Are Cell Phones all that good? By Rachel Raffino

         Since April 3rd, 1973, the day the first cell phone was made, the world was changed forever. The cell phone brought many positive changes with it, like being able to contact people across the world in a matter of seconds. Or searching anything on the web, instead of in searching in books. It made it easier to contact people, yet it is still somehow pulling us apart.

Along with the cell phone’s benefits, came a negative side. It can promote cyber bullying, procrastination, sleep loss, and other harmful health risks. Ehtrust.org explains how some cell phone manuals suggest holding your mobile device x amount of inches away to prevent taking in too much radiation. They state that “When you use a device closer than the manufacturer’s distance instructions, you risk exposing yourself to radiation levels that our federal government understands can cause sterility, brain damage and tissue damage.” But not only are phones negatively affecting us, they are hurting the world around us. Cleanup.org.au tells cellphone users that “poisonous substances may leach from decomposing waste in landfills, seep into groundwater and contaminate the soil. Metals build up in the soil, can then enter the food chain and in sufficient concentrations may cause health problems.” When we get rid of our old phones they are harming the land around us, as well as the animals that live in it.

I work at a sushi restaurant as a hostess. And what angers me the most is not the picky customers, or the obnoxiously loud group in the back, it’s when people don’t talk. What I mean by this is that sometimes two people will come in and ask for a table, presumably on a date. And when I glance over at them, they are sitting silently mindlessly on their phones. Texting, checking social media, or just holding their phone in silence. They eat their sushi without saying more than five words to each other, get up and leave. I think to myself that they should have just come alone. Phones have created a wall between us, and we no longer enjoy the natural life as people used to.

Teendriversource.org calculated that “In 2013, there were 3,154 people killed and an estimated additional 424,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers,” and “Crash risk is four times higher when a driver uses a cell phone, whether or not it’s hands-free.” A fact that is seriously concerning. Mikayla Bivona explains how “she thinks it’s ridiculous how people text and drive,” and it scares her. Claire Riley says “we need to limit phone usage, it’s okay because we have grown up with technology in our generation, but we can’t let it control us.” Julia Young says that “you should still have face to face contact, we should use technology to help us because that’s what it was developed for, it shouldn't over power us.” So the next time you go out consider leaving your phone at home.

Scientific Advancement - Joseph Dempsey

        While the novel Frankenstein may be fiction, the theme "scientific advancement isn't always good" holds true in real life. For example, new forms of communication such as social media and text messaging have been under development over the past many years. However, while the intentions behind these innovations may have been positive, they can have had some negative side effects.
        Next time you are in a public place such as a waiting room at a doctor's office look around. Most people will have their faces buried in their phones. The time those people spend on their phones they could be spending have actual human interaction by conversing with each other. The rise of new forms of technology has caused people to lose the ability to interact with each other in the real world.
         But is this even relevant anymore? The answer to that is yes. Being able to talk face to face and even give a proper handshake is a very important skill to have. While applying for a job, you are most likely to have a face-to-face interview. If your potential employer sees you do not have adequate social skills, you may be less likely to get the job than someone who does have proper social skills.
          Furthermore, text messages can easily be misconstrued due to the lack of verbal expression and visual cues. So many times I will text my Dad and he will just respond with "Ok." Whenever he texts this I get so frustrated because there is no way for me to tell if he is mad at me or in a perfectly good mood.
           So what am I saying? I am not saying we should get rid of all forms of electronic communication, because there are also benefits. For example, communication is much faster than it used to be. What I am saying is that new forms of communication should be used in moderation. If one can find a balance between the use of technology to communicate and communicating in real life, they may be much more successful.