Are Cellphones Bad?

It helps with the way you deal with the device. I have one too, on all the time, yes, so.. trace me, I am not afraid of my government thank goodness

However, I need the thing, for work. When a reschedule happens, they need to be able to reach me. When I get stuck on the way to work, I need to be able to reach them. If the cellphone then happens to be out of batteries, oh well, that is alright for a bit, but it is not desirable.

I use the thing maybe.. MAYBE once every week or so, that is how little in fact

Mostly I get calls on it. When in a meeting, I turn it off, when at a hospital, dentist, library, any other facility that doesn't allow, or where it is irritating to have one ringing, I turn it off.

Small kids and cell phones? Heck no. UNLESS they need to travel quite a ways to get to school, like they do here in the country. You can get stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken down bike. I had to walk there, quite a distance. I didn't have a cell phone when I was a kid. But now I see 5-6 yr olds calling all over the place *shakes head*

Times change, sure, but I think a lot depends on how people deal with things. A cell phone isn't there to rule you, you USE it. Use it wisely is what I wish to say to those yelling in the thing.

I totally agree it's how you use the device (not to mention the drive-and-talk-and-text well known discussion) but there are some points in the article that are not related directly with way you use it, they are related to how cellphones change the society and other aspects that are not related to turning it off and don't speaking loudly over the phone, for example:
- surveillance issue (you can't do much about it)
- interruptibility (you can close it whenever you want to make sure you are not interrupted but all the rest of the time the little damn device can ring)
- difficult to recicle (again that is not related to how you use it)
- and admit it once you have one you'll be tempted to do all the bad things described in the article even if you don't realize... for example that point about Flextime is interesting.

Maybe I am not the average cell phone user then

Time for Dutchies is a sacred thing, flextime is something I do not know

But yeah, I am aware of the other things, but it is a conscious choice one takes. And the "damn thing" for me HAS to be able to ring, it could be the job after all. As said.. surveilance.. they can keep an eye on me all they want *shrug* I likely will never even notice anything of it, nor will it limit my daily routine if they do.

Difficulty to recycle, yes I hear that one. This is my second cell phone in 7 years time, I have not even tossed my first yet.. me and my stuff..

I am not one to buy into the cell phone hype, newer, better, a new one every year and such, and I guess for that I am not that responsible really for the waste heap they create.

I guess I am old fashioned.. I use things till they are absolutely worn out

Ok. I will be the first to admit that I love my cell phone. Not just because it is a fun toy, but because I feel safe with it. When my home was burglerized, I was able to sit safely in my car and call the police while watching the house.
I am in the same home care business as Eady and I have to be contacted for patient updates, schedule changes, doctor order updates, and communication from team members, and to call a patient when I arrive for an appointment at their home and they don't answer the door. This is much safer with a cell phone than trying to find a pay phone out in the field. Many times those phones either do not work, or are in unsafe neighborhoods.
I recently have started dating. I have an arrangement with a friend of mine. She has the name of the date, and the address where we will be, and calls 2 hours after the start of my date. If I do not answer the phone, she calls the police, no questions asked. This is a safety net for me and many dating women.
Satellite survelance? Yep. Big Brother is watching me. He is tracking me on the internet, bank accounts, via charge/debit card purchases, GSM devices, LoJack, and even GoogleEarth! But with my phone, only it can be tracked. I have been known to leave it at home while I went shopping.
I always turn it off when the ring would be unwelcome. And I resent loud talkers. I do not want to be part of their conversation in public.
Ummm....flextime. I know people who do that...but they would find a way to do it whether they had the cellphone or not. I think that is more of a question of character.
Yes, recycling is a problem. Here in the Dallas/FortWorth metroplex there are programs for battered women and latchkey children to get a used cell phone. They are offered free. There are many drop off points for someone to drop off their old cell phone for one of these programs. They even accept broken phones because they have technicians for repairs. This gives someone else a free phone to help keep them safer, and to call for help when the might need it.

So, my opinion is that the device itself isn't bad, it is the intent and practice in which it is used that is either responsible or irresponsible.