Internet and Mobile Phones

Even good things can have a negative side to them. Young people spend masses of time communicating with each other but it's in a different format to the one you grew up with. The rise of Internet and mobile use has been one of the biggest changes in humanity for many decades. For good or bad, it looks like it's here to stay. Let's just enjoy what is wonderful about it and keep challenging the negative aspects such as cyber bullying etc.

It does seem the mobiles have taken over the universe. On a boring journey through town as a passenger in the car I amuse myself by look for how many people are walking and talking on the phone. A lot. Its as if no one like to have their heads to themselves anymore perhaps just to think. It seems that they prefer to fill up the 'empty' time by chatting on the phone. Which often means that when you do try to phone your children you go straight to voicemail! However, you have to admit mobiles are very, very useful and I would be lost without mine now.

I would be scared to go out without mine in case anything happens to the car or getting mugged etc.

I too never go out without my phone in case anything untoward happens. I don't know why, as I managed perfectly well for 50 odd years without it. Everywhere you look people are on their phones. When we go to our local pub there are couples in there not talking, each of them texting. It's ridiculous. If someone does it when they are with me, I feel like saying 'is there somewhere you would rather be?'

Since being widowed I always have my mobile with me - but I rarely actually use it. It is a pay as you go and a £10 top up can last me 3 months! I keep it in case there is an emergency so I can call for help.

I might get a tray for the visitors to leave their phones in when they arrive and pass them back as they leave after all they have come to visit me not sit and play games/chat to other people and if they didn't like it then don't waste my time visiting at all,very bad manners imo.

In the past not having a phone was something I worried about hugely, as a driver. I was so relieved when I got my first phone, not long after they came out, even if it was the size of a brick. Do you remember Marie Wilkes? She was murdered on the side of the motorway. I was pregnant at the time, often driving around motorways and down dark country lanes. Having that phone saved my sanity, everything worries you when you are pregnant! Car breakdown peace of mind outweighs practically every other negative, I think. Of course, if you don't drive much then it's not such a worry.

I was recently on a train journey from Glssgow to Carlisle. I sat towards the end of the carriage facing the other passengers. A gentleman who was asleep, and myself were the only ones in a full carriage not attached by ear pieces to some sort of phone ipod or other techno. thing.I was quite amused, not one person was reading a book or chatting to friends and it was eerily quiet. What has happened?

When mobiles first started to be used, I saw a rather smart looking young man at standing in Marks & Spencers with this huge phone to his ear and saying 'right mother, I'm in Marks and Spencers, now which way is the food hall?' I though how ridiculous, why didn't he just ask an assistant. Methinks he was showing off as not many people had them then.