A New Era of "Cell-fishness"

The invention of cell phones was celebrated a decade ago, however they are quickly becoming a faux pas; ‘“no cellphones” is the new “no smoking”’ in today’s society.  Maclean’s article “Public display of disaffection” by Kingston with Ballingall, presents examples of the problems cell phones are becoming in today’s society. It describes a recent presenter at the University of Western Ontario whose “cell-fish” way of typing on his iPhone would have “cocked eyebrows”, but few found anything wrong with this honoured guest’s behaviour. However, youth today are taking this acceptance of cellphones to the extreme, even texting during sex. The article outlines opinions of this addiction. Eyring of the Protocol School of Washington states that public texting is, “rude, period” and many restaurant owners are getting guests to, “sign a contract prohibiting… cellphone use,” in consideration of the other guests.  The growing concern when it comes to cellphone use is the loss of “one-on-one people skills.”

Cellphones are certainly a problem in today’s society. Many youth feel there’s nothing wrong with texting in a group of friends. What they don’t realize is that it gives of an air that the person they are texting is more important than those they are with. However, it is unrealistic to consider a world devoid of cellphones, they have become intertwine in society. Cellphones need to be adapted into society in a respectful way, used only when the owner is alone or in a more casual setting. The use of cellphones should be treated like most everything in life, in a balanced way.