Wayne' s Words
AUGUST 22, 2004
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Topic: Cell Phones

Cell phones have been around now for a least 10 years. The question is, are we better off now because of their use then we were 10 years ago?
Everywhere you go you see people talking on them. I always wonder who the heck they are talking to.
Some comedian once said most cell phone conversations consist of 2 topics:
1. Where that person is right now, "Hi, yea, I'm at the mall right now, looking for some shoes!" 2. Where they will be in ½ hour, " Hi, yea, I'll be home in ½ hour with 3 new pair of shoes I bought at the mall!"
You would think with everyone using cell phones, everything would run smoother, people would be on time, people wouldn't have to drive as much, they could call instead, everyone would know where everyone else is at all times. Service people would be on time and if not, they would at least call you to let you know where they are and where they will be in a ½ hour.
This doesn't seem to be the case.
Traffic is getting worse, it seems to be more dangerous out there on the roads biking and running, people are always late, service people are getting later and later to get to your home for service (Think S.B.C.), parents still don't know where their kids are, and everyone seems to be in a bigger hurry then they were 10 years ago.
So, are they any good?
That depends.
There are good uses and bad uses for a cell phone. I thought I'd make a list of each.
Since I'm on a roll, lets go with BAD.
1. Using a cell phone to look cool.
Talking to no one in particular, especially at a bar, to make yourself look like you're important. I've also seen people act like they're talking on a cell phone when the @#*!@# thing wasn't even on!
2. Cell phone used in the library, movie theater or anywhere else that is suppose to be quiet.
3. Using your cell phone when you with other people, especially when you're with just one other person, unless the call is an emergency.
4 Driving a car, especially a minivan with 1-3 kids in the back, and the caller is trying to open a happy meal and talk on the cell phone. Whenever I see this coming I pull off the road.
5. Anytime you trying to do something else and trying to talk on the cell phone.
Not to be mean or anything but, most people's mental capacity is maxed out trying to hold a conversation add something else they need to think about and it spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
There ARE good uses for a cell phone:
1. For any emergency
2. If you're going to be late
3. If you're a women driving anywhere anytime
4. For workers to talk to each other
5. For kids to let their parents know where they are or when to pick them up
6. Anytime you really really NEED to talk to someone
7. If you're a Doctor on call
8. If you're my daughter calling me anytime, anywhere
I thought that maybe I was being a little hyper-sensitive hyper-critical to this issue, but my hero, Scott Tinley, had similar thoughts about cell phones in the September 2004 issue of Triathlete.
"The last thing some guy...wants to think about is getting smacked by some kid in his parent's tank-sized SUV as the punk reaches to answer his cell phone.
But that shit happens every day and you'd be naive to think it won't happen to you...sooner or later ...that kid or his sister will drift over into the shoulder and you will end up in the ditch with a broken collarbone and a bent rear wheel."
So Scott and I both have similar paranoia when we're out there on our bikes.
So to answer my initial question are we better off than we were 10 years ago by using cell phones?
Just like most answers in life:
Maybe.

Until next week,
Train smart, live right.
Wayne

whuckshold@yahoo.com