The Driving Force

Man who admitted jamming cell phones: ’A lot of people are extremely loud’

The cell phone has become a Pandora’s Box. What was originally designed  as a tool to help people in emergency situations. Has almost singlehandedly dehumanized people. There are no more personal boundaries. There is no more sense of respect for others. Everyone that abuses their cell phone use, has zero respect for others around them. If a person is standing next to you and is talking loudly. And, you make a motion or have a word with them to please to keep the noise down or to stand some place else while they’re having their conversation. You will most likely hear “Mind your own business”, “Stop listening to my conversation”, “Why don’t you move” or “I’ve got a right to talk on my phone when & where I please”.

The woman in the article known as “Marie”. Says “There’s something very scary about someone who wants control over everybody on the bus.” The man “Eric” doesn’t want to control “everybody” on the bus. He just doesn’t want loud cell phone talkers near him. And, if he’s asked them to do something about it in the past. And, they’ve refused to honor his request. Then he’s taking the next step into his hands.

I applaud this man and anyone else like him. What “Marie” and people like her that feel the same way forget to think about. Is, what about you’re controlling my surrounding, my area by forcing me to listen in on a conversation that I want no part of. In a way, you’re holding me hostage and forcing me to listen to you life unfold over a cell phone.

Should we now have a separate area on buses, in buildings and other public areas where cell phone users must go to have their conversations? Unfortunately, as I said before. The cell phone is a Pandora’s Box. And, the lid was blown of and incinerated along with people personal rights. This is a box that can never be covered again. Whatever was once inside is now out, and free to roam. Rules and laws can be made. But, unless they are strongly enforced. They are completely useless. Case in point: The state of Connecticut has a law that says: It is illegal to use a hand held cell phone while driving a motor vehicle. Yet, if you travel anywhere through that state. You will see thousands of motorists using hand held cell phones. Are the police pulling them over? No. Why? Because the police are driving past them and they themselves are on their cell phones. And, it’s incredibly easy to put your cell phone down as an officer of the law is passing you. Only to pick it up once again after they have passed you by.

So, where do we go from here? And, can anything be done?

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