Dear Editor@Matzav.com,
Thank you for the time and effort you put into publishing your excellenty news site.
I am writing about silencing cell phones.
There are times besides for davening and a shiur when a cell phone should be on vibrate or off and when it should be left for the voicemail to answer. When one is on a shidduch date, one’s cell phone should be off and full attention should be given to the other party.
I know firsthand of a young man who answered his phone several times on a first date. The phone was on vibrate, but it was in his shirt pocket, so every time it rang he felt it and answered the call. The girl was shocked at this behavior and it made her question whether she or the cell phone was the focus of his attention. She was further confused when he mentioned to her that he was addicted to his cell phone and can’t manage without it. The girl wondered if he jumps to answer his phone during davening and learning too. She had been raised in a home where she was taught the importance of giving someone your full and undivided attention when you are speaking to them face to face. In her parents’ home, when they are speaking to guests, the ringing of the phone – land line or cell – is ignored. With this upbringing, she found the young man’s behavior disturbing, as he seemed to give his addiction to technology priority above his quest to meet a possible match.
Our society’s addiction to cell phones is spinning out of control. There must be some way to raise the awareness of cell phone addicts as to how it feels to be the one who is being overlooked due to the need to answer a cell call.
Sincerely,
B. W.
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