13% fake talking on cell to avoid speaking with people
OK, fess up: who hasn't faked talking with someone on their cell phone to avoid having to talk with some Tom, Dick or oddball looking to strike up a chat?
Turns out that some 13 percent of mobile phone users fake being on the phone to avoid getting into a conversation with someone, according to a new study conducted by the Pew Research Center on how Americans use their cellphones.
The report, part of Pew's larger ongoing look at trends affecting American life, reveals the love-hate relationship we carry on with cell phones and just how much they have become a part of our daily lives with some 83 percent of U.S. adults owning one - while about one-third own smartphones. How bad is our addiction? Also consider this: Only 29% had the nerve to switch their phone to off for a period of time to take a break from using it.
The report also offers the following insights:
- 51% used phones at least once to access information they needed ASAP.
- 27% experienced a situation in the previous month in which they had trouble doing something because they did not have their phone at hand.
- 40% found themselves in an emergency situation in which having their phone with them helped.
- 42% of cell owners used their phone for entertainment when they were bored.
- 20% said their phones take too long to download something
- 16% say they had trouble reading something on their phone because the screen was too small
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I have never had a cell phone. Actually, I do have one, but have never used it. EVER. It's in a drawer someplace. The only reason I have it is because someone else got it for me to use in case of an emergency.
You can't shop, eat in a restaurant, or ANYTHING without having to hear some idiot on their phone.
It's absolutely pathetic that people have to fake using their cell phones to avoid speaking to people. I've never had that problem. If you don't want to speak to them, then don't speak to them! ????
I think a lot of that crap got started when cell phones first came out and people thought they were impressing others by the fact that they had one. By now, everybody's got one and nobody's impressed. We're just annoyed.
The only reason I got one is because I had a medical condition and my doctor's office was 45 minutes away from here. I'd go get a blood test and, if the results weren't right, the hospital would call my 80+ year old parents (who were listed as my emergency contact) and scare the bejeebus out of them. Of course, I was still in my car on the way home. They couldn't just leave a message on my voice mail. My parents told them, the first time they called, that I didn't have a cell phone and there was no way to reach me until I got back home, but that didn't stop the hospital from doing it every time.
So I finally got a cell phone and removed all emergency contact information from my medical records.
Make a freakin' list while you're at home and get the spit out of the way of those of us that are only there for a couple of items.
As for me, my cell phone (my only phone) is just a phone. It doesn't take pictures, it doesn't play games, it doesn't text, it doesnt' do anything but make and receive calls. It sits on my nightstand, on the charger, the vast majority of the time. In fact, the only time I bother to take it with me when I leave the house is when I'm going out of town for one reason or another, and need to be able to call somebody if I have car problems.