Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy Nickelodeon recently conducted a tech survey among kids and parents. Here are the results: ----------- 25.5% say there's no need to be able to read a dictionary 25% say it's unnecessary to read a newspaper 48% say with cell phones, there's no need any longer to remember phone numbers 50% say with MP3 players, there's no need to buy CDs 26% say there's no need to listen to radio And perhaps the most disappointing statistic of all: 23% of parents, and 33% of kids between the ages of 8 and 14 say there's no need for casual conversation. Now while I agree with those saying there's no need to read newspapers (just my personal opinion for me), that last one is just very, very sad. On a lighter note, 80% of parents and kids feel safer with cell phones, and 85% of kids feel they do better in school thanks to the Internet. I saw a guy on the news who said for the phone number thing, you should e-mail yourself a list of all the numbers in your cell phone, in case it's ever lost or stolen. This was a "deprivation study", where Nickelodeon took away cell phones, Internet, TV, and your MP3 player for 10 days, then they evaluated who valued what the most. Not surprisingly, most people felt they couldn't live without their cell phone.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think I could survive without my cell phone. My last call was on Monday, and it wasn't anything that I couldn't have done with a regular phone. I just didn't have one nearby. As for people not needing conversation, that really has nothing to do with the study done. I would like to see a study done where people had cell phones, internet, TV, and MP3 players, but weren't allowed to have conversations. (cell phones could be used for texting only) I would like to see how those people felt about conversation after 10 days without it. I consider myself to definately be in introvert, but I think even I would go a little crazy after that long without talking to a real person.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <As for people not needing conversation, that really has nothing to do with the study done.> I disagree. These people had their technologies taken away from them, so that conversation was an easy option; yet still certain percentages said there was no need for casual conversation. I think those people probably wouldn't mind 10 days without conversation if they did have their technologies.
Originally Posted By avromark Cell phones should be banned for casual use, I only use mine for work related purposes or to meet up with people. I don't see the appeal of being available 24/7, I do like my privacy. I also don't like how people get upset if heaven forbid you don't answer them right away. I also think it's rude to talk loudly in your cell phone when you're with someone. To me a person thats there physically should always take priority. I also think its rude to talk on your cell phone while your in the check-out lane or in the theatre, or class etc.. No matter what anyone thinks when you talk on your phone while driving, it does affect your safety and ability to drive. They tend to not signal, run lights, wander in the lane when on a phone. I never talk while driving (Ok on a straightway with light traffic I do use handsfree but pretty much to tell them I'll call them in X minutes, not a lengthy conversation.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle >>To me a person thats there physically should always take priority<< I agree with that - however, I must add I love my cell phone, especially texting. But it's one of my pet peeves, when I go out to dinner with a close friend she ALWAYS gets a phone call and she ALWAYS takes it and chats away while I sit there feeling bored. If I get a call while I'm at dinner I'll either ignore it or answer and say "I'm with Jane, can I call you back?" I don't see why I should have to sit there and listen to someone else's conversation when I'm having a catch-up with a friend.
Originally Posted By avromark You know the irony, the person who hates them ends up with 2 company phones (different jobs) go figure
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy Or when you're in a public service position and customers blab on and on on their cell phone while you're trying to wait on them or ring them up. Some do act really polite when they acknowledge you while on the phone, but still, how hard is it to say "I'm shopping right now, I'll call you back" (which some do, but more could).
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<most people felt they couldn't live without their cell phone.>> I often forget where my cell phone is; right now it's in my Camelbak, and has been for a couple of months. I rarely use a phone, cell or otherwise. <<50% say with MP3 players, there's no need to buy CDs>> I was just thinking about that the other day, when I passed by the now out-of-business Tower Records.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy I don't many CDs anymore, but if my favorite artists put something out, I'll buy it.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut hmmmm. I can say that I cannot live without my cell, but I do agree that the liver person takes priority. If I get a call when I am with someone and its not my fiance or one of my parents. It goes to VM. I do love me some texting though. I do not agree completely with the no buying cd thing. I love cover art and I miss that with digital music. Most I dont buy a cd, but for key artists or albums I still buy a cd.
Originally Posted By jdub I see no one seems to be at all alarmed at the lack of newspaper or radio usage (not to mention the DICTIONARY). The newspaper provides a visual overview of news and studied analysis that the casual internet user is just NOT going to get--especially on the local front. And the MP-3 dependent will not get the breaking news stories that radio provides.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I am VERY bummed that my favorite radio station here in the Washington D.C area, WGMS "Washington's Good Music Station," ceased to exist as of last week. Supposedly all it's assets were donated to the public radio station that played classical music, but I'll miss having a choice, and the DJ's of the old station.
Originally Posted By Bucky N Satchel I like the technology I have, but I would never trade it for human contact or the pleasure of picking up a book in my hands and reading it. But, one bit of tech has improved my face to face time. With the DVR if someone wants to talk when I'm watching TV, rather than getting tweeked at them for interupting my show, I pause it and give them my full attension. I LOVE that.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut jdub: i think those polled seperated a print paper from a website newspaper. I almost never pick up a printed newspaper, but I do read the news sites regularly. So in that sense, not needing a newspaper (with day old news) makes sense.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Very sad state of affairs these days. Avromark, I totally agree with you on the cell phone issues! I can't stand being "interrupted" by one or having "friends" (and I use the term loosely) gripe at me when I don't choose to answer. I have a few who have them glued to their heads 24/7 and it is a huuuuuuuuuuge pet peeve of mine. I don't know if it's supposed to be a status symbol or what, but I'm not impressed.
Originally Posted By Bucky N Satchel I hate those ear thingies, sometimes someone will be on the phone and you don't even know it, so you think they are talking to you so of course you respond and then they say something to the other person and your the one feeling totally embarrased.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle >>gripe at me when I don't choose to answer<< One of my close friends (who can never have less than a 20-minute conversation) gets bored on the way home and will call me on my mobile while she's driving (she gets a couple of hours of free calls each month). Fine for her, but she finishes work later than I do, and I'm almost always either out at dinner, or at home *trying* to have quality family time ... either way, I let it go to message bank 9 times out of 10, and half the time she'll keep ringing 5 or 6 times until either I answer it or she gives up! It drives me nuts - of course, I don't tell her I'm screening her calls, but I think she has an idea. That's where I hate mobiles - if someone rings your home number and you're in the middle of something, you can let it go to machine and say you were out, but mobiles are expected to be on you ALL THE TIME. There's no escape!!
