| I usually write about relationships and differences | | | | that no call will go unreceived, and all calls can be |
| between men and women. I write a lot about | | | | returned at the most convenient time. But, rather |
| what men and women say to each other. But, | | | | than turn off the phones when occupied, people |
| this piece is not about what they say to each | | | | keep them on at all times. They are never free. |
| other; it's about where they say it - on their cell | | | | In effect, cell phones now burden, not free |
| phones. | | | | people. |
| Personal conversations and business conversations | | | | You can't stop progress. Cell phones are with us; |
| are intended for people on each end of the phone | | | | they are an integral part of our lives. My complaint |
| - not for a room full of people or those walking | | | | is not about their existence; they can be helpful. |
| along the street, relaxing on a park bench, or | | | | My complaint isn't even about the danger of |
| waiting in a doctor's office. Nor should these | | | | talking while driving. My complaint is that in addition |
| conversations be inflicted on people relieving | | | | to helping people keep in touch, cell phones |
| themselves in a public bathroom, enjoying a cup | | | | interfere with personal relationships, pushing people |
| of tea in a restaurant, or deciding which bottle of | | | | away. It's wonderful to be able to call your honey |
| juice or which shirt to buy inside a store, or | | | | from wherever you are (although lovers certainly |
| locked in an elevator with no escape. | | | | have found ways to do that long before cell |
| When did we get so promiscuous with our | | | | phones). But how often have you seen fiends |
| personal and business information that we spew it | | | | walking down the street - with one talking on the |
| about? If there is no problem about privacy for | | | | phone? Or, families at a restaurant or social |
| the speaker, how about privacy for the unwitting | | | | event, with everyone chatting but the father (or |
| listeners? | | | | mother) separated by the cell? What is intended |
| How can telephone talkers not feel the publicness | | | | as a together activity gets interrupted when one |
| of their conversations? Perhaps they invent a | | | | of the people "goes away" via the cell phone. |
| bubble around themselves; they are so engrossed | | | | This technology is now used to undermine |
| in their conversation they aren't aware of others. | | | | relationships. There was a time when this issue |
| Maybe they believe themselves to be invisible to | | | | would have been related to gender; women |
| others. | | | | generally are more attuned to relationships, so |
| On New Year's Day at the beginning of this new | | | | they might have been more sensitive to someone |
| century, I was walking through Central Park in | | | | pulling away from them. But women have |
| New York City. I saw a man roller skating while | | | | become as much a victim of the cell phone |
| talking on the phone. A few minutes later, I saw a | | | | rudeness and isolation as men. It's as if there is a |
| woman spinning her wheel chair with a phone to | | | | status for not just having a cell phone but having |
| her ear; later, a man was walking his dog and | | | | it ring while out with others. Does that mean |
| talking on the phone. | | | | you're important? You are doing big business? |
| I was struck by how extraordinary were the | | | | Your fan club is following you? |
| situations in which this new invention - the cell | | | | A far cry from the novelty of seeing someone |
| phone - was being used. That gave me a brain | | | | on skates or in a wheel chair talking on a phone, |
| storm: to mark the turn of a new century, | | | | there was a movie that again suggests the |
| someone should publish a photography book | | | | extraordinary may become ordinary. In Jet Lag," |
| showing how cell phones were invading our world | | | | a woman is in the airport security line talking on |
| and shaping a new life style. Little did I realize how | | | | her phone. In mid-sentence, she puts the phone |
| quickly our life style was changing and this book | | | | on the conveyor belt, walks through the |
| would soon be outdated. Today, cell phone usage | | | | screening, picks up the phone on the other side |
| in public places is so common that what had been | | | | and resumes her conversation - without missing a |
| extraordinary is now taken for granted. | | | | beat. The really best part though, is when she's |
| Last week, on the river, I saw a man holding the | | | | on the toilet talking. She goes to flush, drops the |
| handle of his skimobile with his right hand while his | | | | phone, and watches in horror as it swirls down |
| left hand was at his ear. He whipped by so | | | | the drain. |
| quickly, I couldn't be sure, but what else could | | | | I'm glad she was using her best friend to help |
| have been in that hand? | | | | with her crisis of the moment, but I applaud the |
| Cell phones do make life easier; all calls can be | | | | flushing, feeling the relief of women in the other |
| received wherever you are, and no matter how | | | | stalls; they could now sit in peace. Maybe I'm |
| busy you are, you can keep in touch with clients, | | | | wrong, though. Maybe cell phones can bring people |
| family, and friends. How can one complain about | | | | together since she then borrowed one from a |
| technology that does that? The benefit of this | | | | stronger at the airport who ended up as her |
| technology should be to free up time, assured | | | | husband. |