JOMC 223 Final Project Abstract

Cell phones can be considered a wonderful invention and a terrible irritant. As with any new technology, how it is used dictates the way people feel about it. “Cell Yell” is the new catch phrase for talking extremely loud into a cell phone. Poor connections, dropped calls, and the size of the phone all contribute to the rude way many people use their phones.
The answer to “Cell Yell”? Have cell free zones where phones can’t be used just as smoke free areas are provided. Increasing the size of phones instead of decreasing size may help the user speak in normal tones.
My answer to “Cell Yell”? Teach manners and phone etiquette to children and young adults so that they will not disregard the feelings of others.
The full version of this paper is available at http://home.carolina.rr.com/wesanthony/anthonyessay.pdf.

I'm back.

Sorry, I've been gone for a week. The Penster is back! Watch out for computer viruses. Mine was real sick, but she's feeling better now. We're still working real slow and saving a lot, just in case.
For those of you in my JOMC 223 class check back in soon; my three sites for last week will be on soon(If all goes well, keep your fingers crossed for me).

How technology can depersonalize site #1

This week in JOMC 223 I read an article with some thoughts on the depersonalization of people through the group behavior that can be seen in ma y places on the internet.
This was interesting since I have noticed this same sort of thing in my travels acrosss the Web.
In many different places individuals, who otherwise would never do so, submit to a group and follow whatever guidelines are set up by that group.
This is evident in many chat rooms on both Yahoo.com and in some other places. The group parameter is set by the founder or creator and then individuals must fit and stay within these guidelines while they are interacting with the group in order to continue their access to this group.
This is also evident in some other places on the web. Granted there are websites for just about everything, but I find it interesting that in such an informal society we can find this type of depersonalyzing decorum on one of our biggest tools for the freedom of ionformation.

Response to EOTO Project by Christy Kinnion

Online Schools! I never saw that coming. I guess the possibility was always there, but I never thought we'd see it in our lifetimes.
But just as Christy mentioned all the positive possibilites of these cyber institutions these can be wiped out in one fail swoop by the misdeeds of a few money hungry individuals.
Currently, my roomate is attending one of these cyber schools and never until recently had I even considered that some of these might be fake.
But over the past few months I've learned that many that really existed were pushing in unqualified students so as to increase enrollment and in turn add to the financial coffers of the school.
They actually paid out finders fees to firms that brought them X number of students by the start of a certain term. Whether these students qualified for the classes they were taking, financial aid or many other amenities granted to many college students was a question to be asked another day.
Another interesting point that she made was the fact that many of these bogus on-line schools are based in western states. This fact greatly surprised me, if for no other reason than the fact that so many of these places have such stringent laws for the enviroment and some are even as innovative to have tried to legalize marijuana several years ago, even at the behest of the federal government.
To find out that the laws were lax in this area, or any area that involves any facet of education for that matter, just surprised me a bit.
Overall, I enjoyed this report as it was both interestinbg and educational.

Response to EOTO Project by Drew Lomax

I found Drew's topic especially interesting after having spent the evening with a friend and his wife who had just returned from service in Iraq. The pair was there at both the beginning and end of the conflict and both made valid points about the positives and the negatives of our presence.
The wife in particular pointed out how infrastructure would be one of the first major things that needed to be completed after the humanitarian effort, of course. I think this falls right in line with some of Drew's thoughts on the rebuilding of the country.
Certainly, Iraq will need a telecom infrastructure as well as high speed internet services. These are the basis of so much of our new technologies and Drew makes a great point tht this has to be one of the stepping stones of bringing not only Iraq, but many underpriveleged countries out of the "Digital Divide" and equal with the rest of the world.
Overall, I think Drew did a good job with presenting this information and his thoughts on it.

Response to EOTO Project by Michelle Klemens

Having been forced into a life of volunteerism at an early age I was interested to view Michelle's thoughts on this topic.
I definitely agree with her ascertion that non-profits and the Digital Divide are definitely a valid concern. My mother and I ran the Special Olympic programs in our county for years and one of biggest concerns was always stocking the office.
Where was the money coming from to upgrade the computer, well in the beginning it was how are we going to get a computer then it progressed to the maintence of it and all its components.
So I can certainly emphathize with this program.
This trouble can also be viewed at many Boys and Girls Clubs, but I think it is getting a little better there through grants and such.
This problem seems to be getting a little better, but it is a long way from being solved.
Michelle's report had many interesting thoughts and ideas in it. And it made me think some too.

