Sunday, August 08, 2004

I, Cellphone

Movies whose plots involve sinister, murderous androids, like “I, Robot,” “Terminator,” or “Sense and Sensibility” are really not that far-fetched. In these kinds of movies, humans become too dependent on electronic things and, in turn, are overwhelmed by technology. We deal with this reality every day—being way too dependent on technology, that is (not being gutted by metal men with Austrian accents). Most of us couldn’t function without modern conveniences. I mean, how could we live without our talking dishwashers, personal jet packs or robot butlers?

Or better yet, how could we live without our cell phones? A recent scientific study found that 85% of adults that are separated from their cell phones for more than 6 hours quickly succumb to madness and literally claw their own faces to the bone.

I barely escaped this fate Saturday when I found that my cell phone was missing. I woke up to knocks at the door by someone who had been trying to reach me by phone but had to end up stopping by after leaving three messages. When the visitor was gone, and I was awake enough to think coherently, I began to wonder why the sound of the phone hadn’t woken me. Then, after frantically searching about, I realized my phone was gone. [Gasp!]

This is not the first time I’ve misplaced my phone. But usually after a few minutes of panic, I end up finding it, albeit in strange places like the refrigerator. This time, though, my search came up empty. What was I to do? I felt so cut off from the rest of the world. I live alone and I don’t have a house line, so I couldn’t call anybody. Plus, I wouldn’t know anyone's number, since they’re all in my phone. These days, memorizing numbers is pointless when a machine can do it for you.

So where could the phone be? The last time I remember using it was the night before. But since then, I had gone to three different houses and been in three different vehicles. Heck, it could be anywhere! (Well, not really anywhere, just somewhere in those six locations).

So I drove to my friend’s house and used his cell phone to call around. Finally, after several long, excruciating MINUTES, I tracked the darn thing down. It was at some girl’s house which I had visited the night before in the a.m’s. I didn’t even remember her name, but she was nice enough wait for me to drive over and pick the phone up.

Sweet joy! We were at last reunited. I was complete again, no longer a stranger in this scary, empty world of ours. The whole ordeal only lasted a few hours, but now I am fully cognizant of how much I rely on this silly electronic device, how much I depend on its ability to connect me with people. I have no idea how, only a year ago, I was able to live and function as a productive human being without a cell phone. I can only guess it was a dreary, Amish-like existence, filled with nightmarish pay phone visits.

So yes, having a cell phone clearly indicates a powerful dependency on technology; an addiction to convenience, if you will. So what. Pass me the heroine, some Tab and a conference call. I’m riding this addiction to the end.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The dreary amish-like existence line is great. I lose my cell-phone constantly, but then it dies and I have to crawl under furniture and interrogate the baby to find it. So REALLY we're dependant on cell phone chargers when all is said and done.

(Well, that's my best attempt at humor. You must have got all the funny genes in the family).

Jer said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jer said...

You're right. If you will allow me a metaphor: cell phones are like the venom, but cell phone chargers are the snakes supplying the venom. And that means babies are the foliage obscuring the snakes supplying the venom. This leads me to one clear conclusion: eliminate babies.

(But not Audrey, she can stay).

Jer said...

It's Mr. What! How is Sacramento, Mr. What? Did you know that back in Provo everyone and their mom is getting married? It's a sickness.

Oh, and tell the wife hi!

Anonymous said...

Hey Jermz, this is Jill, I finally got your message on my cell phone. :P I went away to Many Farms, Arizona, a native American reservation for a short-term mission trip and guess what, without my cell phone!

after the withdrawal set in, I fought it by playing basketball with new friends, actually talking to people in person and relearning how to socialize in a semi-large group. It was great. :D

I'm back with my cell phone too, but I'm trying to limit my use except for the mandatory calls home and its nifty alarm-clock function. I hope to chat with you after I'm done with my nursing exam. I've missed you!

mark said...

ill tell you what mr what is up to in sacramento. he down there being to cool to come out to the suburbs to hang out with me. thats what. whenever i say "hey, lets go golfing" he says. definitivley, "eff you." whats that all about?

Jer said...

Blogs are just like chat rooms, but are specially designed to satisfy the needs of voyeurs. Anyone can see what you write -- slum lords, crack whores...even Moonies. Unless Sun Myung Moon has banned my blog for some reason. I wouldn't past him. Lousy Reverend Moon.

Jill: We'll have to chat soon. Good luck on your exams!