Hello again Marvelous people! Today we are honored to hear from a legendary giver, Dick Biggs. May I urge you to not just read this quick article but APPLY it immediately. Peace, love and gumbo!
By Dick Biggs “Cellphonitis – “An addiction to a cell phone that causes one to be compulsive, annoying, oblivious, inconsiderate and selfish.” The above word or definition isn't in the dictionary yet, but it’s a fitting description of how a handy invention can be abused in our technology-driven, fast-paced world. Like most people, I have one of these communication devices and appreciate the convenience. However, cell phone etiquette is a rarity due to:
Compulsive Users
What causes so many people to talk continuously on their cell phones? Did we talk this often when pay phones were in vogue? Are all of these calls really necessary? Or are they just idle chitchat because technology has made it easy to communicate at anytime, anywhere?
Frankly, I’ve observed my share of meaningless cell phone conversations that go on and on. “Yak, yak, yak…like, you know…blah, blah, blah!” I can only imagine the monthly bills received by these obsessive cell phone users. Is it worth the time and money?
Annoying Users
Have you ever noticed people who not only talk incessantly on their cell phones, but they also want us to know how important these calls are? They look around to see if we’re watching. They talk loudly to increase the odds that we’re listening. They pace furiously to impress us with the urgency of these calls and their self-importance.
Am I the only one who finds such behavior rude and annoying? Am I the only one who wishes “Mr. or Mrs. Exhibitionist” wouldn’t impose their insecurities and excessive egos on the rest of us? Surely there are lots of us who’d like to see these folks talking quietly in a secluded spot until their batteries go dead.
Oblivious Users
This is especially applicable to people who talk on their cell phones while driving. Here are two recent examples: I went around a guy doing 35 miles per hour in the outside lane on Georgia 400. He was weaving badly, dialing his cell phone, and completely unaware of any danger. A lady merged right on to Highway 9 without looking to her left. She had a big dog in her lap and a cell phone up to her ear. We missed a collision by inches.
How many people have to be injured or killed before these reckless drivers realize the seriousness of the situation? Do they really want to go to jail and live with a guilty conscience because it wasn’t convenient to pull into a parking lot or wait for a stoplight to talk on their cell phone?
Inconsiderate Users
What about the person who accepts cell phone calls while in a meeting? What about the person who holds up the checkout line with their cell phone conversations? Or what about the person who can’t even leave the cell phone in the car while attending church?
Obviously, there are emergency workers, expectant mothers, on-call workers and others who need cell phone access 24/7 and so be it. But for most of us, what’s going to happen in the next few hours that can’t wait? Think about that the next time you attend a meeting, go shopping, or visit your place of worship.
Selfish Users
Newsflash: YOU aren’t the only person in the world. Just as we teach our children to share with others and be respectful of their elders, we should also learn to use the cell phone in a thoughtful manner. Most of us don’t stand on our backyard decks and broadcast our home phone calls to the neighbors. Why should it be any different with our cell phones?
Oh, how I dread the day when cell phone use will be allowed on airplanes in flight. Won’t it be a thrill to listen to a boisterous seatmate talking non-stop from Atlanta to Los Angeles? We’re about to replace the stench of cigarette smoke with the drone of endless cell phone conversations while flying to our destinations.
Six Simple Suggestions
- Use your cell phone primarily for outbound calls that you can control.
- Give out your cell phone number sparingly so you won’t receive as many inbound calls that you can’t control.
- Limit the time of your calls, especially in public. Be aware of the people around you.
- Develop the habit of pulling over when you need to use the cell phone for an extended time while driving. Even if you use a hands-free set, it’s still easy to lose sight of your surroundings—and the consequences of such irresponsible behavior could be fatal and unforgiving.
- Ask yourself: Is there anything more important than what I’m doing right now? If not, turn off your cell phone and return any messages at the appropriate time.
- Think differently: Just because you have a cell phone doesn’t mean you have to talk on it relentlessly. Use this communication tool wisely, not compulsively, annoyingly, obliviously, inconsiderately or selfishly.