Each One Teach One Project: Cell Yell

Cell Yell! Is there any new technology that there will not be a downside to? No. As with most new technologies, there is a downside to cell phones as well.
But it’s not entirely the phone’s fault. A lot of it has to do with the human using it. Cell Yell is a problem that occurs when people speak too loudly into their cellular phones.
Granted, the level of courtesy and kindness to others differs per each situation, but on the whole cell phones can make us some of the least thoughtful individuals on the face of the earth.
Just as a ringing phone takes precedence in the home or at work, a ringing cell phone, whether it's singing “Sweet Home Alabama” or using one of those annoying generic rings, is considered a sign that a person is important and busy.
What's the old saying? A busy bee is a happy bee, but some folks just take it too far for me. Some people actually listen in on other people's conversations on cell phones when they are out in public.
I think that this is a horrible invasion of one's privacy, but only to an extent, because the eavesdroppers, as they are, only get half the story so they must fill in the rest with a fantasy dialogue that can take the conversation wherever they desire. People who have to do this sort of thing to get a thrill need to get a life.
Another problem that has arisen along with this new technology is that people as a whole are less private than they once were. Everyone's doors may have been unlocked at night in 1955 in Smalltown, USA, but their blinds were closed.
We are a far more open society than we were 50 years ago. In those days people would retreat into phone booths to make even the most routine call. Now they just whip out their cell phones and chat away, whether they are in the bathroom stall or in the middle of a movie theatre.
They just have to answer the call of the cell when it beckons for them. This need to answer can directly lead to more bad cell manners.
Due to the small nature of these phones many people feel that they are not receiving adequate aural feedback and in turn talk much louder into cell phones than they would a traditional house phone. Bad signals can also add to this problem.
I do not currently own a cell phone, but I did have one for years. The constant dropped calls, going over my pre-set number of minutes and the exorbitant fees are all parts of why I no longer use this new technology.
They can certainly be useful in an emergency, but on the whole I believe them to a be a nuisance of the worst kind.
Whether I am teaching a class or eating in a restaurant, the constant ringing of cell phones is definitely, in my opinion, a form a noise pollution.

Three Solutions for Cell Yell

1) Cell Zones. All public places should have cell zones just as most now have a smoking and non-smoking section. I think this would be a sensible way to nip this problem in the bud.
Cell Zones would separate people in restaurants and allow folks to enjoy a quiet dinner without hearing "Freebird" coming from the lady at the next table's phone over and over throughout their meal.
These would also be appropriate in movie theatres, some Loews theatres already have them, as well as in churches and libraries.
These could be the solution for Cell Yell, but the problem would be making people use them. It's hard enough to get smokers to only smoke in the smoking section.

2) By going back to a larger style of cellphone. This could eliminate the problem of Cell Yell, at least partially.
The evolution of the cell has led to it getting smaller and smaller. Granted, it is not as small as Will Ferrell's cell was in a Saturday Night Live sketch several seasons ago, but with better technology they are getting tinier every day.
But I say bigger is better! Bigger phones give better aural feedback so people would not talk as loud into them.

3) People should just try and be sensible when they are using a cellphone and be courteous to those around them.
Just as a smoker would no longer just fire one up in a crowded room, people should no longer just whip out their phones and start chatting away.
Cell users be courteous and be nice to your fellow man, who knows when you will have to listen in on his conversation.

My 5 Biggest Fears regarding Cell Yell

1) That Cell Yell will only get worse as the technology gets better. As phones get smaller and smaller people will feel that they are getting less feedback from the phone and they will interpret this as a need to talk louder than they normally would into a regular phone.
Unfortunately, this could only contrubute to the existence of Cell Yell in our future.

2) That this epidemic of unkindness could lead directly to an even less courteous society as a whole.
A good example of this is how Cell Yell could cause Cell Rage in another person after they haved endured listening to "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" for the seventh time on someone's cell while they waited in line at the bank.
This could have caused Cell Rage in that individual, which might cause Road Rage once they have gotten out into traffic. So in turn we all may indirectly pay for the sins of the obnoxious cell user.

3) My third fear about the lack of cellular manners in the world is a loss of privacy. We are already a far more open society than we were in decades past, but I don't know if I like it. I used to enjoy the privacy of being able to jump into a telephone booth to make a call.
This loss of privacy is not only caused by our using the cell phone in public, but by those around us when we are doing so. Many now enjoy the sport of listening in other's conversations on cells while they are in the line at the store or somewhere else.
I believe that these listeners enjoy this activity because it allows them to get half the story and then make up the rest as they see fit. It creates a sort cellular soap opera for the listener.
This a great invasion of one's privacy and it is one of the greatest problems with cell phones and society.

