ever calls it can wait till i get home." Wow! a full 10hrs without a phone and NOTHING bad happened! I think i may be able to survive without one after all.
197446
I've heard it could cause health problems because of the electromagnetic energy. Doctors are also concerned because so many kids are using cell phones now. I only use mine when I have to. I really do hate them.
255732
Absolutely not true. The amount of time people spend on the phone is more related to naturally occurring behavioral conditioning. That is, the more you do it the better you become at it. While there are stereotypically different communication styles between men and women (aka what Men are from Mars ... tries to describe), these stereotypes don't really hold up well when explored scientifically.
1088990
Don't mind answering the phone--can't stand to hear it ring off the hook--but I have what I call "phonophobia" about making telephone calls. I hate to pick up the phone to dial out. Comes from years of using telephone in my professional life when it seemed I was always calling someone. Now, I just avoid it. In fact I've about 10 calls I need to make now that I've not been able to do. Often, I ask my wife, who likes to talk on the phone, to make calls for me, and she makes most of my appointments now. Remember, "phonophobia," the dread of making phone calls.
642328
I can't tell if there is really a serious question in here or not, but I will answer as if there is.\n\nI think the Internet is causing more people to become anti-social in the real world and more dependent on the (nearly) instant gratification we can get in here...porn, electronics overnight, movies on demand, the list goes on.\n\nAlso, people are starting to become dependent on the "relationships" they form in here in chat rooms and dating sites and spending less time with friends and family.  \n\nBottom line is, people were designed to be social, moving creatures, experiencing new people, sites, tastes and smells. Not sat in one place for hours chatting with total strangers who we know little about.  It's rotting our minds and moderation is the key, just like anything else in life.\n\nWe're all going to hell in a hand basket and the only thing that will stop the downfall of society is if mother nature steps in and takes away the power.  Then we'd be back to hand tools and horses and we'd all know and trust our neighbors a whole lot more.\n\nI'll step off my soap box now...sorry.
205085
My husband is a bus driver and I was one too.  Believe me, where those signs say 'you must not distract the driver' near the cab, mobile phone users fall well into the category of people who ~do~ distract the drivers.  Raised voices ('Look at me, I'm so important I have to use my phone right now this minute to tell my other half I'm on the bus now!') and a tendency to sit right behind the driver have frequently resulted in the bus being stopped and a request for the user to move further away from the cab.  One person on my bus refused to do so, so I (and the rest of the passengers) waited until she'd finished her conversation before we proceeded.  Driving a bus needs every ounce of concentration you can give it - especially in a city centre.\n\nPeople who boarded the bus, just giving the money to the driver without stating the destination because they were busy talking on the phone were told to stand to one side while people who could talk to us were served first.  That usually put a pause in the conversation.\n\nI do use a mobile phone mysself, but never when dealing with other people in front of me, never in a public place - especially restaurants, and never 'just to chat' - the rates are too expensive!