Reply #26: People have changed their mental habits to fit the technology, too.

[SmokingJacket]

I would argue that calling on a cell phone is often a very different experience than using a land line used to be. Used to be if you wanted to make a phone call, you'd have to wait till you got home. So you made a mental list of what you wanted to say, got home, maybe mixed up some instant coffee, and sat down and made your call.

Now, since you can satisfy your urge immediately, you do. And that means that being alone is a different experience than it used to be. If you watch someone sitting alone, waiting for someone, it's usually only a minute or two before they start obsessively phoning. People call so as not to be alone or bored now -- and not just in the house, like they used to, but everywhere.

It's not better or worse, but it is different.