The Scourge of Our Generation

Why do we feel the need to be connected all the time? How on earth did we survive up until now? Ever since mobile phones became widely available, we've all become contactable, 24/7. Nowhere to hide, and no excuses. We're all aware of the current introduction of fines for people driving whilst using their phone, and rightly so. I personally believe that they should be banned from being used entirely by people when driving, because they are a distraction, whether using a hands free kit or not. Why answer your phone while in the car anyway?

A friend of mine was telling me a story today about being in the cinema, and how a rather large Polish man sitting behind him decided to conduct a very loud phone conversation during the film. I don't know about you, but if I'm paying to see a film, I want to see it, and not to have to listen to someone doing their best Dom Jolly impersonation. He said he would have confronted him only for he was twice his size. The sooner they bring in something for blocking mobile phone signals in cinemas, the better because unfortunately this has become all too common an occurance in Irish cinemas, all due to our acceptance of the mobile phone culture.

Another thing that bothers me: If you're on the toilet, please don't answer your phone. And especially, please don't ring me while your on the toilet just for a chat. A friend of mine used to do that. Trust me, whatever it is, it can wait until after you've done your business. I've also, on several occasions in work, been in the toilet, only to hear a phone ringing and hear it answered by someone who is in the cubicle beside me. That's what your message minder is for. Use it.

Don't get me wrong, mobile phones have many benefits. I used to fix them for a living, so they provided me with a roof over my head and food in my belly for several years. For many years though, I had my phone on silent because I couldn't stand the sound of ringtones. To this day anytime I hear "Sweet Child of Mine" I feel a spine tingling shudder right down to my toes. Which brings me to my final rant: Music on mobile phones. I was on the bus the other day, and there was a kid behind me with rap (or is that a misprint?) music blaring from his phone. Even though I had headphones in my ears, I could hear it. This isn't the first time that it's happened to me either. Why do people feel they have to impose their musical tastes on people when they're trapped on public transport, minding their own business, trying to get from A to B (and on the weekend, C). Maybe I should become a vigilante character, who hops from bus to bus carrying a large ghettoblaster, and I could play Daniel O'Donnell at full volume to get revenge on those who have used their phones to pollute our ears.

Or then again, maybe not...