I myself see nothing wrong with using a cell phone. It's toasters that bother me. Seems these days "everyone" has to have a toaster. I just don't get it.

How hard is it to not answer your cell phone. I've already not answered it twice today at work.

My cell phone no-answer rules:

-- Hung over. Why stick a warm Motorola to my aching head?

-- At a club. I'm not going to try to carry on a conversation four feet from the PA system.

-- On a date. That damn phone isn't going to interrupt a date, unless it's dragging and the call might actually save me from the date.

-- On my bike. Though I do break this occasionally.

-- Reading. The phone is off when I'm into a good book.

what people fail to grasp is the fact that cellphones (and most other modern advances in communication technology) were designed for the convenience of the owner, not the convenience of the owner's friends, relatives, and business associates. people that feel trapped by their cellphones need to realize that they aren't REQUIRED to have a phone conversation just because the thing rings... this piece of communication etiquitte is obsolete- it was relevant when people were actually hard to contact, and you needed to take advantage of every opportunity you had.. that is obviously no longer the case, and everyone needs to recognize that.

what people fail to grasp is the fact that cellphones (and most other modern advances in communication technology) were designed for the convenience of the owner, not the convenience of the owner's friends, relatives, and business associates. people that feel trapped by their cellphones need to realize that they aren't REQUIRED to have a phone conversation just because the thing rings... this piece of communication etiquitte is obsolete- it was relevant when people were actually hard to contact, and you needed to take advantage of every opportunity you had.. that is obviously no longer the case, and everyone needs to recognize that.

I have a cell phone that I use less than twice a month (sample use: my friend was locked out of her house). I haven't given anyone the number; I never call anyone on it; the phone is never on. I pay about seven bucks a month and it's worth it, knowing that I have the phone in case of an emergency.

I don't need no steeenkin cell phone. And I get to save the $50 a month you gabronis spend.

Callalillie, you are right on!

I don't think the problem is people having issues with their cell phones interrupting them, it's other people's obnoxious rings going off in public places. The most annoying I think is on public transportation and resturaunts. I have learned the value of the vibrate option and the benefits of voice mail. Some resturaunts are getting the right idea by putting no cell phone signs on their doors.

See, there's a yenta in me, dying to get out.

Jen--I was just trying to make a landline joke. Now that I'm past thirty everyone between 16 and 25 looks about the same age. But from the context I'm guessing she's a little bit young for me.

My cell phone has been mostly non-functional (and consequently uncharged) for the better part of two to three months now. It's been fabulous. I don't have a land line at home either so I've pretty much been available only via email and IM.

In Hong Kong, there is cell service in the subways. Tania misses it here, but I secretly like having that momentary break.

Re: the picture - it is an oddly composed photo. And Aserdaten - the article says that the Brands (the family in photo) live in the West Village so...

in my mind, the most annoying people are the ones that have cells and don't ever check the messages as a sign of how busy and important they are. in the future the true sign of power will be having email, two cell phones, and a blackberry, and never using any of them because you are too busy to take them out of your pockets. i guess that's what assistants are for.

I think it's less an issue of having or not having a cell phone and more of how one uses it. There will always be people who resist. Personally, I hate cells phones but I own one and do use it. The difference, though, is that I shut mine off when in places where talking on it is inappropriate (most public places, save an emergency) and use it at home as my long distance phone. It's the people who can't live without USING their phones 24/7 that I can't stand.

So far I have not had one moment in my life when I wished I had a Cell phone or that a cell phone would have made my life better. I can think of a thousand times of loud as self important egotistial pricks made me wish that the damn things were illegal.

That's funny, when I looked at that photo I thought, "What an odd menagerie of dwarves."

I wouldn't mine getting the landline number of that blonde.

worse yet, someone like the record label cooze who refuses to get a cell phone but will constantly ask you to use your cell phone AND she will give people YOUR cell phone number so they can call HER while you're in her vicinity.

Yeah. Equally as obnoxious as those who brag about not having a TV *rolls eyes*. Here's a tip: if you don't want to be bothered by your cell phone DON'T ANSWER IT! That's why we have voice mail.