Rhetoric 3371 Spring 2007

I thought that one particular part in the article, “The world’s a cell-phone stage,” was very interesting. The author said that “in a 2004 MIT survey, the cell-phone topped the list of inventions people hated the most but can’t live without.” I agree with this claim. There are times when a cell phone is necessary; like in an emergency, or when a person is in a rush, or if one has a job where they call many people over the entire day. But even so, I can also come up with many reasons why the cell phone is very irritating. First of all, they are very interruptive when the ring in the middle of silence (like at school, on the bus, in the waiting room, or in the bathroom). Secondly, they take people’s attention, for example, in the middle of a conversation someone’s cell phone will ring, they WILL answer it, and they WILL talk to them (ask them how they are and where they are at). Lastly, cell phones are very distracting. I believe that text messaging and phone calls can distract someone from whatever they are doing (driving a car, listening to a lecture, etc.) Basically, they have taken over our lives.

Both of the articles were interesting to read, mostly because they laid out the concepts of cell phone use and how that compares to my personal use, and gave some actual statistics (though I don’t really trust the survey results from the Associated Press article).

I was particularly interested in the data about cell-only users because I am one myself, and so are many of my friends. However, I didn’t really take the data seriously since the article said the majority of cell only-users they surveyed were male, nonwhite, under 30, unmarried, and living with modest income. I and many of my friends do not fall into that category, so I didn’t feel comfortable comparing myself to those statistics.

Anyways –
I found the parts (from both articles) about how cell phones are breaking down walls between public and private spaces, since you can have an intimate conversation on a cell phone in a public place. It irks me to no end when someone is having a conversation in a public area, especially a quiet area, like inside a bank or on a bus. For the life of me I cannot figure out how someone can actually feel comfortable engaging in that behavior, it’s as if they don’t realize that other people can still hear them even though they’re on the phone.

I don’t think cell phones are the sole reason people are become more ‘public’ with their private lives, I think Americans as a whole are changing – there is generally less respect toward others. We are taught not to care what others think, so we will do what we want, where we want. Just like in the SFGate article, when asked about using cell phones in the bathroom the interviewee said “the point is you want to talk to people, I don't care where I am. Luckily, I don't embarrass easily.” That mad me mad – it’s total lack of respect for others around you.

I think it is quite interesting to think of how people use cell phones. Personally I believe that cell phones are great. I use mine all of the time for important phone calls, pointless phone calls, texts, and so on. I think the technology is one that has influenced society for the better. I also believe that cell phones can be annoying and disrespectful in certain situations. However, if people use simple common sense with cell phones, most of the time the cell phones are not a problem at all. I definitely do not think cell phones have taken over our lives or anything like that. I think it would be difficult to get a hold of someone if all you had was a land-line. I am happy to have a cell phone in my life; it connects me to any of the people in my life that I need/want to talk to at any time.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about cell phones is Saved by the Bell and Zach Morris’s cell phone. It was an immense creation, but he was so proud of it. It was the epitome of personal technology. I remember the first time I got my cell phone; I was sixteen. But my little sister and brother got theirs at ages thirteen and nine, respectively. Cell phones have become ingrained into our culture. I remember asking my mom what she did in college before cell phones and she laughed at me. But honestly I don’t know what I would do. I really enjoyed the statistics in the Rainie and Keeter piece. 86% of people have been annoyed by a person who was talking on their cell phone. I have even heard someone talking on their cell phone while going to the restroom! The prevalence of cell phones have made people a little bit too comfortable with the amenities they provide.

I really found all of the percentages in the "How Americans Use their Cell Phones" article to be very interesting. I think cell phones are an essential part of daily life now more than they ever used to be and I think with that comes a certain amount of annoyance and irritation. The article stated that 86% of all cell users report being irriated at least occasionally by loud and annoying cell users in public places. I have really found that in the last year I have become more and more annoyed with people who talk on their phone on the bus, in Target, while shopping, etc. I just find it really annoying to have to sit and listen to someone's full conversation and especially when they are being very loud. I am very much apart of that percentage of people and I have been a witness to others being yelled at because they were on their phone. With every technology there are drawbacks, but I think the cell phone is so vital and important to our society that it has brought about a larger annoyance because it is such a public technology that a large population of our country uses. I think cell phones have become such a convenience for so many people that some feel more comfortable to use them in places that are uncomfortable for others.

