Zhuowei Ye (Jovi)
Cell Phone Etiquette


Ever since the first commercial cellular phone service became available in 1983, communication has become increasingly easy.  We can talk to practically anyone, from just about anywhere on this planet, by just pressing a few buttons of the phone.  Although this popular device is rather handy, it has interrupted many conversations, numerous movies and romantic dinners, countless classes and a vast number of meetings.  This type of discourteous behaviour, talking on the cellular phone instead of paying attention to what is in front of them, has annoyed many people.  Cellular phones are indeed an affordable and convenient tool for communication, but this trendy gadget is frustrating the people around the cell phone user because of its constant disruptions.

Positive Aspects

Cellular phones have made people become accessible whenever needed.  For example, parents can reach their children using a cell phone to see if they are safe, and employees can be contacted when they are needed.  On the other hand, we don’t know if being easily reachable is an improvement.  Children are complaining about losing their freedom because they feel trapped inside their parent’s digital prison and employees will feel like they are at work all the time. 

 

As well as giving accessibility, cell phones also allow people to reach for help during emergency situations.  Cell phones can assist us in security and trouble shooting situations like a medical or mechanical problem.  Some examples are when our car breaks down in the middle of the highway, where regular phone are usually not available, we can use our mobile to call a towing company and family members. Another example is callers can quickly call for help when they are attacked in an empty parking lot using our cell phone.  If cell phone users are getting lost or running late, it is easier for them to call our waiting party from a hand held phone than to look for a pay phone.

Negative Aspects

Nevertheless cellular phones are responsible for causing many automobile accidents due to the drivers’ low reaction time and concentration.  These kind of accidents has increased sharply.  Drivers should keep their eyes on the road and keep their hands on their wheels, instead of reaching for or dialing on their phone.  Even hands-free cell phones are hazardous because they only helps to keep the driver’s hand unoccupied but drivers are still not paying enough attention to their driving while they are talking on the phone.  They can end up with getting into an accident and hurting, and even killing, themselves, the passenger, or someone on the road. 

Although we should bring our cell phone in case of an emergency when people are out of the house, it has created many disturbances for numerous people.  The reason why people doing outdoor activities is to get away from civilization, but if the cellular phone starts ringing, this would ruin the whole meaning of the activity.  These should be able to hear the birds instead of the cell phone chirping in the woods.  Cellular phones are devices used to keep in touch with friends, nevertheless, while on a romantic dinner with loved ones, it would kill the mood if our friends started to talk on their cell phones in the middle of the meal.  Though text messaging is useful when people want to make plans but don’t want to speak with someone, it is rude when cell phone users read them while talking to someone else.

Truly, cellular phones have serviced us enormously in the last decade, but it has also caused many problems.  The interruption during a good movie and a nice conversation happens almost everywhere nowadays.  Accordingly, if cellular phones are used in the right manner, like turning them off or putting them in silent mode during appropriate time, it can help people to communicate with one another with out disturbing the ones around us. 
 

April 2005