By Paul










2 thoughts on “WHERE’S MY CELL PHONE?

  1. While I agree with Paul that it is stupid and dangerous for someone to be driving, walking and or ignoring what is going on around them while engrossed with their cell phone, I will say that not all of us do these things, and yet truly enjoy the positive aspect (and yes, convienence) of having a cell phone. I have noticed too, that some people who do not own one, do not hesitate asking to borrow mine to make a call that they can not make because there are not longer very many pay phone available anywhere! I’m not saying that this is a bad request, and I am more than happy to offer my phone for such times. Like any new “gadget” that is invented, it is how it is used.

    I admit that I have a cell phone that also acts as a tablet, and yes, it fasinates me. I have had to use it in emergencies where there was no other phone around and walking to where there was one would be putting my life in danger!

    I do not use it while I’m driving, and even only use the blue tooth device to talk on the phone when absolutely nescessary. I too, have witnessed people multitasking while driving and/or walking, and was involved in a near collision when the driver was talking on the phone and watching where he was driving.

    Do I think that cell phones, Iphones or Black Berries are a necessity. No. Do I enjoy having one. Most definitely!!

    • Paul, I really admire you guys for resisting the pressure to have cell phones. I’ve had them for about 12 years, I guess, and I don’t like them. Fortunately, nobody’s cell phone rings out here in our woodland properties, and we don’t have to deal with them in our home, art studios, barn or gardens. I carry my cell phones only when I am on the road working, so they last a long time. I had my last cell phone for eight or ten years, and it was a “Barney Rubble Flintstones” cell phone to begin with. It didn’t even take photos. Finally all the numbers and letters wore off the buttons (yes, it had buttons!) and I started having a lot of trouble making calls, because I had to guess which buttons to push to enter phone numbers. So Robert took me by the hand and we drove into the city to the Verizon store to trade in my Flintstones cell phone for a new one. When I put my poor old phone on the counter, a crowd gathered around whispering things like, “I’ve heard about these phones, but I never expected to actually see one!” or “This is amazing! I wonder how old it actually is!” I stupidly allowed the Verizon representative to talk me into a much more advanced phone that can take pictures and even go on line with something called “blue tooth,” whatever that is. I don’t know and I don’t care to know. I’ve never taken a picture with my phone or gone on line. Unfortunately, I’m paying a monthly fee for this mysterious blue dental feature. I have vowed that as soon as I am permitted to trade in my phone and renegotiate my contract, I am going to downgrade… It they allow people to downgrade. I’ll bet nobody ever downgrades. I may have to insist.

      My observation about these I-phones is that they are not really primarily phones anymore. They are portable entertainment centers. Robert has one that he seems to enjoy immensely. He listens to music on it and plays games. He asks it vocal questions, and it answers him! His I-phone has become his primary camera, too. He does not make or receive many phone calls with it. It is a toy that he plays with. That’s okay. It may even be healthy for people to have these pocket entertainment systems in America where folks who still have jobs have to work 80 hours per week. My hypothesis is that I-phones are so popular because they make people look like they are working all the time with the help of these professional little portable computer-phones, when actually they are secretly beating the system and stealing some play time for themselves. That’s probably a good thing for the sanity of the masses. But I’m with you — I just wish they wouldn’t drive or walk while playing with them.

      For my part, I’d rather choose different toys and entertainments to enjoy in my free time. My favorite is sitting by the pond and watching the koi jump. Thank you for your wonderful article about cell phones and gadgets. Now I don’t feel quite so alone in my ambivalence toward technology. But riddle me this… Why is it that such a huge percentage of Americans are deeply hostile toward science, but these same people would never consider giving up their I-phones and other personal gadgets? Aren’t these pieces of technology invented by scientists in research and development laboratories? And concommitantly, why are two old liberal curmudgeons like you and me utterly fascinated by science and research, but rather turned off by technological gadgetry? It’s a mystery.

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