Reflective Post for Week of 2/12

From this class, I am continuing to learn more about how CMC affects our everyday lives and how we use it. In my last post, I talked specifically about cell phones and how the fact that practically everyone nowadays has one contributes to the ways that we use them, as well as how often we use them. I don't think there is anything wrong with cell phones at all; I think it's great to be able to take a phone with me everywhere I go, and it's a really good way to stay in touch with family and friends from back home. However, I do think there are times when it is appropriate to use cell phones and times when it simply is not. For instance, last Saturday I attended a religious function in my hometown, involving many prayers and an inspirational speaker. During the three hour event, I heard a total of nine cell phones ring. After the first couple, I began to get really annoyed, so I started counting. When your cell phone rings in a public place, it's very rude and disrupting to the people around you, and especially to the person speaking. Also, at my home church, they make an announcement every week before Mass asking everyone to turn off their cell phones, but without fail, every single time I attend church, I hear someone's phone go off, and it always happens to be at the most solemn/important parts. This is especially embarrassing if an announcement was made for that very purpose! I realize that there are some emergency situations in which it is necessary for someone to be able to answer their phone quickly if need be, but unless it is absolutely dire that you be able to take a phone call, there is no excuse for having your phone on during these solemn occasions. And this is not limited to religious events...we've all heard a cell phone ring at the movie theater, in class, and many other places that it shouldn't. Every phone has an off button...use it! Like I said, I have nothing against cell phones in general, but I do think, because of the more and more widespread use of CMC, cell phones have begun to cross dangerous boundaries, and people should learn to be responsible with these forms of technology that we take for granted so often.