Cell Phone Distractions and More

Cell Phone Distractions and More.

On 09-15-09 I spent a great deal of time doing telephone interviews with Wisconsin area public school systems, public libraries, athletic clubs and more.

The purpose of these interviews was very simple and harmless. I asked each party what their policy was for cell phone use at their facility.

I called numerous large public school districts finding that every school system I interviewed had some sort of cell phone policy in place.

All of the districts I spoke with explained similarities relating to the fact that ‘students’ are not allowed to use cell phones during the school day while scheduled classes are in session. Though students aren’t stopped from carrying the cell phone, …they are required to turn the phones off while at school during school hours. In most districts I was told that after school events such as sports, the rule was exempt.

One district near Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago explained a stronger policy. In this district, I was told students are not to bring into school any wireless communication device such as cell phones or pagers. The only exceptions being circumstances where the superintendent’s office gives special permission for medical or other important reasons.

Those were the public school interviews. I also did a handful of private school interviews. Most private schools shared the same ideas in cell phone policies, however …I spoke with one private school that was a little less strict in this matter. They explained that they have no policy about stopping cell phone use during classes other than the ringers must be turned off. Personally I silently had a difficult time understanding this, and pictured children taking calls or texting during class. I didn’t say anything on the phone; I simply documented the interview as it was given.

I feel these public school policies are a great idea. My reason falls on the fact that this fits under the category of ‘distractions’ and may hinder proper education.

I also held telephone interviews with some public libraries.

The public library in Sussex Wisconsin asks that people not use cell phones in the library unless you are in the lobby area where it wouldn’t disturb readers or people using other library resources.

The public library in Menomonee Falls Wisconsin asks that cell phone users do it quietly. They have one study area where cell phone activity isn’t allowed at all.

The public library in Germantown Wisconsin asks that cell phones and pagers be turned off while in the library, unless you are in the lobby.

The public library in Slinger Wisconsin has a straight forward ‘no cell phone’ policy. You may not use a cell phone anywhere in this library.

I called three churches and received very cooperative results.

All three frowned on this activity but said they have no cell phone ban. They did explain that visitors carrying cell phones should have them set on vibrate. All three churches had similar explanations, which forbids people from talking on their phones during services, further explaining that urgent messages coming in should be texted. This is what all three churches said, but additionally I should mention all three churches expressed the fact that no cell phones in the church would be the proper way to go. They don’t ask this of their guests, out of concerns for keeping the church images as those of a friendly and peaceful kind.

Libraries and churches I have interviewed are more examples of distractions by cell phones.

Finally, my interviews with Wisconsin area health clubs bring out some cell phone policies of a different sort. Of five different health club organizations, they all had policies where cell phones are not permitted in locker room area’s. Yes, this included the well-known ‘Princeton Club’ too.

I feel these policies for these businesses are in place for security of privacy reasons, mainly because some cell phones have cameras built into them. In this case, as with anything else in this world, you run the risk of some people using the technology for the wrong reasons. This is where the need for policies like these enter the picture.

Cell phones not only play rolls in distractions and breaches of personal privacy, but they have played a roll in being a burden too.

The cell phone has made frivolous complaining far too easy to carry out. After speaking to a person in law enforcement, I learned that easy access to a cell phone for some people is a recipe for being a problem complainer. Put a cell phone in the hands of some people and they turn into complaining machines.

When this type of person does their complaining to the authorities, you start talking about wasted tax dollars being thrown away on responses to really off the wall complaints involving anything from the inability to pass in traffic to reporting dead skunks or squirrels on the road.

This officer even remembered a situation where a woman on the expressway called to report a vehicle traveling on the expressway with a broken side rear window that was taped up.

I agree. Putting a cell phone in the hands of some people can create busybodies, troublemakers and problem complainers, because the phone is too accessible to these troublemakers or complainers.

Have you ever been in public and witnessed the iconic ‘cell phone talker’? These people are usually very inconsiderate of their surroundings and can cause a scene. I’ve seen a few in my time. These are people that talk on their phones at twice the normal speaking voice and show no respect for the area they are in. Sometimes the conversation is less than desirable to hear.

Clearly, our society has invented a device that raises a lot of concerns involving its proper use. It seems like everyday we run into a situation that touches base with things mentioned in this article.

Standing in line at a grocery store being forced to overhear a conversation about someone’s grandma having bunions, or sitting in a movie theatre being disturbed by someone’s cell phone ringing when it should be turned off, some cell phone activity is unacceptable.

The cell phone is a very useful device when used responsibly, but it’s also the cornerstone for a whole new world of problems too.

As for cell phone driving, I am always against driving and talking on the phone. At the current time (09-15-09), Politicians are trying to pass a Bill that bans new drivers such as teenagers from driving and talking on the phone. The proposed Bill would include cell phones and cell phone hands free devices. I really want to see this become law. This plus the new law banning school bus drivers from cell phone driving would cover a massive part of our roadway population, and put us one step closer to banning cell phone driving all together.

Each time we create one of these bans; our roads get just a little safer.

Reporter Joseph Toth

Washington Micro Bank BBS