I don't have a cell phone myself and am amazed at all the people who seem to have grafted them to their bodies, yammering away incessantly while walking down the street, sitting on the bus, driving along the expressway. What's with these people?
You are a walking anachronism, Frank. Don't tell me you don't drive a car either. On that, do I recall someone once saying that you should never trust a poet who drives? I like that. Anyway, cell phones are undeniably, on the whole, a good invention. What is needed, however, - but is unlikely to emerge in this self-obsessed, self-important (and embarrassingly unselfconscious) era - is a widely accepted cell phone etiquette. Ah well. Perhaps, on-the-spot fines should be introduced for cell phone rudeness or general ignorance. At the very least, they should be banned from any public space where strangers are forced to spend time together in an enclosed space. Public transport, for starters.
Let me like always bring you the view from India. India is passing through a technological revolution as part of which carrying a mobile around has become mandatory, if one is to remain socially relevant...so much so that a recent book on India by Edward Luce sported a villager chatting merrily into his mobile. Every one and any one can be seen using the latest gadgetry, thanks largely to the low rates of telephony...you will often find vegetable sellers and milkmen also sporting mobiles. I am also part of this trend, but am woefully under-educated when it comes to using the latest fads. only speaking and messaging for me!
No, Neil, I don't drive, either. Had a license. Let it lapse. Just hated to be behind the wheel.I walk everywhere that I can. In the meantime, my heart goes out to Vikram.
They are young and/or stupid. And they have no impulse control. Delayed gratification is increasingly an alien concept. I join you in anachronism, Frank, though I think we are capable of taking the good from modern technology. All these things have their uses, in moderation. (phones, internet and even cars, sometimes).
Anon, you may deny it, but can you refute it. I knew it, Frank: you're an unreconstructed...something or other... can't think of the right word. I had the kids all day and I am knackered. You're just unreconstructed. There.
I'm of an age where I should be all about gabbing on the cellphone, but since I don't like talking on the phone period and don't really have anyone to call, my phone sits recharging most of the time. I really take it with me for emergencies more than anything else.
That's a bit underhand, Andrew. But I forgive you. Anyway, I think I'll just repeat the question, because you lost me after "Cell phones make people into..." Sorry, I had to take a call. It was very, very, very important. You know, life and...em...whatever.
You are a walking anachronism, Frank. Don't tell me you don't drive a car either. On that, do I recall someone once saying that you should never trust a poet who drives? I like that. Anyway, cell phones are undeniably, on the whole, a good invention. What is needed, however, - but is unlikely to emerge in this self-obsessed, self-important (and embarrassingly unselfconscious) era - is a widely accepted cell phone etiquette. Ah well. Perhaps, on-the-spot fines should be introduced for cell phone rudeness or general ignorance. At the very least, they should be banned from any public space where strangers are forced to spend time together in an enclosed space. Public transport, for starters.
ReplyDeleteI deny that cell phones are on the whole a good invention.
ReplyDeleteLet me like always bring you the view from India. India is passing through a technological revolution as part of which carrying a mobile around has become mandatory, if one is to remain socially relevant...so much so that a recent book on India by Edward Luce sported a villager chatting merrily into his mobile. Every one and any one can be seen using the latest gadgetry, thanks largely to the low rates of telephony...you will often find vegetable sellers and milkmen also sporting mobiles. I am also part of this trend, but am woefully under-educated when it comes to using the latest fads. only speaking and messaging for me!
ReplyDeleteNo, Neil, I don't drive, either. Had a license. Let it lapse. Just hated to be behind the wheel.I walk everywhere that I can.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, my heart goes out to Vikram.
They are young and/or stupid. And they have no impulse control.
ReplyDeleteDelayed gratification is increasingly an alien concept.
I join you in anachronism, Frank, though I think we are capable of taking the good from modern technology. All these things have their uses, in moderation. (phones, internet and even cars, sometimes).
Anon, you may deny it, but can you refute it.
ReplyDeleteI knew it, Frank: you're an unreconstructed...something or other... can't think of the right word. I had the kids all day and I am knackered. You're just unreconstructed. There.
I'm of an age where I should be all about gabbing on the cellphone, but since I don't like talking on the phone period and don't really have anyone to call, my phone sits recharging most of the time. I really take it with me for emergencies more than anything else.
ReplyDeleteI can and I will, Neil. Cell- phones make people into low- attention span sub-human freaks. I admit it is I, Neil.
ReplyDeleteThat's a bit underhand, Andrew. But I forgive you. Anyway, I think I'll just repeat the question, because you lost me after "Cell phones make people into..." Sorry, I had to take a call. It was very, very, very important. You know, life and...em...whatever.
ReplyDelete