Word Sell. Inc. has an ongoing group blogging project on Cellphone Users and Abusers. Since the topic is interesting, I now give my two cents’ worth on it. It helps that am in the Philippines, the so-called “texting capital of the world.” This way I get to see cellphone mania in action. Here goes my Top 3 Cellphone Peeves:

1. Texting when it’s not safe.

An example of this is using/not turning off the cellphone in the airplane, before take-off or even upon landing. Am afraid of flying so I get paranoid when somebody insists on texting, as we all know that wireless signals can interfere with the aircraft’s navigation/communication device. There’s such a thing as an Offline Mode, all right, but most airlines still prohibit cellphone use at crucial points, or until the plane has skidded to a complete stop.

Texting while driving … this is self-explanatory really. I just know that somebody’s doing it when am on the road and the car in front of me is moving real slow. Too bad that the law on using cellphones in the road is not fully enforced in the country, in the same way as the seatbelt rule. But yes, you do imagine how disastrous the consequences are using the cellphone while driving in a busy highway? Funny, but am sure some people still insist on doing it.

Oh, I would follow the rule too against using cellphones while inside the banks. With the ever-present possibility of bank or money-related robberies in these parts, there must a reason why security personnel implement the “no cellphone rule.” It’s for our own good.

2. Not using the cellphone’s Silent Mode.

Wonder why even the most educated people are guilty of this, or don’t spare us the ignominy of their ring tones. Yes, there’s such a thing s a Silent Mode when you’re in a meeting, funeral, concert, moviehouse, etc. Nuff said

3. Using far-from-literate text lingo.

Yes it’s true, in the texting capital of the world, text lingo has evolved into a life of its own, one that will put Uncle Webster to shame.

“Wer na u? W8 me u d2 sa Country Style, 8s nir Bayo.” DUH.

I dread the day when my kids write in text lingo and think it’s the right way to communicate. Am just lucky that the boyfriend texts me with “we’re” and “you’re,” as necessary, not UR or WER Makes me feel that everything’s normal with the world.

Last word: there’s life after cellphones!