4) Noise Pollution. The continuous ringing of cell phones in a confined space is definitely a form of noise pollution. When there was one or two rings available that was OK.
But nowadays with the myriad of ringtones available an office can have a horrid mixture of a mishmash of musical noises at any time of the day.
This always used to give me a horrible headache when I worked in an open newsroom where everyone had a cell with a different ring.

5) That cell phones will completely replace house phones and I will never be able to carry on a coherent conversation again.
Yes, cellular technology has come a long way, but has it come far enough yet, NO! I would much rather prefer to talk on a house phoine than a cell to this day. The signal is always better and you don't usually get your call dropped from a hard line or even a cordless phone.

Cell Yell info

http://www.cellmanners.com/press/media8.htm

Excellent site with loads of good info on every aspect of cellular manners. They even have several cell spies in different cities who report on bad cellular manners.

http://www.cingular.com/sensible_newsroom/news_01_05_23

Cell safety program started here. Cingular wants to turn the tide on bad cell manners and help people to be safer while using their phones.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/columnists/tom_ferrick/9345334.htm?1c

This one has good state and Russian example.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/169827_cellphone20.html

Listening in on conversations can also be found here.
Deb Schweizer, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service, said there was no policy on the use of cell phones in nature, adding that their safety in times of trouble far outweighs the annoyance they cause.
"It's a new thing, and it's a thorny issue, but I think it's just becoming part of the culture of America right now," she said.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-021001phoneuse,0,950803.story
Excellent info on cell yell.
http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/mobile/2004/0712mobile1.html
Wireless Etiquette Month info here.

Interesting list of sites with good info on Cell Yell

This is the first part in my research into cell manners, or the lack there of, in society today and the cellular phenomena known as “Cell Yell”.

I’ve listed a few good sites that have quality information on this subject. I will expand on the info listed here in the following days with a more in-depth analysis of each one.

http://www.cellmanners.com/press/media8.htm

Excellent Site

http://www.cingular.com/sensible_newsroom/news_01_05_23

Interesting Cell program started here.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/columnists/tom_ferrick/9345334.htm?1c

This one has good state and Russian example.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/169827_cellphone20.html

Listening in on cellular conversations discussion can also be found here.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-021001phoneuse,0,950803.story

Excellent info on Cell Yell

http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/mobile/2004/0712mobile1.html
Wireless Etiquette Month info here

Cellular Manners

For my JOMC 223 class we have a project on a topic of interest regarding problems with new technologies and I think my subject will be cellular manners.
Granted the level of courtesy and kindness to others differs per each situation, but on the whole cell phones can make us some of the least thoughtful individuals on the face of the Earth.
Just as a ringing phone takes prececence in the home or at work a ringing cell phone, whether it's singing Sweet Home Alabame or using one of those annoying generic rings, is considered a sign that a person is important and busy.
What's the old saying? A busy bee is a happy bee, but some folks just take it too far for me. Some people actually listen in on other people's conversations on cell phones when they are out in public.
I think that this is horrible invasion of one's privacy, but only to an extent, because the eavesdroppers, as they are, only get half the story so they must fill in the rest with a fantasy dialogue that can take the conversation wherever they desire. People who have to do this sort of thing to get a thrill need to get a life.
Another problem that has arisen from this new technology is that people as a whole are less private than they once were. Granted everyone's doors may have been unlocked at night in 1955 in Smalltown, USA, but their blinds were closed.
We are a far more open society than we were say 50 years ago. In those days people would retreat into phone booths to make even the most routine call, but now they just whip out their cellphones and chat away, whether they are in the bathroom or in the middle of a movie theatre. They just have to answer the call of the cell when it beckons for them. And this need to answer can directly lead to more bad cell manners.
Due to the small nature of these phones many people feel that they are not receiving adequate aural feedback and in turn talk much louder into cellphones than they would a traditional house phone. Bad signals can also add to this problem.
I do not currently own a cell phone, but I did have one for years. The constant dropped calls, going over my pre-set number of minutes and the exorbitant fees that, that entail are all parts of why I no longer use this new technology.
But they can certainly be useful in an emergency, but on the whole I believe them to a be a nuissance of the worst kind.
Whether I am teaching a class or eating in a restaurant, the constant ringing of cell phones is definitely, in my opinion, a form a noise pollution.
So for my sake, if not everyone elses, turn 'em off when you are in a place where it is appropriate to do so, be it church, school or some other quiet atmosphere.