I found a link to a legal blog that also features haiku. Odd yes, but also interesting. The information I read concerned the use of cell pnones/iphones while walking. Emergency room staff are seeing more walking wounded; those who miss a step and fall flat on their face. Or worse, are killed because they stroll out into oncoming traffic. The reason more pedestrians are visiting the ER is because they are focused on their conversations and not on their surroundings. In order to protect these folks, several states are planning to ban cell phone use while walking. Also under consideration, banning cell phone use while driving.
It is not clear whether proposed legislation would include chewing gum while walking. It has been reported that some people have difficulty doing both at the same time.
I am curious about how my Fiddler kin feel about such legislation. Is a ban on cell phone use while walking/driving necessary? Or,is more legislation an intrusiion that will take the joy out of living?
I hope my Fiddler kin will respond to my questions. Thanks in advance.
Getting physical
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Training sessions have been going really well these past few weeks. I
swim, lift, and run on my own (or with the masters swim team) during the
week, and o...
12 years ago
4 comments:
some people can only socialize while on the phone. put the same two people together in a room and they sit in silence, or choose to be on the internet, emailing no doubt. perhaps if we had real contact with each other we would be less rude find each other more interesting and have less need for the phone as a security blanket. we should legalize being nice to each other and worry less about what to make illegal. even if they make cell phones and walking illegal we are sure to find some other way to do ourselves in. what ever happened to common sense. why don't they stop the people who run you down with their bikes from behind on the sidewalk?
"Whatever happened to common sense?" is a good question. We should all try to use it more, including people on bikes.
Although I'm not an avid cell phone user myself, I don't think that cell-phone-aholics are inherently anti-social; they're creating their own community, sort of like an online community.
That said, I must also admit that I don't really understand cell-phone-aholics or the people who constantly listen to their MP3 players when they're out in public. I myself would feel totally disconnected from my surroundings if I were constantly phoning or listening to music.
But I wonder what people thought when automobiles were first equipped with radios and tape decks. Were the "old school" drivers mortified that so many people were listening to music instead of paying attention to their surroundings? (I love listening to the radio or CD's while driving; I rarely drive in silence.)
What I really don't understand is the people who constantly allow their lives to be interrupted by their cell phones (they don't turn them off; then they're exasperated when it rings; THEN they take the call, even if it's not convenient). I also cannot stand driving with or driving behind someone who's talking on his/her cell phone. It's frightening.
I also shocked by the conversations I overhear in public. I feel a little voyuearistic (sp?) when overhear cell phone arguments.
This is a fun discussion, Honor. Thanks for starting it.
Believe it or not, the other day I listened to this conversation among 3 college students. They were power walking together on the nature trail. One girl said," I do not think I could walk and read at the same time. I do not think I would comprehend anything I read." I guess they were discussing how to make the most of their time.
Once while out walking I encountered a woman walking 3 dogs and talking on her cell phone. I do not think she realized I was on the trail with her. I was amazed that she could multitask like that. No doubt about it, this is the age of technology. It is fun to speculate how cell phone use affects all of us. Thanks, Katie.
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