Cellular Sub-Culture

I had first written this post about a month ago and when I had almost finished it, I decided to give it a quick read. After which I found myself thinking that this stuff isn’t relevant anymore and it all sounds like nonsense as a result of which, I didn’t post it.
(That, and the fact that my comp switched off before I could save or publish it!!)

Anyways, a recent experience at a friend’s place totally affirmed my theory, so much so, that throughout the evening I had this self praising grin on my face. I even brought it up a couple of times. (I guess it was just a full on pat-my-own-back fest!) With renewed faith in my views I’m now putting it down.

On more than a few occasions, I’ve noticed a whole new social behavioral pattern that I like to call the cellular sub-culture.

I’m sure we’ve all noticed it or done it, you walk into this place, meet up with your friends, new and old, say hey and blam – “hey is that the new N blah blah blah? Whats the internal memory? How many Mega Pixels? Edge? Gprs? Air-bag? Anti-rape alarm? DVD player? Solution to end world suffering??!!!” Yes, the cellphone of today has everything and more but that’s not the problem. The fact that we all talk about the phones from time to time also isn’t that bad. It’s when it replaces all other topics of conversation and ends up sounding like elvish, that you know isn’t commonplace behavior. Whatever happened to "so whats your favourite colour?" rather than "the N XXXX comes in a variety of colours." If, you know what i mean?

I consider myself the average tech loving guy but even for me, phone talks get outta hand. I actually have friends who can talk entirely in numbers and know exactly what they mean. Stuff like “have you seen the 1232? It got a higher processor than the 6738 or the 63532. I love the i373o’s looks, it’s been based on the 3435!!!” I just stand by like “is the 3435 the one with the squiggly lines on the back?”

I think back to a simpler time (not too long ago) when you went from one place to another and weren’t paranoid that people can’t reach you, and wonder how it’ll ever be the same. It won’t. Infact, there’s gonna be more of it, all around us. But living with technology and spending all your spare time talking bout it are two different things of which the latter one, atleast, I hope I can avoid....for now.

Meanwhile, I’m gonna go check my phone cos it hasn’t made a sound in 15 whole minutes and my hands are beginning to tremble. I am hopelessly addicted.