Opinion: Cellular Trap

BY ROXANNE BEQUIO
STAFF WRITER

I consider myself behind the curve when it comes to cell phones, seeing as how I’ve only recently got one. I’ve had it for less than a week and still forget I own it sometimes.

Life without a cell phone went fairly well for the most part. I didn’t feel the need for one and thought that I could do without it. I brought quarters with me everywhere and relied heavily on payphones. My friends would also let me use their cell phones to make quick phone calls if I ever needed to.

That’s not to say everything went smoothly. I often went out unaccompanied, later going on desperate payphone hunts only to come to the realization that I didn’t have change. The next frantic and dismal moments involve me asking strangers for either spare change or a cell phone to borrow.

Joining The Guardsman as a writer also convinced me I needed a cell phone. I needed to be able to contact all sources for a story at any time and everyone on the newspaper staff needed a way of contacting me as well. I’d leave others my landline as a contact and when they’d attempt to call me back during my scheduled class times, I wouldn’t be home to answer their calls.

The whole process of choosing a cell phone carrier, rate plan and phone was a tedious experience for me. I’m clueless as to whether I’ve made the right choice. I ended up choosing Verizon Wireless and signed a two year contract.

Financially I’ve established several self-imposed rules to prevent myself from going over my assigned minutes. Sadly, this has caused me to become fixated and more watchful of who I call, for how long and when.

I’m committed to the idea of not allowing this phone to take over, becoming an extension of my arm and ear. I’m also aware of how slow and untrained my thumbs are as far as texting goes and don’t mind because it isn’t a feature of much use to me anyway. I am however certain some sort of dependency will form, if not a matter of sole communication between friends, but of convenience and a way to bail myself out of emergencies.