Do you think that cell phone usage is having a negative or positive effect on your community?
595735
Definitely abusing the convenience.  I'm positive the number of auto accidents has risen dramatically because people are too busy F*&KING around with their phones and not paying attention.  Sorry, but my safety and my kids safety is way more important than any phone call!
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.
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.
1080485
Other than violence? Well tv and internet is in almost every household in north america, therefore, the impact is significant.  In addition to easy accessability, parents seem to be busier with their own lives and less involved with their childrens. This combination is not a positive one, kids at incredibly early ages feel as though they know everything there is to know, and often they have absorbed much info, unfortunately too much of which is of a negative nature. In addition, our young people have not had the opportunity of much life experience to go along with all of the knowledge and ideas being blasted at them. Essentially, the old players who used to have the big impact on our kids, parents, teachers, churches, neighbours, etc., no longer have as much influence.  As a result, life ends up imitating art, as the kids have much more interest in what's on the tube or internet than they do from the old community staples of learning values. Again, with limited life experiences to sort out all that they have learned, as quickly as they have learned it, at the very least makes for a very confusing time for them, and in the extreme causes real issues more often than not bad behaviour stemming from lack of understanding real life. I do not believe that this is ever going to be an overly positive step in our evolution as it is clear to me that it is becoming harder and harder for kids today to differentiate between "entertainment" and real life.
164603
No!  I made it without a cell phone, so can all these spoiled little brats.  It is a distraction to say the least.  School is for learning; did you know that?  I don't think many people do anymore.  Hell, just look at the poor spelling on this site.....'Nuff said!
215547
I am very old and from my perspective I wonder about the addictive nature of mobile phones and teenagers dependency upon them. I think that during a study session any interuption is unwelcome. Do they turn the phones off at these times? Do they get anxious if they do not receive calls/texts? does the compulsion to use the phone distract them from serious, productive study?
891884
Cons:\n - Cell phones were used in the Madrid bombings as detonators\n - Students can use cell phones with text messaging capabilities to cheat on tests\n - Cell phones can be a distraction in classes, especially if the student forgets to silence their ringer\n\nPros:\n - For students who can not drive, it makes it easier to get in touch with parents if an after school activity is cancelled\n - If something bad happens at the school, students can contact their parents to let them know that they are okay
275478
Cell phones, TV and radio reception
1131556
Yes Because alot of accidents are casued by people talking on their cellphones
540666
If you have a cellphone its your destiny, if others don't have it, its their destiny. God creates all our destiny. We are no one to interfere in his business!!!!!!!!
708542
A bit drastic. But given that a lot of cell phone owners are incapable of simple courtesies like switching the ringtones off in lectures or other events and not answering their phone if they are in the middle of a conversation with somebody else,  it makes sense as an educational measure. \nNow people can start learning talking to each other directly instead of talking through a cell phone. People survived for a surprisingly long time without cellphones, if cell phones would all break down tomorrow it wouldn't be the end of the world.
240424
I don't know that requiring "hands-free" cell phone use in cars will have the desired effect of making drivers more safe. I don't feel that the issue is that of having a phone in the driver's hand while driving. I feel that a lot of the problem is that when someone is talking on a cell phone, hands-free or not, there is a lot of cognitive thought going into the conversation they are having on the phone. This takes cognition away from driving, thus making one more susceptible to having accidents. Taking the cell phone out of someones hand & replacing it with a hands-free system will still require that cognitive effort to be on the conversation rather than the act of driving.
449438
it affects in diferents ways in our live, positive and negative ways.
75975
Yes, internet has brought the big world to my small room. I can visit many places without spending money on expensive transportation. I can get news and entertainment from anywhere. I can communicate with families and friends anytime. There are so many things to learn and do on internet, including answering this question. The only time I felt internet was bad was when I was hurt by an internet friend, I said words like internet ruined my life. But actually, it's not the internet's fault, it's the users. Life will be boring and back to the small world we had around us long long time ago if there's no internet.
1070068
I hate seeing the beauty of rural communities spoiled by technology.  I guess it is necessary, though.  If not, there would be no cable, poor phone service, bad water, old (if any) electric and gas supplied to the entire community, and possibly no cell and PC services.
656531
Sadly, the world is regressing.  The use of the internet, cell phones, DVD players in cars, etc. has caused us to become much more detached from our friends and family.  There is much less personal interaction anymore.  I don't think technology is ALL bad...of course you can meet new people online, or find out new info in an instant.  But, overall, the cons are outweighing the pros at this point.\n\nWe are soooo reliant on oil and electricity that we are going back to making enemies with MOST of the world.  More countries (Iran, N. Korea) have nuclear capabilities and are much more likely to use them than any countries in the past.  There are more extreme terrorists who can't be caught, less human intelligence to stop the terrorists, and our own coutnry's military is very diminished at this point.\n\nDespite MOSTLY overcoming years of racism and racial tension, things seem to be getting worse in that area again, with all the immigration debates/protests.  \n\nMost of the world's population live in 3rd world countries...diseases are widespread.  Despite working on the AIDS problem for 20+ years, we still do not have a cure or vaccine.  \n\nPeople don't think there's anything wrong with deteriorating morals...swearing is commonplace now, nudity on TV/movies is no big deal...violence is everywhere.  More than 50% of marriages end in divorce.  We are quickly depleting our natural resources.  the polar ice caps are melting.  Nature is becoming more extreme thanks to global warming.  Certain animals are dying out.  \n\nI have an advanced degree, have worked hard all my life, and still cannot afford to buy my own house.  In the 50s, most families owned houses and that was without the wife working!  Now I can't own my own house despite all my hard work and education.  This country...and the world are going to hell in a handbasket, and anyone who doesn't think so, hasn't lived long enough or looked around!
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