How have cell phones changed cultural norms and values?
I believe cell phones have negatively affected our boundaries when it comes to separating work from personal life, manners (I work with clients who actually text during our sessions and get offended when I tell them to turn their phone off because it’s rude!), and overall common sense (e.g., answering a phone during a meal is unacceptable, unless you are expecting a phone call from your wife saying she just went into labour). The worst thing is the crazy notion that we must be accessible 24/7. I refuse to give out my cell phone to friends because quite frankly, I don’t want to listen to them drone on about the mundaness of their day.
People who think they can drive and talk/text on a cell phone. People who use cell phones in public bathrooms. People who text from the minute they get home, and are up half the night texting each other. I think there should be some limits to them. While they are nice to have if you are traveling and have drama or a car accident, they are nice for emergencies, I think they have gotten out of control. Instead of speaking to the person you are with, you ignore them and text someone else.
