Wednesday, November 12, 2008

There's No Techno-Logic


I remember my dad's phone in the car growing up. Its buttons would glow in the dark, it resembled a normal house phone, and it was stationed near the arm rest in between the driver and front seat. And I was never allowed to use unless it was an absolute emergency. Clearly, this "cell phone" was not much of a communication helper, it wasn't even portable. Even since the 90's, our technology has advanced beyond our wildest dreams. But although technology is advancing, are we?
From my dad's car phone that was untouchable, he now owns a Blackberry, or what my family prefers to call it: a Crackberry. At home, in the office, on vacation, even during dinner under the table, my father can be found typing away on his little keyboard. But he's not the only guilty one. Cell phones today have dominated the way we communicate and has changed our behaviors. I got my first cell phone in eighth grade for emergencies or contacting my parents for rides. The only reason I got it was because it came with a deal for my older sister. In a matter of a few years, we can see as young as third graders carrying cell phones. I find this despicable and disturbing. Children can use house phones to contact parents, and parents do not need to be in constant contact with their children. In fact, I believe this is bad.
Cell phones have created a completely dependent society. One cannot just be alone, I often find myself needing to text a friend instead of having alone time. Having kids and parents in constant communication with cell phones makes it more difficult to separate and for the children to become independent.
While cell phones have created a dependency for everyone, it also isolates people. It is not that we are more dependent on being physically near someone, in fact, its the opposite. I find that while with my friends, at least one person is texting someone. This is now normal, but it is terrible etiquette. It is like walking away from a conversation without warning. We cannot be with someone without talking to someone else.
Of course, this opinion is an extreme. People are not completely cut off of physical interaction by using cell phones, however, the behavioral patterns have certainly shifted with the advancement of technology. Though cell phones are a fantastic reach in technological advancement, is it possible that they are setting back our communication skills as well?


In my blog I expressed how I feel about children owning cell phones, this article explores the pros and cons of it.
Here are other people's views on cell phones and the pros and cons, this is from yahoo answers

3 comments:

ToriH said...

I agree with your belief that people have become too dependent on their cell phones. We are constantly texting, calling, checking our voicemail, or playing a cell-phone game. I think that we have become so used to being able to contact people with such little effort that we don't appreciate them as much when we are with them face to face. I know that I have been guilty of texting while with a friend, I now realize that this rude and inconsiderate, despite it being normal in our generation.

Kolbes said...

I agree that cell phones can sometimes be an annoyance. I am guilty of using my phone too much, a lot of times. I agree with you that it is very annoying when you are with a group of people and someone is texting (or calling) someone else.

However, I think that there are many benefits to having a cell phone too. Someone on yahoo answers mentioned the benefit of teaching children responsibility, and I completely agree. I got my first phone in 7th grade, and my parents taught me all the responsibilities of having a phone (not losing it, keeping it charged,calling for a ride, using my minutes and texting wisely, etc). There are many pros and cons to having a cell phone, but I think overall they are a good thing because they teach young teenagers responsibility and resourcefullness that they can use for the rest of their lives.

cecylia f said...

I completely agree with your view on cell phones . I feel like they have created a communication barrier between us. I am guilty of texting nonstop. Even when I’m in the company of other people (which is really rude). Our generation has changed so much in the last 10 to 15 years. My parents don’t even know how to text, and they don’t understand why I don’t just call the person.