Cell Phone Stories

Western Union internal memo, 1876.

The cell is one of the most basic units of life. Teenagers and 20-somethings in Berkshire County agree. "I couldn't live without my cell phone," Lacey Mills, of Hinsdale, said "how else would everyone keep up with the day-to-day drama in my life?"

Many cell phone owners can't remember how they kept in touch in pre-cell days but because a majority purchase cell phones for "safety and security" many must feel depending on the kindness of strangers is not an option anymore.

Sandra Grassetti, a medical coding specialist in Springfield MA, says she likes to have her cell phone, a gift from her son, with her when she walks. "You never know when you might fall down and need to be picked up and driven home," Grassetti said.

As the complicated cacophony of daily life clangs and clamors for attention, individual voices are drowned out by the static. The basic human need to be heard has given cell phone companies new grist for the advertising mill but still leaves many feeling distracted and disconnected.

"Reach out," AT&T Wireless used to urge.

Toni Moffitt, an accountant and free-lance writer from Canada wishes people would reach out less often, especially when on the road. "If you're holding the phone and writing down directions, who's steering?" she asked.

Hearing phone conversation does give her a chance to laugh, however. "Last week, a store clerk was having a cell phone conversation that could be heard OUTSIDE the store. Someone's son was getting married in three hours, the person on the line had no idea where the son was, and the clerk wanted to know why the caller was calling her when there must have been a ton of things that needed doing. When the cell phone user said, 'where do you think he is?' to the irate caller, I looked at the store's security guard and said, 'crossing the border?' and he replied, 'probably in Mexico by now.'"

Moffitt is a cell phone owner who "hardly ever uses it, but it beats hunting for a pay phone that is totally gross. Do I want to put that thing close enough to my mouth and ear so that a conversation can take place? I don't think so."

"What do you have to say?" Cingular inquired.

Marie Shield, a writer in South Pasadena, CA who has not answered a phone in the three years since she sold her sales and marketing business answered, "Nothing unless I'm face to face. I hate everything about talking on the telephone except to very special friends who understand me without looking in my eyes." Shield has "no known telephone or cell phone number" and said, "The $60 we invested in a pay per call two years ago still has about $50 left on it. I used to own a cell phone, and then I figured out that if I never turned it on, I was paying $29.95 a month for nothing. I haven't missed it yet."

"Get more," T mobile, spokesperson, Catherine Zeta-Jones advised.

A1 Wireless of Pittsfield manager, Nick Saluja, who sells T-Mobile plans and mostly Nokia cell phones, said his typical customer is getting younger. The parents of a ten-year-old customer said she was "very mature for her age." Most of his customers are buying cell phones for safety when they travel and they love the "free" long distance. "Parents of teens feel more secure when their kids have a cell phone, but the trick is to get them to leave the phone on so you can actually reach them," Saluja said. He can relate, as he has the same problem trying to call his younger brother. He believes that in ten years, almost everyone will own a cell phone. He said, "They've gotten lighter, smaller and less expensive, making them easier to own." He advised new cell phone buyers - "don't buy more features than you can use and make sure you buy a case to protect your phone." "One customer," he said, "broke three phones in six months.

Sprint once asked, "How does your wireless company make you feel?"

A resident of Becket, Jeanette Thomas, former Executive Director of The Berkshire Talking Chronicle, feels the safety of cell phones is still questionable. She has a "pay as you go plan" to use in the event of dire emergencies only when a regular phone is unavailable.

Leighton Clark, a window company manager in southern Maine, feels, "It's just one more way the man makes it hard for you to avoid your responsibilities." Clark said the only game he plays on his cell phone is "let's see if the wife's phone is charged and on" and he would download special ring tones if he only knew how. He is thankful for his cell phone even when plagued by telemarketers because he can never remember when it's his turn to pick up the kids.

Can you hear me now?" Verizon Wireless commercials ask.

Michael Lupton, who describes her occupation as "piddler," is from North Carolina. Lupton is somewhat of an oxymoron - a courteous cell phone user. She doesn't use it as a fashion accessory, to take pictures or to play games. She doesn't leave it on in church or at the library, never answers it when she's driving and uses it mainly when she's expected to be somewhere and is going to be late. "It keeps my family and friends from worrying." Moreover, Lupton has refrained from judging the manners of other cell phone users for almost three years now. She said, "I promised I would never complain about cell phones again because when 9-11 happened, people got to talk to their loved ones one last time before they died, thanks to cell phones."

Yes, cell phones and their users can be intrusive and annoying. However, cell phones allow us to reach out, ask, can you hear me now and, if we want to get more, to answer that question with, what do you have to say? Because if you don't have to guess, it's good.

(In the past few years, AT&T Wireless merged with Cingular to form AT&T Mobility, Sprint merged with NEXTEL and T-mobile dropped spokesperson, Catherine Zeta-Jones. Apparently, Verizon Wireless, reportedly the largest American wireless company with 65.7 million customers, is still being heard most clearly.)

July is National cell phone courtesy month. To connect to websites offering user tips, information, or fun with cell phones, go to:

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cell+phone offers a creative list of cell phone definitions

www.rateitall.com/t-21113-cellphone-uses.aspx: cell phones - not just for making phone calls anymore - see what other people are doing with their cell phones.

www.sprint.com/etiquette offers a courtesy survey and results, including the finding that reveal "the overwhelming majority of Americans say people are less courteous today when using a wireless phone, but no one sees themselves as discourteous."

www.matrixm.com/ringtones.shtml offers ring tones, wallpapers, screensavers and games.