I'm not a slave to it - it can ring, chirp, beep and buzz all it wants. Being with someone is more important than any electronic connection.
I agree, I hate when you are talking to someone and just because their phone goes off the conversation has to stop, just for them to answer a text, I can understand if it is an important phone call, but a text... they can be answered at any time, sometimes I take hours to reply to them haha.
One of the places I work recently installed signs on the risers between treads in the staircase - cautioning people to stop texting and watch their step when going up the stairs. In five different languages. I think that says it all.
The funny part about that is that the person that is going to fall up or down those stairs is not going to see the warnings because their nose is going to be too stuck in their phone.
Had a Girlfriend coming over for a BBQ a couple of weeks ago. She overlooked 3 steps on a stairway while beeing busy checking texts, she fell, broke her arm. It's still not 100% ok yet.
Exhibit A. Sorry Ben, good example though. Hopefully she has a quick recovery and learns from her mistakes.
I find cell phones useful for those rare times I have to make a call, and I'm not at home. I hate them otherwise. I want to talk to someone face to face. If I must use a phone, I want to hear a person's voice. I hate texting.
I find it a great convenience! I use mine often for mobile email, social networking, SBG checks, texts, calls, etc...
It's rare that I go anywhere without mine even if I end up not using it for anything. I almost feel naked or incomplete without it. And the weird thing is, I make only about 4 phone calls a month. I use the thing more for the Internet, texting and tracking investments.