What was once a hype, fashion statement and status symbol now has been deposed from its kingly realms. This all made possible by the lowered cost of the cellular phone.
Now from businessman to street vendor, from the richest of the rich to the poorest of the poor, both young and old, practically everyone has at least one cellular phone.
I conducted a mini survey among persons in our country to find out the real reason behind acquiring this precious commodity. Most young people said that the reason they had bought their cellular phone was in order to make and receive important calls.
Following close behind this reason is the need to make emergency calls. I must however express some amount of skepticism. What is the so-called ‘important’ business that a 14- or 15-year old has to conduct which needs the immediacy of the cell-phone? Didn’t we always have these important calls before the availability of the cellular phone? What in heaven’s name did we do then? It’s amazing how quickly the mobile phone has become an indispensable asset for many.
The need to be in style and to be associated with a particular social group has also led many to purchase a mobile phone. Parents now also have a new technique of keeping tabs on their children.
For the few who do not own at least one cellular phone we ask in astonishment, ” why not?”
Surprisingly, some persons stated that they did not believe the cellular phone is necessary. Others said that it would cause a disturbance and reduce their privacy. ” If I wanted people to know where I am at every second of the day I would tell them. If you do not know where I am you are not suppose to.”
“The cellular phone makes for a more connected world,” says Franchesca, a student at the College of the Bahamas (COB). Definitely, as the proverbial grapevine has experienced a technological revolution. Idle gossips now spread at a much faster rate.
The mobile phone has had some positive effects on our society as well as negative effects. It has improved telecommunications and the standard of living as those without fixed lines, especially in newly developed areas, are now able to communicate with the outside world by way of a cellular phone. It has contributed to the technological advancement of the society on the whole.
However, as with everything in life there are drawbacks.
Has the availability of the cell phone really caused us to become more materialistic? When one encounters the supposedly impoverished on the road with a cell phone on their hips, what exactly are we to think? Is it really such a necessity? Some will say yes but then when you inquire if they have any money on their phone, many times the answer is no, so what is the point? Why own a phone if you cannot maintain it? Is it short-term vision that we suffer from?
With the issue of possible cell phone addiction comes cell phone abuse. The number one public enemy is fast becoming rude cellular phone users. Is there such a thing as cell-phone rage? Just the sound of a cellular phone going off after an explicit instruction to turn off all cell- phones is enough to drive any one up the wall, except the user of course.
It is recommended that persons obey local restrictions on mobile phone usage in order to avoid possible interference and motorists are strongly discouraged from using the mobile phone while driving.
By Denise Major, The Nassau Guardian