Mine is the previous posting

I, personally, really like having a cell phone. I've had mine for almost two years and I don't know how I went without it. It makes it easier to stay in touch with my friends and it's a really useful tool to have in case of an emergency. I found it interesting that cell phones ranked at 83% in contrast to the Internet which came in at 76% in a survey. I would've guessed that the cell phone would come second to the Internet because it seems as though people can do more with the Internet than the cell phone. For instance, the Internet enables people to conduct research, email people, shop, work, find driving instructions, etc. Anyway, I think that cell phones have closed the gap between us and the people in our lives. I'm able to call my cousin in Boston in a matter of seconds, and I don't have to be at home to call her. Cell phones are very convenient and efficient tools.

Two things stuck out in the readings to me. The first is will I ever get a landline? I mean what would I need it for? If I always have my cell phone on or near me why would I want to deal with another phone ringing? What good is it to have a landline? Landlines bring telemarketors which is something cell phones have not yet brought and who wants to have that awkward conversation. Plus if there is an emergency I ca dial 911 just as easy on my cell phone if I have service which I presumably will. The other thing is the age at which people are getting cell phones. In my house my parents said I didn't need a cell phone until I had a car. This was because when I had a car they would not know were I was. But other people got theirs earlier. I mean is there a limit to where a child should not have a cell phone? Don't cell phones give children to much privacy and lead to misheif. I would argue this is the truth.

According to Rainie and Keeter, landlines seem to really be on the short end as more people are switching over to cell phones. I think the tables they set up are fairly interesting in how it shows the comparisons of how many people in a certain category have landlines vs. cell phones. I found Kim’s article even more amusing about how people use their cell phones, specifically for reasons other than talking. I admit, I too have used my phone as a flashlight, a voice recorder, an MP3 player, etc. Who would have thought about using all of this when the original idea was to buy a phone to use for communication only? I also was one of the few people who tried to put off buying a cell phone as much as I could since my mentality was this: if I have a cell phone, its like a GPS system for others to quickly and easily locate me and track me down to get a hold of me. Its just makes it harder to hide when you don’t want to talk at certain times. Finally, I think its pretty funny how cell phones topped the list of inventions that are difficult to live without but are most annoying to have at the same time. I personally would have chose the alarm clock over the phone.

I really enjoyed "The World's a Cell Phone Stage" by Mr Kim. I think I have a love hate relationship with my cell phone and I found myself agreeing with a lot of the points made in both articles. They provide a sense of comfort and safety, they allow us to get a hold of basically whoever, whenever. But I think there seems to be a sort of cell phone ettiquette because cell phones can be annoying. I have heard them go off in innappropriate places such as during lecture, during a movie, and church. I have also even heard people using them in the bathroom! I also think its funny when a cell phone goes off, the person will answer-no matter what. I will generally not answer my phone if it rings while I am talking to another person or busy eating or working out. I once saw a jogger answer her cell phone while running around the lake. Sometimes it feels good to spend a little time being 'unavailable'. Before Semester at Sea, I would not have been able to even imagine life without a cell phone. But SAS showed me it was possible.

While I was studying abroad, a cell phone and the internet were considered luxuries. I eventually got used to not having one and I started to like it. When I returned home I wanted to see how long I could go before I bought a new one, I lasted 5 days. It is possible to get by without a phone, as long as its not the cultural expectation to have one.

I agree with Ryan Kim when he says that cell phones are just in its infancy. we haven't even seen anything yet. The best is yet to come in terms of new technology for cell phones. With the launch of iphone sometime in summer, which is a part mp3, cell phone and a PDA. 3 in 1 that's a pretty good deal.

Almost everyone has experienced that one person who talks so loud on the bus that the entire bus can listen in on the conversation this dude is having. I find it most annoying when people's cell phones goes off in a library when you are trying to concentrate. I guess that's the price you have to pay to be a high tech, high touch society.
I saw in the news a year back, that a few restaurents in New york are converting the old phone booths, adding some sound proof material to it and make a comfortable chairs in the phone booth. so when ever you get a call, you can lock your self into this booth without being rude and disturbing anyone.

It was interesting to read about the effects cell phones have on people in the articles “How Americans Use Their Cell Phones” and “The World's a Cell-phone Stage”. It was interesting to see percentages of when people use their cell phones, especially how many individuals use them while driving. I have had a close friend get into a car accident as a result of cell phone usage while driving so I am very against people doing it. I find it to be very dangerous because it completely distracts you. People use their cell phones for hours, especially when they're bored. What would people do to occupy their time if cell phones didn't exist?

