Around here the phone isn't by their ear, it's in their hands while they text. Of course my phone is always with me.

I am always shocked when I see my kids actually talking on their cells - they primarily text. I am starting to be that way too!

Love it!

We saw a group of 6 teenage girls yesterday and hubby commented that 4 of the girls were holding phones. (2 were talking on theirs).

I can't get over that the first thing teens seem to get, are phones. Do they pay the monthly bill?

My daughter is 37 and you cannot carry on a conversation with her. She is so rude, she texts constantly! I wonder how she sleeps. It drives me crazy.
My grandkids are not even teens and they all have a cell phone also, why? What am I missing here? I just don't get the reasoning for children so young to have one.

Cell phone bills are not what they once were. My son's costs him $32 a month and he can text all he wants. The minutes that are pre-paid are more than enough. This is probably why kids text vs talk..it is immediate, they can do all the outputting they want, they don't have to take turns..and it is free.
Many teens do not sleep. I hear student's talking daily about the text they got a 1,2,3,4 a.m. Parents are oblivious to this in most cases.

No doubt they are a wonderful convenience. Sadly they are also an excuse for some very rude behavior. Sadder yet there are adults and parents who are unwilling to insist proper etiquette be maintained where a cell phone is concerned. It amazes me the world ever managed before all these very important people were not at the beck and call every second to who ever is calling them in meetings, church, stores.
Sadly the good they could be has been over shadowed by how obnoxiously they are used.

I gave my kids cellphones when they were in Middle School, about grade 7,age 13 or 14 . Schools did not allow cellphones, so they were told to keep them in the bottom of their backpacks and NEVER use them in school. That worked out okay and they were pretty good about using only for emergencies. Like the time one fell while skateboarding and broke her finger. And I used the phones to keep track of them. If one wasn't home near dinnertime, I'd call and find out where she was. I told them "If you ever do not answer the phone when I call, you will lose it forver." They were good about the rules. Except a few phones went missing and I bought them replacements. (We had the "insurance" phone companies sell.) Now they are 20 and 22 and have their own phones (Iphones, Blackberries, whatever) and plans and pay their own bills.

I have had my kids start texting while I was talking to them.

That is very rude - and I told them that I wouldn't waste my time if they weren't willing to hold off on a text long enough to finish the conversation.

It is something we have to teach them - that is part of parenting.

BUT....I have had MANY adults do this to me. I got up and walked out of a car dealer when he picked up his phone to check a text. He profusely appologized, but I kept walking. Said sorry - but that is a NO SALE for you.

In our home the kids would get a cell phone when they could pay their own bill. Just like their first car. We bought the car but they had to help with insurance and buy their own gas. All things come with responsibilities and they learned that well. In college we paid tuition, room and board, they supplied their own spending money by working and saving in the summer. We paid dearly to get them educated at the college of their choice. They knew it was going to be their job to support themselves and their families when they got out in the big wide world. They all knew we gave up many things that we wanted over the years so they could have nice things. So many kids today have all the fancy things given to them. Not being taught responsibilities when kids are growing only creates problems for them down the road.

I know people that have 1st and 2nd graders with cell phones. This is crazy!!

Kids around here text more than talk. My son got his 1st cell phone when he was 16. He wasn't old enough to enter a contract, so it was in my name. He worked and he paid his bill.

When I young there was a saying that all teen boys had a case of triple fever:
steering wheel ever
girl fever
telephone fever

Nothing has changed.

True story.

Just this am I asked DD what her weekend plans were. She said she had tried to get in touch with so and so but she wasn't answering her cell or responding to text msgs and could not reach her on MSN. So, she didn't know what was happening until she talked to so-so.

I asked her, "Did you try calling her on the regular phone?"

DD looked at me like I just discovered the Cadbury secret.

Text msg is relatively cheep now-a-days. DD texts more than talks (I always advise her to practice safe text! *groan*) I love it coz she always has her phone on and I can reach her anytime, anywhere.

