Public Display of Disaffection

1. What are three main points in this article? Support each point with a properly integrated quote.

Three main points in the article "Public Display of Disaffection" by Anne Kingston are that the use of cell phones are more harmful than beneficial due to the distraction and rudeness they cause. Also, with the use of cell phones, people become less interactive with others as they can easily send their message via text. One's "ability to perform [...] tasks [is] greatly reduced" (Kingston 13) while using a cell phone. For instance, students who listen attentively during lectures are likely to achieve higher grade point averages than those who are constantly clicking the keyboards of their phone. As they are checking the most recent news on Facebook  their attention is pulled away and are unable to focus and retain information being taught in class. In addition, some user may think it is appropriate to use cell phones while completing other tasks. However, it is distracting and may cause inconvenience to others or even harm. For example, in Ontario, a "woman [is] so preoccupied with her cell she didn't even notice the sirens" (Kingston 10) sending out from a police car as it approached who may be rushing to rescue a citizen in harm.  Furthermore, cell phones are a two-way distraction, not only the one who is operating it gets distracted, but also the one who is receiving the message will be distracted from their initial task. Another point addressed by the author is that the using a cell phone while having a face-to-face conversation with another person is disrespectful and tends to make others feel unimportant. This can be seen from a survey of 57 people, taken in 2009 at the City University of New York; "68 percent of those who surveyed thought it was disrespectful to conduct a real-time conversation while texting someone else" (Kingston 7). Although the user is present during a face-to-face conversation, but as they have their head down, feverishly tapping away on their phone, the other member tends to feel neglected and insignificant due to the lack of attention provided. This action is not only rude, simultaneously, cell phone users are "losing [their] one-on-one people skills and ability to engage in uninterrupted, focused conversations” (Kingston 6). With the increasing usage of cell phones, people become less interactive with others as they are "talking" to a screen. Communicating with others through text message requires less effort and pressure to remain focused than interacting with someone face-to-face. Also, sending messages allows people to avoid any awkward situations they may encounter in person. However, this reduces one's ability to mingle with others as they become unfamiliar with human interactions. Ultimately, cell phones are a distraction to people's everyday lives, imposes impoliteness, and provokes anti-social behaviours.  

2. Agree or disagree with each of her points. Please back up your ideas with specific examples.
I agree with each points discussed above from the article "Public Display of Disaffection" by Anne Kingston. Cell phones are a distraction. One heartbreaking example is that car accidents occur more frequently caused by distracted drivers. The number of deaths and injuries continues to rise over the years as people become more addicted and heavily rely on them. Also, as a student myself, during class sessions, it is common to see peers ignoring the teacher's lesson and secretly checking their phones. The constant buzzing of one's phone notifying that a message has been received is extremely distracting for the cell phone user and those who are around them. The distraction makes it difficult for myself and others to focus and retain information during lectures. In addition, I believe it is incredibly impolite to be using a cell phone while interacting with others. Ignoring the person in front of you because you are filtering through irrelevant Facebook statuses is unacceptable. For example, cell phones should be stored away during dinner or while talking to others. It is a basic manner which everyone has been taught and should comply. Furthermore, cell phone usage invites anti-social behaviours due to the lack of human interactions. As the younger generations can easily contact their friends via text messaging, they are gradually losing the ability and confidence to publicly speak. Cell phones may allow us to avoid human socializing at the time, but they do not help in the future when we are forced to interact with others.

3. When are times when you believe that cell phones are acceptable? How about  Unacceptable? Should schools, movie theatres and other public places consider bans or cell phone jammers like Europe?
In my opinion, I think that cell phones should be acceptable for emergency and educational purposes, and on one's free time. It is extremely convenient to have cell phones in case of any emergencies that requires contacting others. In some cases, a cell phone can change the outcome of a situation due to the vast range of functions a modern phone can provide. Also, sometimes, cell phones are needed for educational purposes such as registering for a blogger site and accessing to internet as we rely on this source for many purposes. Moreover, people should have the rights to use their own personal belongings during their free time if they are not ignoring others or being rude. Finally, I do not think bans or jammers are necessary. If someone owns a cell phone, they should have self-control as to when is appropriate to use their phone and when is not.