Cell Phone, How Did it Take Over?

Cell phones are everywhere, once only bought for the "I will only use in an emergency" they are now a staple in our lives. In fact some would list the cell phone behind food and water as to their importance. Recently I was at work, and we have a sign that says turn cell phones off. When I was calling a patient back, a young woman was talking on her phone, I politely told her she need to turn it off. But the man, I had called back, yelled at me for telling her to do this, he said that I was rude and we should not even have that sign, that he will use the phone anytime he wanted too, that phones do not interfere with equipment, that I needed to get with the times.

He may been right about the equipment, but it more of a courtesy that most places like hospitals, star bucks, and even banks, that have the signs saying to turn off the cell phone. Think about it, do you want to hear what the lady next to eat last night on her date? Or that the man in front of you in line has an enlarged prostrate and is having trouble urinating? As ridiculous as that sounds, these are conversations people talk about on the cell, in public. A recent study showed that there is more car accidents that a cell phone was involved, then there are drinking and driving. You know what the difference is, it is illegal to drink and drive. Some cities and townships are making it a fine if you are caught talking on a cell while driving. A recent episode of Gilmore Girls, actually showed the mother getting pulled over and getting a fine for doing this. Some states, such as Pennsylvania and New York are lobbying for a state wide cell phone rule while driving. Even hands free, is adding to debate, Studies show the driver is just distracted because they are talking while driving, it didn't matter if they used hands free or not.

I recently read about the blackberry phone, they have so many lawsuits against the company, because people claim the text messaging was addicting. A few examples was a woman got into a car accident, because she was texting. Another said she was so busy texting, she used cleaning fluid on her baby instead baby oil, when she changed the diaper. But the one that made me laugh was the one about the woman, who blamed her divorce on the cell, she claimed her husband said they never talked because she was always using the phone or texting. How did the cell get to the point that we lose sight of everything that common sense. How did the cell actually, make us to the point we don't talk to people face to face anymore?

Here some guidelines to using a cell in public.

The golden rule shines brightly for cellular phone users.

STEP 1: Use good sense and discretion, and remember the golden rule. Would you want to listen to someone discuss nanny problems while you're watching a movie?

STEP 2: Put yourself in others' shoes. There are times when it is impolite to break a public quiet - for example, where others are reading, relaxing, writing or thinking.

STEP 3: Learn either to take messages and call back when it's appropriate, or turn off your cell phone until you're in a place where you can talk.

STEP 4: Turn off your phone in places where even the ringer can be intrusive: performances of any kind (including school plays), libraries, restaurants and so forth. Believe it or not, people can hear you while you're on a cell phone.

STEP 5: Observe looks of annoyance, glares and stares. Reconsider your phone behavior if you're on the receiving end.

Drive first, then attend to the cell phone