It is easy to say that cell phones are bad. They are expensive to begin with. Not just the phone, but the service too. Cell phone sales men are today’s version of the used car sales man. No matter what, when you leave you think you got a great deal, but by the time you get home you know you are up a creek! Cell phones are also known to be notorious time wasters: video games, apps, you-tube, texting. Many consider texting to be the downfall of society. It is often used in ways that are dangerous, rude, or just plain disrespectful. There was even a recent informal study that showed if you used an electronic device (tv, computer, or cell phone) shortly before going to bed, your sleep was negatively affected. http://articles.cnn.com/2010-05-13/tech/sleep.gadgets.ipad_1_ipad-sleep-disorders-e-book?_s=PM:TECH Does all this mean that cell phones are bad for us?
Cell phones are tools. How they are used can be positive or negative. Cell phones can make us safer. If you find yourself in an emergency situation, all you need to do is call for help. If your car breaks down, call for help. Need a ride, call for one. Cell phones are convenient. You don’t need to have cash to make a call. If you need to leave your house, you can still get important calls. Cell phones are really helpful for coordinating with your friends at large events (concerts, New Years, bars, Super Walmarts). They make our lives easier and that is the ultimate reason for technology. Undoubtedly, constant connection is not always convenient. I can’t count the number of times that I’ve been enjoying a perfectly nice day out and gotten a call from work. Or how about when you’re out on a date and your Mom calls.
One thing that has happened in recent years is cell phones have become more complex. They now incorporate multiple devices into a single unit. Cell phones are not just phones but very small, very portable computers. This adds to convenience but it is more. These devices are more useful than a phone or computer ever was. Even my paranoid husband who hates carrying a GPS transmitter around with him has to admit that smart phones are pretty cool. They make suggestions, give you directions, and will even help you place orders before you get there.
In the end, the way we use these devices is more important than the devices themselves. If I choose to be rude while using these tools, then I am the one being rude. Cell phones don’t make us inconsiderate. If I choose to keep myself up texting on my phone it isn’t the fault of my phone. I am the one who can’t control my use. These tools are useful and they make our lives easier, which is a good thing.
