Cell Phones the New Cigarette?

As Congress rushes to pass legislation banning cell-phone use on airlines before Europe allows it to strain American airlines from doing the same, we've already been denied our right to dial in the car.

California, as well as many other states, have banned the use of cell phones while driving. Of course you can get around this by using a hands-free contraption (Bluetooth or wired) but it still isn't hands free. You must still dial or browse through the address book and then... Most people hold their phone. Despite the use of these devices the phone is still in hand which defeats the entire purpose of "hands-free." The use of the speaker phone constitutes hands-free as well, though, even more so than bluetooth, you're more than likely to be holding the phone the entire duration of your conversation... Does holding the phone while using the speaker or bluetooth constitutes hands-free? I don't think so.

The bigger concern is our increased exposure to brain tumers. Not for the speaker phone but the bluetooth device... Cell phones emit electromagnetic enegy which can cause clusters to form brain tumors. Bluetooth devices, that are shoved into the ear, and usually left there for the entire day, emit the same radiation and may be of a greater threat due to the increased time of being there and the closeness of it.

This ban against cell phone use while driving is a solution looking for a problem as less than 7% of automobile accidents are attributed to cell-phone use. Moreover, studies have shown it isn't the use of a cell-phone that distracts the driver but rather the conversation itself which uses the same side of the brain as driving. Instead of banning cell phones, which has several loop-holes and most people won't bother to follow anyway, we should instead focus on encouraging light, quick calls in the car or none if unneeded.

Same as with smoking, instead of banning it. Instead of demonizing the smoker. Instead of the junk science that plagues society... We should be honest about it. We're honest about drinking. Drink, but don't over do it. Drink responsibly. The same should be said for smoking. The same should be said for driving and cell phone use.

Now we also have a texting while driving ban here in California that'll go into affect next year that was signed by Arnold (the faux Republican like McCain). What does this mean exactly? It means that instead of holding your phone up to send that quick text where you can see the road and the phone at the same time you will be compelled to hold the phone down and look down and hope for the best. It also means, just as with cell phone use, just as with "speeding," you will be looking out for cops too. Instead of driving and watching the traffic you'll be wasting some amount of focus looking out for cops that when you see, you panic which in and of itself can cause an accident.

Just as how we can no longer smoke in restaurants, in bars, in parks, in theme parks, in our own homes at times... You can no longer use your cell phone on the bus either. Congress is acting to ban cell phone use on airlines which they label as fighting "noise," which is absurd as the flight itself generates so much noise from the wind that you sometimes cannot even hear your own Ipod or just barely so... I don't think a private conversation will yield much distraction from looking at the chair in front of you that is way too damn close.

And now we can no longer use our cell phones on buses. Publicly funded modes of transportation. A woman boarding the Golden Gate Transit bus in the bay area was told over the loudspeaker to get off her cell phone leaving her bewildered as there was no signs. A similar incident occurred on a New Jersey bus line as well.


So... Just as what happened to cigarettes and smokers in the 90s to only grow into a full-blown witch-hunt of oppression is happening now to fast-food, foods deemed unideal by the government, those who don't share the waistline of whoever is on the cover of People... Now we got cellphones.

What's next? Table conversation at the restaurant? Don't want to bother the table next to you or nothing. And conversation in the elevator with a co-worker? Cell phone use is no different than talking to someone right next to you, either can be annoying or distracting depending upon one's perspective.

Our voice is now under attack.