I dislike phones period. I carry my cell but only DH, DD and a few others have my number. If they call me on it had better be for a good reason!

Talking on cells while driving is illegal here in Ontario, now. I am SO glad!!!! It also gives me a good reason not to answer my cell, as I was driving! :-)

BJ

I was waiting for my food order the other day at a drive through and the girl waiting on me was texting the whole time.Behind her was another girl at the counter texting away.They were probably texting one another!LOL I checked out at Wal-Mart yesterday and while I was writing my check the girl was texting.Actually I think it is against store policy to text while on the job but I guess she just hasn't gotten caught yet.What really irritates me is people,and not just teens,texting or talking on their cell phone while shopping in Wal Mart and not looking up to see that some old lady in a scooter is almost running over them because they aren't looking where they are going!One of these days!LOL

It's one of those "all my friends have one" things

My 11 year old grandaughter has the "Moment" and my 10 year old grandson has the "Palm Pre"

I think that's going way overboard.

My dd got her first one from her father at age 10, she proceeded to lose it and several others over the next few years. Then last Winter I let her have a fairly expensive used phone my brother had given me the Fall before. I was still reluctant to get a real cell phone and was still using up my Tracfone minutes. I decided to buy a new cell phone myself when I bought a plan. Now, Alex is on the plan too and bought him a much cheaper phone after the one he really wanted was out of stock for over a month.

She has since dropped the expensive phone and broke it. We had a spare phone the guy who sold me my phone and new plan insisted I might need "someday"...it was a cheapy and now that's what she uses. I've since seen her drop it twice. She's clumsy like her mom, I guess. The cheapy phone still hasn't broke, though.

Now I don't know what to do with my old Tracphone or the expensive broken Palm. I guess I'll use the Sprint bag I got and ship it to their recycling center.

I really don't have a problem with cell phones. Like computers & ect. they are here to stay. The point of my original post was the teen couple, walking down the sidewalk, hand in hand, but both holding phones to their ears with their other hand, and my friend said they probably were talking to each other, I just thought that was funny.

And it's not just teens! Cell phones in general really tick me off.

I watched a young couple in a nicer restaurant one day. They were obviously on a "date" and the young man had, just as obviously, put some effort into the evening.

They'd talk a bit, and then she'd be on the cell phone. She'd hang up and it would ring again. She answered it. The conversations were the "What are you wearing to event X?" and "Did you hear what Girl Y did Saturday?" type calls.

If I had been the young man I would have excused myself, headed toward the restroom, and then continued out the door and down the road. I'd leave her chatty self sitting there, talking on the cell phone until she discovered she'd been dumped...and had to pay the bill.

I know it's important for childern and parents to contact one another, and everyone has an emergency situation now and then, but seriously, do we have to be subjected to the inane conversations so many people have while strolling up and down the shopping aisles? Do we have to stand in line listening to someone whine about this brand vs. that brand? Do we have to listen to the drama queens and the whiners airing their dirty laundry?

I won't accept a call while I'm driving and I turn the ringer "off" any time in a public place. I like to go somewhere private (outside, to the car, in the lobby, etc.) if I must talk while out in public.

I think public places would re-install "phone booths"...small, sound-proof, enclosed sitting areas where people could make their cell calls in private.

Okay, my phone's ringing! LOL I'll get off my soap box now. (And aren't you happy you don't gave to hear my conversation!)

DotMom...I'm sorry. I started ranting along a whole 'nuther line-of-thought from your "cute teens" story.

I am sory; cell phone bad-manners drive me crazy; they smtoe...and then I turned around and used bad posting manners.

If I had your phone number, I'd send a (so sry) text! LOL

topca - carol

We live in a really small house. I would say about 1200 square feet of house. Add on a few more for the garage and the laundry room. Last winter my son's were playing WOW in different parts of the house. One in the family room and the other in his room. Son #1 called Son #2 to ask a question. Of course my first question was why did you not ask him in game? They both looked at me like I had grown a second head. I get that look a lot. It does crack me up to see groups of kids all standing there texting away. You just know some of them are texting the kid right next to them!

