While I am grateful for technology—you wouldn't be reading this if I weren’t—I am sincerely worried about husbands, boyfriends and partners calling their significant others on their cell phones.
While I don’t get into the conspiracy theory, I’ve seen first hand that cell phones don’t do anything more than keep tabs on the callee.
No doubt they are great in emergencies, but they have got to be the most annoying piece of technology since digital alarm clocks (how many have you thrown again the wall?). And I’m not interested in hearing everyone’s conversations.
We need laws to tell us when to drive and talk; we need notices in restaurants, busses, planes, hospitals, and churches to turn cell phones off—whoa, what happened to common sense? According to the journal Human Factors, cell phones were responsible car accidents resulting in 2,600 fatalities and 330,000 injuries last year. They estimated that drivers on cell phones were nearly 20% slower in reaction times than non-chatting drivers.
My siblings, myself and our parents reserve cell phones for breaking news, ETA’s while we’re the road and changes of plans. Parties, get-togethers, and holidays certainly bring an influx of calls but most are done at home--you won’t hear laughing our heads off while dining at your favorite pub. We’re not techno-snobs, but we prefer the face-to-face visits.
Instant communication is critical for business, but I want to mind my own—not yours. I’ve listened (had no choice) to a women handle three “personal” calls in the span of 8 minutes. She was embarrassed. I had a feeling that the caller was simply too insecure to let an e-mail do the trick. I’ve been at functions where yet another woman had to field calls from her ex-husband about the kid situation.
Now I’m hoping my personal experience is a point off the curve. I also hope that there are only a few psycho guys and gals who need to constantly “check in” with their mates. In a nation that consumes everything too much, we women can conserve minutes, prevent accidents and tell off clingy boy friends with two words: good bye! |
Bernadette Sukley |
| About the author: |
| Bernadette Sukley has written, edited, fact checked for nearly 20 years. Her topics range from health to sports and lifestyle, from human interest to hard news. Her work has appeared in Men’s Health, Sports Illustrated for Women, and ABROAD magazines. Currently polishing up 3 novels for publication, she welcomes discussions on women and literature.
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