During my last week’s editorial, I had tackled the fact that cellphones are not toys. Briefly, I had mentioned the debate if people have become too reliant on cellphones. Well, in today’s editorial, I wanted to debate that topic even further.
Recently, a cellphone provider commercial had bragged about their WiFi capabilities, picturing four people around a coffee table — three of whom were engaged in their technology devices. The fourth person was trying to engage her friends and family in conversation to no avail. The other three were more caught up with the device in their hand, rather than the other people in the room.
I truly felt sympathy for the fourth person. But we see this all the time in our community. Where people become too caught up in checking their phone to pay attention to what is going on around them in real life.
Cell phones are changing how people interact with each other and they are also changing society’s expectations for social interaction.
It has even gotten to the point where despite the law against using cellphones in a vehicle — that you still see an occasional driver with one hand on the wheel, the other holding a phone to their ear.
In fact, just recently, while taking pictures of band practice at one of our local schools, I observed more than one student compulsively check their phone between song breaks.
What exactly do we feel that we will miss? A text message will still be on the phone at a later moment, when it is more appropriate to answer your phone. Anything online that we want to read will also wait until there is a better time to do so.
If we have other responsibilities such as driving, or paying attention in school or at work, or spending time with our friends and family — the cellphone can be put away for a few moments. Honestly, it is not the end of the world.
When does it get to the point where we start looking at cellphone dependency as an type of addiction? Does a cellphone truly hold power over your life?
I feel that as long as we can truly put the cellphone away (and not check it every few minutes), then we are staying connected with the world and the people around us.
I do validate the importance of a cellphone during an emergency. Those who subscribe to the City of Weyburn’s citizen alert messaging system will receive updates about road closures, snow removal notices, and any special alerts that might affect residents.
And there are many careers where a cellphone becomes a very important tool to the job itself. Even myself as a reporter, with my cell at my side I can take quick pictures, record a quick interview, or update the social media sites for the Weyburn Review or Weyburn This Week with an important community story.
Having balance in your life is what is truly important. We must take time to treasure the people who are in our lives, and let them know they are important by putting down the cellphone and truly listening to what they have to say.
