Recently there was a fire on
the train tracks of Chicago's metro that demonstrated how useful cells are in
an emergency.
Attention passengers--there has been a fire on the train tracks and firefighters are on their way to assist you," said the PA system.
"There has been a fire on the train tracks and firefighters are on their way to assist us," 40 people relayed into their cell phones.
"Please remain in your car until further instructions."
"We're remaining in our car until further instructions," relayed 40 cell callers.
Passengers didn't talk to each other and discuss, perhaps, opening the side doors. They didn't demand a further and better explanation from train officials. They talked to the person who knows them as "It's me."
A week later, a driver, talking on his cell, almost struck a pedestrian also talking on her cell as she crossed the street. Both yelled at each other's idiocy which caused such a close call but neither hung up. They were too busy telling the person on the other end what that &%$@ idiot almost did.
Cells are supposed to help communication but they also dodge communication. An informal survey on a college campus found the majority of incoming freshmen were using their cells to talk to--anybody?--Mom!...not to make new friends. Increasingly doctors post "no cell phones" signs in their offices, having spent too much of their valuable time listening to, "have you looked in the second drawer" while trying to examine a patient. And raise your hand if you've had lunch or dinner with someone who preferred their cell's company to you? To them, it seemed more immediate.
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