SF Gate: "The world's a cell-phone stage"

[Yollam]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/27/BUG2IHECTO1.DTL">The world's a cell-phone stage
The device is upending social rules and creating a new culture
Ryan Kim, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, February 27, 2006

But nothing has matched the seismic cultural shift created by the cell phone, with its ability to connect and deliver content virtually anywhere, anytime. Although most of us have grown familiar with cell phones during the past 10 years, we often don't realize how much our world has been transformed by the little device in our pockets and purses.

But now a number of surveys, studies and industry statistics provides a better glimpse of how this gadget has pushed us into new realms, allowing us to converse with friends, family and others from the most intimate corners of our lives to bustling public spaces.

In anecdotal evidence that surveys are only beginning to reflect, we are starting to see how cell phone use is upending existing social rules and creating a new culture that worships mobility and modifying -- if not replacing in some instances -- many long-held social rules that govern the use of landline phones.



So what's wrong with me?

Not only do I not use my cell phone anywhere and everywhere, I have actually never felt the need or desire to get one.

I see people gabbing on these things everywhere, but they all seem to gabbing about the most trivial, mindless and idiotic things.

I've seen people walking down the aisle of the supermarket, asking someone on the phone what they want to buy, item by item.

Hello! It's called a grocery list!

Every year, I feel more and more alienated from the mainstream culture. Why are people so afraid to spend any time alone with their own mind, their own thoughts? Why are they so afraid of having any waking moment not filled with non-stop stimulation?

(sigh)








PS - Some of the comments in the "Two Cents" section are pretty entertaining...

[MADem]

1. You're not alone!

If I ever got one, I wouldn't admit it--who needs assholes calling you all the time! One more thing to plug in; one more stupid charger to trip over!

[Lerkfish]

2. never liked them until I got one when my wife was pregnant.

without going into a lot of detail, being accessible during the last trimester was crucial.
Since then, I've found it useful for if I'm driving home and stuck in traffic, I can alert my wife I"ll be late, and the most important use for it came when I was in a traffic accident:
I was able to call my wife to come to the intersection. Otherwise, as soon as the ambulance showed up, they took my cell phone and would not allow me to use it. Since I'd already called my wife, she knew I was in an accident. Since I didn't leave the emergency room for 4 hours, and I was almost home, what would she have thought of me being 4 hours late and not knowing where I was?

But, that having been said, it doesn't rule my life like many people but I have found it a wonderful convenience.

[B3Nut]

6. They took your phone?????

What in the name of all that's holy gives them the right to deny you use of your OWN FARKING PHONE???? AFAIAC they have no right whatsoever to do that...I would be steaming mad!

I have to carry a cell for my IT work, but it doesn't get used much. 95% of the time if it rings it's my wife. I don't like to talk on it when driving though, drives me nuts. I try to stay off the damned thing when driving as I've been almost run off the road by dimbulb soccer-moms in their SUV's blabbering away about who-knows-what...

Todd in Beerbratistan

[Lerkfish]

7. I was in a neck brace, tied to a backboard

I wasn't in a position to argue with them. I kept asking them for my cell, and they kept saying "don't worry we'll call your wife later".
and yes, I was not happy about it, but I was in a lot of pain, so more submissive than usual.

[immoderate]

3. I too am a holdout.

If I had kids I'd have one. But I rarely find a need. I'd like something for the car for when I break down, or when I'm out of town.

I notice young folks on them constantly and I think they mostly talk about themselves.

My biggest fear is getting one and finding out I don't have the best calling plan. It's like buying a new computer to find out it's obsolete by the time you set it up.

--IMM

[Yollam]

8. I've got kids, and that makes me want one even less.

The idea of my kids turning into those vapid cell-phone-talker types strikes horror into my heart.

The only scenario I can think of for needing one is like you said - emergencies, trying to meet somewhere, etc. I never long for conversation when I'm out on the town. When I get a quiet moment, I savor it.

[FrannyD]

10. that's when I got one

When my son started kindergarten. Only his school and my husband have my number.

[spag68]

4. cell phone

If you have an old one keep it, as the new ones have a chip in them to let "them" know where you are at all times. On or it does it's job.

[TahitiNut]

5. I may have a high opinion of what I have to say ...

... but it sure ain't as high as some! I've been to the movie rental and had to dodge jerks on their cell-phones (oblivious to others around them) discussing movie choices with the 'other half.' I've been grocery shopping and had to negotiate the aisles blockaded by cell-phone blockheads who apparently can't do the shopping without constant coaching. People navigating their behemoth SUVs in parking lots while their brains are on cell-phone life support endanger everyone. Cell-phone users put human beings 'on hold' while they plug in to other sloths. It's rude - at a very minimum. Some day, I'm going to rip one out of someone's hand and stomp it into something beyond salvage. I don't think I'll be alone. The blow-back is building.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. I think many cell phone users are in large part idiots.

I'm not talking about the ones who use it to stay in touch with family members or take a quick call from the office.

I'm talking about the ones who cannot walk down the street without that little piece of equipment glued to their ear.

I have heard the most startling personal information from the cell phone clueless -- like how bad their financial situations are, intimate details about their sex lives, nasty family fights. And then there is the mundane: the gossip, the grocery lists, the "I don't have anything to say but I thought I'd call you anyway" conversations.

My new favorite are the folks who are yapping away and stop dead in the middle of walkways or in doorways while they have their useless conversations. My response is to get in their face and say, "Blah blah blah blah."

Cause that's exactly what it all sounds like. :eyes:

[FrannyD]

11. I'm sick of people using them in stores

I'll be wandering down an aisle and somebody will be stopped in the middle yakking away, and of course blocking the whole aisle. I just wanna ram them into fucking tomorrow.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

12. I know that feeling!

:D

[Gabi Hayes]

13. zzzzzzz