Since cell phones are everywhere, even on college campuses and some classrooms, I conducted a blind focus group of one of my college classes to survey the various attitudes that exist about cell phones.

This class of 30 students was evenly divided between males and females. There were Asians, Blacks, and Latinos in relatively equal proportions; there were two Whites--one male and one female. The ages were from approximately 19-40 years old. Most, if not all, were employed and lived on the east side of the Bay and were lower to middle class. There were three foreign students included.

The class was assigned to read the article, Cell Phone Madness, write a response, and participate in an hour-and-a-half discussion of the article and cell phone usage. The attitudes the students projected were not surprising, but their defensiveness was. Many took the article personally.

Most of the students owned cell phones, and most of them rationalized their use of the phone. Some went beyond rationalization of use to actually admitting addiction to the phone. A few writers even said that they felt that their telephones were their best friends and saved their lives.

Most of the students admitted that cell phones are often misused by some who want to show off their toys; some said they felt that many people use the cell phone as a status symbol. In the past, only doctors and lawyers, they theorized, could afford them, so today many are using them to symbolize that they have arrived. And having arrived, their self esteem is enhanced. One student cited a pattern that may be widespread: a friend of hers was in class, went out just before the class was over so that he would receive the onslaught of his classmates as they were coming out of class, and when they did, he said, "Yes, I'll be there to meet you." She observed, however, that this was not a real call; his phone was turned off.

There was some discussion of developing and exercising responsible protocols for cell phone use, but many said that they thought they have the right to use their phones anywhere they want to. It is only a minor inconvenience to people. [I note, teachers are expressly prohibiting students from having cell phones and pagers on in their classrooms on college campuses and are taking expulsion actions against those who do.] There were those who were outraged at cell phone users who used their phones in disregard to their presence--discussing their personal lives and business in their presence. They expressed a desire to have laws to regulate people's ignorance and disrespect of others. Others felt that cell phone annoyance was just one of those prices we pay to live in a free society.

Another concept expressed was that what cell phones represent is technology being developed and used before our ability to regulate it. Like automobiles and other forms of technology that advanced rapidly, our legislation and respectful protocols will catch up.

Although this focus group was not a scientific polling of attitudes, it is anecdotal, and their attitudes probably are typical of the attitudes of Americans toward cell phone use.

A fact became very clear as I observed the discussion; the power of the advertising media is greater than one can imagine. Young people, and Americans generally, are easily sold and often conditioned beyond their ability to realize it. To many, the cell phone is the greatest invention since sliced bread, and it was invented for the convenience of the public, so why not use it. Of course, this attitude is exactly what the advertising media wants its buyers to feel.[]