In today’s world we’re surrounded by them. Everywhere you look you see them, you hear them. Cell phones have become a main staple of our society. Almost everybody has them and uses them on a daily basis.
Cell phones became an incising issue of politeness and etiquette when you see people out in public not talking but instead being completely consumed by whatever is illuminating the screen of their cellular device. But when does it become too much and, more importantly, when does it become rude to use your phone in public?
STU sociology professor Erin Fredericks said when you’re with friends it’s more appropriate to pay attention to them rather than your cell phones.
“I think that we’re worried to miss something therefore we check our cellphones where in reality we most likely miss more by looking at it all the time,” Fredericks said.
We use our cellphones to keep in contact with others and to be constantly updated – but why? What is going on that’s so important that we need to know about it immediately?
“[As] technology is moving so fast, [people] now have the expectation for instant information and replies,” said Fredericks.
It’s also rude to yank your phone out in public, especially when you’re having a conversation with someone else.
“When I’m talking to someone I expect to be the object of their attention, but I don’t really have a strict philosophy on cell phone use,” said third-year STU student Jamie Graham.
UNB student Faith Shannon said checking your phone constantly has become a habit and an integral part in our lives.
“I think that it depends on the person, too,” Shannon said. “Personally I try not to be on my phone all the time but I also have some people that I would drop everything to talk to more than others.”
So, there you have it. Sometimes there are special circumstances in which it is appropriate to use your phone during conversations, and this seemed to be the general consensus of students. It may not be socially polite, but sometimes there are things that need to be addressed immediately.
Some students had a more split view of things.
“It depends on the setting, if it’s just a close knit group of friends it would be fine to text if everybody is okay with it,” said first-year STU student Claire Deweyert.
When the situation is different though, Deweyert said things change drastically.
“In an intimate setting though, I think it would be wrong to have your cellphone out because you’re there to be with that one person, not talk to other people.”
This is one area on which most people agreed. When on a date, it’s definitely not cool to have your cellphone out, unless someone is dying.
The trick seems to be to take your phone out in moderation as Harrington Hall resident Kristen Holmes said.
“If I’m speaking to someone, I expect for it to be important and if they glance at their phone occasionally or if there’s an emergency or they need to meet up with someone that’s okay, but if they have it out continually then I’d feel ignored.”
The truth is, whether we like it or not, technology is becoming an increasingly larger part of our existence and will inevitably affect the ways in which we interact with each other in the public setting. The solution seems to be to find a happy medium between the cellphone and actual human interaction.
“Whether or not we think cellphone use is appropriate or inappropriate, we have to start talking about it more,” said Fredericks.
The key word here being talking, not texting.
