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OK, cell phones aren't entirely evil

I have a passionate bias against cell phones and the many self-absorbed, inconsiderate people who use them.

Then comes this report from The Charlotte Observer:

Alarmed that his school bus driver is dozing at the wheel, a Charlotte 16-year-old dials 911 on his cell phone and provides a harrowing play-by-play of the driver's erratic behavior. The bus swerves and speeds for more than half an hour before the driver is arrested for driving with alcohol in his system.

As for the boy, turns out he has violated a school system policy that bans cell phones on buses. But what the heck, say Charlotte-Mecklenberg school officials.

Comments (7)

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jw said:

My daughter carries her cell phone (or as we call it, "her leash") with her to school against the rules. We've talked to her about keeping it turned off during class. If she ever uses it during class time it will be confiscated and we will support the school's punishment. But we DO allow her to keep it with her.

Herb said:

What if more kids at Columbine had cell phones and could have let the police know where the shooters were?

What if you're having a crappy day at work and you text message your kid that you love her while she's at school and No. 1 she messages you back and No. 2 she says she loves you too? (During her lunch period, of course. I can dream can't I?)

Lex said:

I think most schools have far more serious problems than kids carrying cell phones, as long as the phones are turned off in class. But my kids aren't old enough to have their own yet. Maybe I'm wrong.

Rachel said:

I don't think there is any relationship between having cell phones and being inconsiderate. I mean, there will always be selfsih people like that in the world, and cell phones really have nothing to do with it.

At my school, we are allowed to carry cell phones but can't have them on or out during the school day. I think that's totally fair, even though people text message without the teacher noticing.

Jason Clarke said:

You may appreciate this: http://www.coudal.com/shhh.php

The blogger even has a printable PDF of business-sized cards to hand out to cell-phone users who are talking exceedingly loud.

Kareem McKelvey said:

Cell phones were once exclusively used for emergencies or for the use of very wealthy people. Without cell phones there might have been a tragedy on that bus ride. We should embrace this new technoloy while still being considerate to others. Some people abuse cell phone use by being rude in public places. They talk loud and laugh as if they are having a personal conversation with someone on the other line and we can all hear it. Nobody cares or wants to know what your talking to your friend on the cell phone about. So if you feel compelled to have a long drawn out conversation with someone, try waiting till you see the individual in person or take your conversation where nobody can hear you. Thanks...Kareem McKelvey

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