It was interesting to read about the effects cell phones have on people in the articles “How Americans Use Their Cell Phones” and “The World's a Cell-phone Stage”. It was interesting to see percentages of when people use their cell phones, especially how many individuals use them while driving. I have had a close friend get into a car accident as a result of cell phone usage while driving so I am very against people doing it. I find it to be very dangerous because it completely distracts you. People use their cell phones for hours, especially when they're bored. What would people do to occupy their time if cell phones didn't exist?

I found the article by Kim rather interesting, especially the statistical figures. But what caught my attention the most was the discussion of appropriate cell phone usage. I generally never use my cell phone in public areas, because I don’t want people hearing my business. If I am walking and talking on my cell phone and I walk past someone I will hesitate in the conversation until I am sure the person I have passed by cannot hear me. Everyone has been around someone on a cell phone; you can only hear one-side of the conversation. People may think someone is having an entirely different conversation than they are actually having. I do think using cell phones in public areas is rather annoying, but I understand sometimes it must be done. Enclosed public areas, like in school buildings or restaurants, seem more annoying than when a person is outside walking and talking. I am not sure why that is, but that’s how I feel. I also think it is inappropriate to use a phone in class, movie theater, or any other place of those qualities.

While reading both articles, I began asking myself "Why are we so reliant upon our cell phones?" There were many passages to support our dependence such as the following line from the Ryan Kim piece, "Hansen, a marketer for a medical laboratory, said she has bought chargers on vacations just to stay connected to her friends and clients.

'If it breaks, I have to go that day and make sure it gets dealt with,' she said. 'I have given out my number to clients. I can't do that and not be available.'" I agree with many points brought up such as the allure of talking to anyone at anytime, a means to pass the time, and so on but I feel a great deal of the dependence is due to the overall reliance on the cellphone from society as a whole. One of the biggest reasons I bring my cellphone everywhere (and leave it on silent, even when I can't answer) is so I don't miss a call or know who tried calling me. It has now become the accepted way of contacting someone - the cellphone. Society now relies upon cellphones as THE way to contact people since it is often assumed that one will answer the call or return a missed call. I rarely leave messages anymore because the phones list missed calls and people typically call me back. The dependence is created not only from cellphone users but also from societies demand to have and use one.

The cell phone seems to just be one more technology to communicate with others while avoiding direct contact. My roommate seems to use his excessively - it'll ring very often (when he's sleeping - if he's awake he's almost always on it)
In addition to his cell phone, he also uses his computer to talk to others... both chat and voice.
The cell phone is fairly similar in that matter as well.

Though it might be unusual, I actually don't have a cell phone - the chance of someone needing to talk to me and not being able to wait is very low.

As Kim mentions in his article, because of the last 10 years or so, I think we've all just become so used to cell phones.
I can still remember in about 1995, when my sister's boyfriend got a cell phone and it was just huge, but at the time it was amazing. Looking back, it's almost humerous.
But now, everyone seems to have one and everyone seems to have the need to have pointless conversations no matter where they are in public.
I particularily notice this when walking around campus. I would say perhaps 2 out of every 5 people I pass are talking on cell phones.
I also notice this on the bus where it's dead quiet and these people clearly don't mind if 20 people hear there most intimate conversations.
As Jerry Seinfeld said already back in 1996, "Can people just miss each other a litte!?" referring to answering machines and car phones.
Well, I'm sure his act would ring even more true today, where we can always be in contact with basically anyone we want at all times. This shift over the past decade is quite revolutionary.

Cell phone is another technology for communication, but for me it happens to be one of the best technologies available today. I don't understand why people have to say that we are dependent on cell phones today, I believe it is a nessecity in today's fast pace world. It was a completely different story few decades back when life was not as fast, people were able to visit friends and family more often to be in touch, and also could use the landline phone to stay connected. But seeing the world of today, I think it is necessary to have cell phones to make those 'urgent and important' calls. Business has been growing more and more due to cell phones, people throughout the world can be reached anytime we like. Infact, we can now say that the world moves along with you at your fingure tips. I would say internet and cell phones are equally important, but I personally could do without internet, but not the cell phones. It just reminds me of something that i read somewhere..that each day, life gives us two options-the good and the bad it completely depends on us what we chose and how we utilize it.

Cell phones have been a great invention in my opinion. It has changed the way everyone communicates. For me i put down my cell phone number on all forms that request a phone number, whether it is home or cell they are asking for. I use the text messaging feature a fair amount to do just pointless thing pretty much. Cell phones are great but if they do not work like mine is not working right now it gets very frustrating and it almost seems like life cannot go on. This is a huge downfall to cell phones, we have become far to dependent on them.