by Santi Meintjes

Created on: September 26, 2007

I wonder if the answer does not depend on your age group.

I can (ahem) remember a time where there was no such thing as cell phones. Today, because of the advent of cell phones, I can say without doubt, that I am more connected than when cell phones were not available.

Firstly, I can travel alone by car or fly overseas and keep my family updated with my progress. I have not had trouble along the road, but I don't feel worried about driving large distances because I can call for help if something happens. Also, I have often phoned to get directions when on my way somewhere and getting lost. I can describe to the person how I have travelled, and where I am at that exact moment and then get pretty precise directions either forward or back to where I went wrong. Absolutely invaluable when going to meetings.

Years ago my husband went to Germany for a conference and I was to join him a week later for vacation. My very first flight out was delayed by about three hours, throwing all my connections out. The airline rebooked my trip, but I then arrived at my final destination at midnight instead of three in the afternoon. What followed is a long story. Suffice to say none of the faxes sent to him by the airlines to alert him to my changed itinerary ever arrived, and we only finally met up the next afternoon, after I had slept curled up in an impossible chair at the airport and hubby had been looking all over the place and failing to find out where I was. We would have been spared all that anxiety, worry and money for taxis if we had cell phones way back then.

Secondly, the SMS function on a cell phone is just marvellous for everyday communication. My mother can send me short notes without taking up my time chattering on the land line (sorry but sometimes it's true). I can send my husband notes at work without disturbing him at meetings or whatever, because the message is there for him to read at his convenience, regardless of whether he is at his computer (until recently a major drawback of email). I do not have to rely on a secretary delivering messages, which means I can send personal stuff, and I don't have to try and try again on a land line until he answers.

Thirdly, I can be almost anywhere and talk to or SMS friends and family. At the turn of the century we celebrated by going with a few close friends to a fishing village on the West Coast of South Africa, inside the restricted diamond mining area. Glorious days, and a night with millions of stars at midnight when 1999 changed to 2000. And, although we were alone, we could share that moment with everybody we cared about via SMS.

ON THE OTHER HAND..
It is quite amusing to see teenagers and young adults walking in malls and sitting in restaurants with their friends and family, not talking to anybody in their group but busily writing messages or chattering on the cell phone. I once watched a young man meeting a young woman for lunch at the table next to mine. She was talking on the cell phone when he arrived and let him kiss her on the one cheek while the other was pressed to the phone. They ordered, ate, and he left, without her speaking one word to him - all of her conversation was on the cell. How pathetic.

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