Trish in SC

When we bought our house some 30 years ago, it was in a town with a State Mental Hospital within its area. Many neighbors worked at the hospital. They would let patients out on "day passes" into the town. They would walk around, talking and agitated, having conversations with no one, sometimes yelling and arguing. The Hospital closed over ten years ago, but I still see people walking around talking to the3mselves. Only they are on cellphones! Always gives me a chuckle!

Oh, Caroline....no sorry's needed. It is interesting how something so common (now-a-days) is so irritating. It is like Trisha's post, so many kids growing up today, won't know the "art" of conversation, when they phone or text a person in the same room. I wish I had a dollar for every time I have said or thought.....It's a different world we are living in.

Thanks, DotMom. You "know" me; I sometimes just ramble on.

Yes, It is "a different world," and some of the "differences" are great. Still, it does not have to be a rude, uncaring, self-centered world.

We should still not be bombarded with other people's loud, obnoxious, phone conversations; sales people should not turn away from us at checkout stands in order to text, and when public phone use is necessary, it should be done as unobtrusively as possible.

JMHO, of course!

Last week I was in a thrift store about 60 miles from home. I saw something a neighbor had been searching for. I told the clerk I knew someone that might want the item; would she mind if I called them?

Of course she didn't; it was a potential sale! I whipped out the dreaded, damnedable cell phone and called Ms. M. She wanted it; I bought it for her; salesperson was happy! Cell phone did a good thing and saved the neighbor a long trip.

Caroline, now that was a win-win-win situation. Like almost every device, there is a way and time to use it. We had one for a while, but when it went kaput, we just didn;t get another one.

I just look at these people paying $30, $40, $60 or like some friends, nearly $200/month for cellphone service and I wonder if their calls and texts are REALLY worth 5 times, 10 times or 30 times what my calls and texts are worth. Apparently they are. That's what makes me laugh, at least when they can afford it.

And yes they *do* sit and text back and forth while sitting next to each other. Comes under the heading of "So stupid it's funny". I know a kid who burned up $20 in texts sitting at a booth with some people with whom he worked. They were texting each other. I had to ask if that conversation was worth about four hours of work since that's what he'd have to work to replace it considering income tax, sales tax, cost of a card and such. At least his response was no. So some kids can learn. That was a day brightener.

I'm still "miffed" by my 32 year old DD who Texted me "Happy Mother's Day". Really?

I'm glad most teens are texting. At least I don't have to listen to their conversations like I do the adults'. The other day I was in the store and not only was some idiot bellowing into his phone (you know the cell phone must speak louder because I'm too dumb to understand the technology voice) but he had it on speaker phone so I heard both ends of the stupid conversation. This was no kid. This was a grown man. Then there are the babbling idiots plugged into their bluetooths. Fools.

I talked to someone who pays over $200 a month for the family cells. It's ridiculous. Most of the adults probably have trouble making ends meet each month. My cell cost $7 or $8. a month. I got it for emergencies since I travel alone and in case I fall and can't get to a land line. I don't have a contract, the minutes roll over and I never use them all. I have almost 3,000 minutes now. If you want to make some long distance phone calls, you can borrow my cell. LOL

We were in the olive garden one night and the folks at the table next to us never got off their phones.It was a couple and the girl was talking to someone about her dad,and by the time we were served i could have told you where her dad worked,what he did for fun,what kind of car he had and who he was ticked off with at the moment.Couldn't hear much of the guys side as the girl talked too loud.

ON dr phil one day this was his subject,and he had parents complaining about their kids,and it showed these 2 GF'S sitting on the couch and they were texting each other instead of talking.WTH

MY GD came to live with us in june,she's almost 25 and that damn phone is like another appendage of her body.Told her right out,that when we sit down to dinner it goes off,and if she is out with us it's to be on vibrate and she's only to answer it if it's an emergency.So far,so good.She knows we are the "My house,my rules kind of folks",and don't plan to change that anytime soon!!!
Kathi