Hell-ular telephones distract

By Kylie Jane Wakefield
Collegian Editor
April 18, 2007

It is theorized that excessive cellular telephone use can potentially lead to brain cancer. Also, lately there have been sweeps of people across the nation complaining to their doctors about carpal tunnel syndrome, which is believed to be caused by mass amounts of text messaging per day, perhaps. Your guess is as good as mine.

None of this is true of course, but I’m certain that most people would stop being so attached to their cell phones if it were. I have many pet peeves like most people, but the depths to which people value their cell phones really gets me going.

To start off, I cannot even fathom why people feel the need to decorate their cell phones or buy a new one every time another model becomes trendy. Sure, it may look kind-of sort-of slick and hip, but do you really think you’re going to be judged based on the appearance of your phone? I’m sure that most of us have plain old home phones, so why waste so much money on something you use simply for communication? I’ve seen $30 cell phone covers and other expensive accessories for sale while chuckling to myself as I wonder who would be inclined to buy such unnecessary items. But then I remind myself that this is a capitalist society, and there is obviously a demand for these sorts of things. Why, America, why?

I also don’t understand why people choose to purchase cell phone ring tones. Sure, a few are acceptable at 99 cents a piece, but I can’t imagine spending more than a few dollars on these segments of songs that often become very annoying after receiving a small number of calls. And those innumerable commercials that advertise the “hottest ring tones” are more annoying than the ring tones themselves, if that’s at all possible. Then there are the even worse (and usually cornier) commercials where you can receive “all the latest jokes texted to your cell phone” or “the most bangin’ chicks on your wallpaper,” always to “impress your friends” for an undisclosed amount of money per month. “Just text (some keyword) to (some suspiciously short phone number)!” they always tell me. I cannot imagine who would be so sucked into these ads to buy such unimportant things, but as I said before, there must be a market for them somewhere.

Although I am completely annoyed with the purchasing of ring tones/wallpaper/stupid jokes and how people spend their money on accessories, nothing is worse than how people use their phones, and just how often. Cell phones, people, need to be used at the appropriate times. This is not when you’re driving. This is not when you’re in the presence of another person with whom you’re talking. And this is definitely, most importantly, not in class.

I just love it when people use their cell phones in class. Seriously, I love when I’m trying to learn and I hear someone’s phone continuously vibrating (and yes, it is easily heard). I love it when a lecture is going on and the latest top-40 irritating song clip plays, disrupting the lecturer and my concentration. It’s awesome how I can hear the clicking of people typing on their cell phones, texting to friends because whatever they need to say can’t wait until after class. And finally, I am just outright amused by the fact that these classes cost hundreds of dollars and people are wasting their time by not listening to the teacher and instead choosing to use their cell phones in class. Whenever this technology interrupts my education, I do get upset. I quickly realize, though, that I’m not the one who is wasting her time.

Cell phone use is just one of those things that—oh, sorry. Hold on. I just got a call. Wait one minute. Yes... Great! See you later.

Now, where was I?

wakefieldk1@lasalle.edu