Cell Phones The Impact of their Inappropriate Use - Essay Example

1. Cell Phones The Impact of their Inappropriate Use Today, it seems that everybody has a cell phone and we are becoming addicted to using them. The biggest perceived advantage for many parents and kids is the safety aspect, which means that anyone in trouble can get help quickly, and contact between family members gives reassurance of everybody's wellbeing. But using the phones has gone far beyond this. It is almost as if the cell phone itself has become more important than other people, places, events, and the normal face to face interaction of human communication.

The phone has become the center of the universe, because when it rings, then it must be obeyed, and everything else fades out of focus. Recently, in the library trying to write some notes, four cell phones were being used in my vicinity. It was impossible to concentrate, as the noise was too much, but added to this, was the distraction from the different conversations going on. All of these were non-urgent, totally inane, things like what time to meet after class, who said what to whom, and even the best new lip gloss to buy!

I felt as if my space was invaded and that there was no respect for other people's needs, or indeed for the place itself. The library after all, is meant to be a 'quiet' public space, designed to help us study and learn. In a way, I felt my rights were being violated. I had to move away; so did two other students. We all looked resigned to this course of action, but what else could we do A few weeks back, at an intersection in town, I witnessed a guy in his car, shouting into a hand-held cell phone, go through a red light.

By good luck, nothing was crossing in front of him, or the results of his actions could have been fatal. He was angry, not paying attention to the road, the people, the dangers. I felt a little sick, as I imagined what could have happened, and also angry at such disregard for others. A couple of mothers with babies in strollers just looked at each other, 2.and shook their heads in disgust. But then, one of them got out her phone, ignored her friend and baby, and started talking and laughing into the phone.

The worst, personal experience, which happens frequently, is when friends are just hanging out and then suddenly, what I am saying becomes totally irrelevant yes, the cell phone has spoken! I have been guilty of this too, this compulsion to respond to my ring tone, to answer a text, to pick up the call. When I am the one left being ignored, I feel smaller, less important, my contribution to the conversation or discussions of less value. I know my friends feel the same, and yet, despite being aware of these feelings, we still respond to the cell phone.

By having our phones, we seem to have created a monster which gets in the way of enjoying real communication with real people, and of just being quiet and at peace with ourself. Simple pleasures, like a walk to clear the mind, or a visit to a museum or art gallery, with no phones ringing, seem to be disappearing from life. Having said that, I experience feelings of concern and loss if I forget to bring my cell phone everywhere I go. The dependence on it seems complete, and to be deprived almost causes a feeling of panic.

A sinister and frightening aspect of cell phone use has been reported in the U.K. over the past year or so. This is the phenomenon of 'happy slapping', where people take pictures on their phones of others bullying, beating and even killing innocent victims they do not even know. They send the pictures to friends, put them on the net, it is all a big game. A positive outcome has been that the police have been able to identify perpetrators from the phone pictures, but it should never happen in the first place.

This must be the most disgusting and dangerous inappropriate use of acell phone. I read of a college lecturer, who put up a notice which said that if a cell phone rang during one of his classes, he would give the owner an automatic 'F' grade. He went on to say that this has worked, and he had not had to fail anyone for that reason. It may seem a bit harsh, but people responded respectfully to his request, and the needs of their fellow students. I think it must be time 3.to look at what we are doing, how much we are missing and what could be lost.

We need to control our use of the cell phone, become more self directing and realize the impact of inappropriate use. It is time to get out from under the boot of the tiny electronic tyrant. It is a machine, for us to use, not vice versa, and we are thinking, feeling human beings.Works CitedPark, M. J. - Cell Phones are the Latest 'Addiction' FOXNews.com 18 July 2006 23 October 2006. http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,204046,00.htmlViews on Cell Phone Use Inside Higher Education April 12 2006.

23 October 2006. http://insidehighered.com/views/2006/04/12/mclemee