I didn't know if I'd ever get around to it, but it has occurred: I now have a cell phone. I know nothing - beyond nothing - about how the buggers work. And through a small lapse in communication, I've been provided with an iphone - not the brandest-newest one, but the next-to-brandest-newest one - so the learning curve shall be steep. A "smart phone" for a dumb guy.
Having been so long on the other side of the shore, as it were - a non-cell phone carrying citizen - and having observed the often hair-raising behavior of those more modern than myself, I have had time to ready a few rules of conduct, to which I now vow my allegiance:
- I shall not stand at a corner - with or without a stop sign, crosswalk, what-have-you - facing into traffic, whilst motorists scratch their heads or otherwise gesticulate at the opacity of my intentions.
- I shall not walk down a sidewalk or aisle, talking or texting, at a pace significantly slower than my fellow pedestrians.
- I shall not walk, roll, drag (or merely ignore) my child or dog - should I accrue either of these things - whilst persistently texting or engaging in all-consuming phone conversations.
- I shall not stand, resolutely, in a doorway, in the middle of an aisle, at the top or bottom of a staircase, or any other area of egress, talking or texting, whilst everyone else is forced to negotiate a path around me.
- I shall not walk with my wife or other dear relation or friend whilst carrying on a full-blown phone conversation with another.
- I shall not use the phone in a check out line or whilst speaking with any sort of cashier or attendant.
- I shall not talk or text in public or in stores whilst moving in circles or less distinguishable patterns, thereby stopping, confusing, or otherwise annoying the general population.
- I shall not dine with friends or family at a restaurant and spend the meal texting those others currently unable to share the pleasure of our company.
- I shall not talk or text whilst driving, of course. (Oregon has a law against doing so but it appears that, unless an officer of the law also witnesses me simultaneously chugging vodka from the bottle and/or some part of my vehicle is aflame or becomes suddenly detached, I won't be stopped for breaking the law.)
If I am witnessed in violation of this oath, I welcome any and all public shaming. With the exception of spitting, please.
as one who has resisted a cellphone for the past 12 yrs
ReplyDeletei have to ask: what finally pulled you over?
also, i like that list of rules. i was at a restaurant recently and the table across from us had 3 people, all of them not speaking to one another b/c all of them were texting.
There have been times when I couldn't get ahold of G. Or I could have done this or found out that if I'd had one. And the calendar thing; I never remember what's on the calendar when I'm at an appointment and have to make the next one. Actually, it wasn't even decided that I'd get one. We were just asking her aunt about the cost of getting on her plan and she went ahead and got the phone and signed us up. So here I am.
ReplyDeleteI kept thinking there had to be more rules I should list; as time goes on, I expect I'll have to augment this post...here I go!