My Name Is Mo R., And I Am A Nomophobe

Rocca Explores A New Phobia On The Horizon: The Fear Of Being Out Of Mobile Phone Contact

(CBS)  Our Mo Rocca has discovered yet another phobia ...

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A lot of fears are perfectly rational:

Harpaxophobia: the fear of being robbed.

Kynophobia: fear of rabies.

Lutraphobia: the fear of otters (well, some not so rational).

Now there's nomophobia, the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. British researchers estimate that 53% of the public are nomophobes.

More than one in two Nomophobes never switch off their cell phones. Victims are so dependent on their cells that even a low battery creates anxiety.

But cell phones went mainstream only ten years ago. We got along pretty well before then. So this new fear is not much more rational than Bolshephobia, the fear of Bolsheviks.

Rational or not, it's real.

I have a confession to make: My name is Mo and I'm a nomophobe.

My wireless handheld is threatening to overtake my wallet as the thing I just can't bear to lose. I'm constantly patting myself down to make sure it hasn't left me. When your plane touches down, I'm part of that symphony you hear.

Sometimes I even take it to bed with me. It's like I'm sleeping with a firefly. Is that pathetic?

Staying connected with friends and family is the number one reason users cite for their cell phone fixation (in other words, monophobia = fear of being alone).

And therein lies the genius of the minds behind this technology: Cell phones and wireless handhelds helped drive us apart in the first place: Dinner dates talking to other people on their phones … Tech junkie parents sneaking away from school plays to check on business … Would-be lovers texting as they pass each other on the street, like ships in the night.

Cell phones created the problem. Cell phones are the answer.

BEEP!!! Answer! Gotta answer! Sorry, I have to end this commentary.

[tascosa806]

Hey Mo, "bolshephobia" has to mean ''fear of large things'' (Russian), and let''s not forget "menshephobia" for the little guys. The correct word would have to be "bolshevikophobia". Just kidding.

[magoo2u1]

"We are rapidly turning into a bunch of slack-jawed fools aimlessly meandering our streets while speaking into the ether and occasionally walking into traffic or crashing our cars because of the distractions."

Technology only allows them to be what they are more efficiently. The "slack-jawalization" started long before the cell phone. It frightens me.....

[rational_1]

"It''s like I''m sleeping with a firefly. Is that pathetic? "

Yes, it is pathetic.

I am starting to develop a through hatred of cell phones. We''re supposed to be always available, always there to respond to requests/demands, always yakking. We are rapidly turning into a bunch of slack-jawed fools aimlessly meandering our streets while speaking into the ether and occasionally walking into traffic or crashing our cars because of the distractions. So ya, it''s pathetic.