Barlow's brief

| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(2)

Addiction of mobile phones is an international scourge

Vic Barlow
28/ 6/2006

I'VE BEEN doing a lot of travelling recently and it appears the entire world is on the phone.

In Hong Kong everyone not only owns the latest mobile handset, but must also use it continuously. All over China millions of citizens who once prayed to Buddha now worship Nokia, and anyone not paying homage is usually asleep.

Would you believe I actually saw a man on a moped swerving through the midday traffic in Shantou City with a mobile phone held to each ear?

Phoning airlines and ticket counters in any country is an exercise in futility as all their agents are busy.

Various hotels assure callers that their call is 'important', but not important enough to actually answer, and tourist offices seem to rely entirely on voice mail.

While in Spain I took myself off to the only place where mobile phones are banned ie the golf course, only to discover the greenkeeper raking a sand bunker while talking to his wife on the phone.

There's a new, even more addictive mobile out now known as Blackberry, enabling users to receive and send e-mails. Trying to hold a conversation with anyone owning one of these devices is frustrating beyond belief.

If they are not actually reading or sending messages they are constantly looking at the damn screen in case they miss a call.

It isn't for nothing these phones are known as Crack-berries. The Americans are nowhere near as addicted to their cell phones, preferring to walk around munching muffins the size of a Warburton's loaf or drinking Coke out of cardboard buckets, while the Japanese regard the latest cellular technology as an essential accessory but, sadly, the most embarrassing of all mobile phone users are Brits.

We are either drinking ourselves senseless or yelling down the phone. God knows what the rest of the world thinks of us?

How about a national 'no phone' day; wouldn't that be brilliant? We could actually hold face-to-face conversations without the interruption of irritating ring tones and inane banter.

Better still, why not a National Day of Silence?

I doubt Mrs B would make it past breakfast.

  • THE views expressed on this page are those of Vic Barlow and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Express.

| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(2)


Most recent 2 of 2 user comments

   Geoff of Macclesfield has obviously not been to America do "preferring to walk around munching muffins the size of a Warburton's loaf or drinking Coke out of cardboard buckets" This is not a racist comment, purely based on the American stereotype at all. It is a statement of fact. When in America I have to throw half of the a?oeSubwaya?? not muffin away as it is too much to physically eat. As for the coke I needed two plastic buckets to pour it into. Geoff sounds like stero typical cry wolf protector. Do not be too honest Vic or you will have to add 'Fat' to the description.

Amazed Macclesfield.
Amazed, Macclesfield, Macclesfield
7/07/2006 at 16:54
   "The Americans are nowhere near as addicted to their cell phones, preferring to walk around munching muffins the size of a Warburton's loaf or drinking Coke out of cardboard buckets"

This is a racist comment, purely based on the American stereotype.
geoff, macclesfield
28/06/2006 at 13:07
Have your say
 
Have your say Got an opinion you want to share?
Register now and have your comments heard.

Register now


 
Personal Finance
 

Customers with a 'good' credit profile
Company Typical APR
Platinum Exclusive Loan 7.8%
Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) 8.6%
Halifax (Semi-exclusive) 8.6%
Alliance & Leicester 8.7%
Sainsbury's Personal Loan 8.9%
HASH(0x2ba4c0b7d050)
Provider AER*
ICICI BANK
HiSAVE Savings Account 		5.50%

HASH(0x2ba4c10a0ee0) 		HASH(0x2ba4c10aa140)
FIRST DIRECT
Everyday e-Saver 		2.75%
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER
Online Tracker 		6.00%
ABBEY
Instant Access Saver (Special Issue 2) 		6.00%
ING DIRECT
Savings Account 		6.00%
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER
eSaver - Issue 2 		6.30%
ABBEY
eSaver Direct 		6.00%
POST OFFICE
Instant Saver 		3.75%

HASH(0x2ba4c0b7d940) 		HASH(0x2ba4c0b6e550)
Fees may apply