EOTO - Reaction 3

The emergence of new communication technology, with the assistance of convenience and affordability, has really made it easy to get in touch with each other. So much so, that it is almost impossible to get away. To put it blatantly: we live in a noisy world. I found the content of Steven Anthony's Each One Teach One project to be both comical and enlightening. Cell yell is a great term to explain the way people speak loudly into their cell phones.

I recently graduated from UNC-CH and know very well how loud cell phones and cell phone users can be. Not only do they slowly stroll along the pathway blocking other people are trying to get places, but they also leave them on so annoying ring tones interrupt the middle of class. As well, I've seen people who are eating dinner in the dining hall call their friends who are sitting a few tables away just to chat. Wouldn't it be easier, cheaper and more friendly just to walk over there to talk?

I think the development of these new cell phone/walkie-talkie units is just going to make the problem of cell yell worse. Now instead of having one side of the conversation interrupting your personal environment, you will have the pleasure of being bombarded with both sides of the conversation. I personally can't stand cell phones. I used to have one in case of emergencies, but I have since gotten rid of it. Not only did I have a horrible experience with my service provider, but I also found it more of a hassle than a help. Perhaps my opinion will change again, but for now it's land line all the way!

I think Anthony had some really good ideas when it came to the issue of cell yell. Putting cell zones in place would be a great way to help "contain" this type of busy noise that constantly pollutes our air. If it's not a cell phone going off in the middle of your quiet dinner, it's the loud guy on the bus who mistakenly thinks everyone else wants to hear his conversation. We really are quite "public" as a society.