Cell Phone Addiction

People, get off of your phones. I don’t want to hear about your test results, and I don’t want to hear about your DUI. I also don’t want you whining about your lack of privacy just because I was unsuccessful at ignoring your loud and obnoxious conversation.

Cellular phones are among the most overrated inventions in history. Instead of having any time to ourselves or any peace and quiet, we bring the rest of the world with us wherever we go. We no longer wait until we are ready to talk. We no longer keep our conversations private. Instead of living our own lives, we insist that others can intrude for no other reason than they want to. These devices add more to potentially lethal driving and unbearable noise pollution than anything practical.

I absolutely refuse to join the mindless masses on this point. I will never purchase one of these phones. It’s bad enough that society tells me that I have to have any kind of phone in the first place.

In all fairness, my hatred of these noise makers should not be forced on others. Cellular phones do have advantages. You can maintain access to a phone in case of an emergency, you can make yourself available for important calls without being forced to stay home, and those who are obsessed with holding a speaker and microphone to their heads can actually go outside at some point in their lifetimes.

This is the problem. People act like they are addicted. These people need to have their phones surgically removed from the ears. Nobody needs to answer their phone every time someone calls. Nobody needs to have someone around them constantly to influence their opinions. Nobody needs to drive recklessly just because someone is willing to provide gossip.

An overwhelming majority of cell phone owners have no need for such a device. Looking cool and fitting in only shows that you are not taking charge of your own life (approximately 99% of the Apple fan base). People need to get off of their phones. At the very least, show some courtesy. Don’t yap in the grocery store or turn a peaceful park into one less place that people can go to get away. Better yet, get rid of your phone. You could save money and increase the amount of time you have available to live your own life. That sure beats annoying as many people as you possibly can. Don’t you agree?