My Experience with Newsgroups
"Opinions
of Strangers"
By
Sandee
Uyehara
Instructions
for this report
Newsgroup #1: Cell Phones in Cars: Do
you think it's safe?
Newsgroup #2: Pet Peeve, Litter
Newsgroup #3: Victim of Road Rage
Newsgroup #4: Why is there so much
swearing on television?
Newsgroup #6: Red Light Green Light
Suggestions for Future Generations
Newsgroup
#1
Cell phones in Cars: Do you think it's safe?
Date:
2/10/2000
ÀI'm researching the issue of whether it's
safe to use a cell phone while you're driving. Do you have any personal
experiences with this issue? What are your thoughts? Should there be laws
restricting talking on the phone while driving. Send an email to
lorent@point.com.
Thanks,
[ Loren Tanner ]
---------------------------
Date:
02/10/2000
ÀSeems like it is too late for any such laws.
A few years ago maybe but there is just too high a percentage of people who
drive and use the phone. It seems as safe as smoking and driving.
---------------------------
Date:
02/10/2000
ÀPerfectly ok, as long as the driver is using
a good handsfree kit - either a simple handsfree kit (though certain types may
be illegal in some areas), or a well designed speaker-phone type thing.
[ Paul Harrison ]
---------------------------
Date:
02/10/2000
À
I totally
support such the outright ban of using a cell phone while driving without a
hands-free kit. This should be a federal law. People drive terrible enough as
is. There have been far too many deaths from people not paying attention to the
road while talking on their cell phone. But more important than laws is public
awareness to the problem. We should be plastered with images and marketing
emphasizing that we pull off to the side of the road if we're going to use our
cell phones.
I think
the way to do this is to make the cell phone companies partially liable for any
deaths and damages that occur while their users are using their cell phones
while driving. This would greatly help in increased awareness to the problem. I
used to be indifferent to this problem, until I read the story of the death of
a 7 year old girl who died in her minivan because some ahole ran a stopsign
while talking on a cell phone. Both parents were in the front seat and saw the
whole thing, and survived. The minivan was hit from the side killing the girl
who was sititng in the back seat. No amount of money or laws can replace the
loss of a human life. But at the very least, we, as a society, should do
everything in our power to make sure that such an accident NEVER happens again.
My Reaction
I also feel that it is unsafe to use a cell phone while driving. The drviver
should completely focus their attention on the road and not distract themselves
while talking on the phone. Using a handsfree kit is a good idea and it should
be required while driving. However, I do not agree with BRT Sound in which he
says that cell phone companies should be partially liable with any deaths or
accidents. The person using the phone should be completely liable because they
are choosing to use the phone when they should be aware that their full
attention should be on driving! It's not fair to put the blame on other people
when you are the one making the mistake. People need to start taking
responsibilities of their own actions. If you need to talk while driving, use a
handsfree kit.
Newsgroup
#2
Pet Peeve, Litter
Date:
2/17/2000
ÀToday I was in traffic waiting at a red
light, when the woman in the car in front of me tossed a crumpled wrapper or
something right out the window. I was so livid (littering is a pet peeve of
mine) I had visions of getting out of the car while the light was still red and
confronting her directly. "I resent you treating my neighborhood like your
personal trash can!!! Is it SUCH a big deal to hang on to that wrapper until
you get home? Or to a trash can?! They're in front of every store!!!"
Instead, I just leaned on my horn before she turned. What would happen if I
crammed it up her tailpipe? Seriously. Hmmm.
My Reaction
This definitely is
a pet peeve of mine also! I hate people who litter and most of all, people who
litter while driving. Living in Hawaii makes me really appreciate nature. Why
do people want to destroy our land? We need to take care of our environment
have respect for nature!
Newsgroup
#3
Victim of Road Rage
Date:
03/20/2000
ÀI was the victim of road rage- or attempted
road rage yesterday. Very disturbing. I was being followed through a 30 limit
by a Volvo (why is it always one of them). Sunny day, kids about and all that-
so no apologies for going slowly. Volvo sits about 3 feet from my back wheel so
I pull the brake lever enough let my speed drop to about 25. Volvo seems to get
the idea and pulls back 20 feet or so. Fine I think. Then on a very short
straight, the volvo accelerates alongside me, hand on horn. Blind corner coming
up so I hit the anchors and let it in front, with my horn going. Volvo cuts me
off then stops hard. I went alongside and stopped outside the drivers door.
Woman
driver tries to get out (who knows what for- probably to damage my bike) but my
leg is in the way of her door. Starts ranting about reporting me and god knows
what else. I use all the swear words I can think of (being Scottish, that is
quite a few) and just drive off. It only struck me later that she had a kid
(guess at 7 or so) in the boot, completely un-belted in and all that and she
was still willing to drive like that. Really makes you wonder. I just wonder
why some people get so upset. Too much time cooped up in a volvo maybe..?
Happy riding,
[ Euain ]
---------------------------
Date:
03/23/2000
ÀI like to just smile and wave at those angry
car people. :) It makes them go even more bonkers.
Mark...
My Reaction
I really like what
Mark had to say about smiling at those angry drivers. Although I haven't been a
victim of road rage yet (knock on wood), it sounds like a very serious problem.
Drivers should not let their emotions take control over them. As we learned in
our Psychology class, people need to be emotionally intelligent so that we do
not react irrationally in certain situations. And about being confrontational
like the lady in the Volvo is very dangerous. You really don't know how certain
people will react so be very very cautious and try to avoid confrontations.
Newsgroup
#4
Why is
there so much swearing on television?
Date:
03/06/2000
À
Why is
there so much swearing on TV these days. Not only is it offensive but it also
sets a bad example to any children watching.
--------------------------
Date:
03/06/2000
ÀOf course, in the real world, all children
above the age of 10 or so swear, so it won't make much difference.À [ Greg ]
--------------------------
Date:
03/09/2000
ÀI don't see why anybody would want to censor
swearing on the television or anywhere else. Not only is swearing commonplace
but swearing is just using words, not harming anybody else.
White Shite
--------------------------
Date:
03/06/2000
À
If you're
a parent then it's your responsibility to stop them watching unsuitable
material.
À
My Reaction
I do agree that
there is lots of swearing on television nowadays and that it is offensive to
some people. However, I also agree that in the real world, children hear it all
the time and swearing is very common. Parents should be responsible if they do
not want their children to hear such language. Why let your child watch shows
that contain profanity if you don't like it? Also, parents should set the right
example. If you don't want your child to swear, than they should not swear.
Remember that children learn by observing the adults around them. Always be
aware of what you say or do in front of young children.
Newsgroup
#5
Timid
Drivers
Date:
2000/04/17
ÀEver have that annoying driver along side of
you that constantly matches your speed? Most I have found are driving faster
than me to catch up with me, but then refuse to pass. They just sit there. It
takes are sudden change, either hard acceleration or braking to break their
'herding bond'.
My Reaction
It is really annoying when there
is a car alongside you on the highway that won't pass or overtake you and is
driving at the same speed you are. This timid driver is annoying but I don't
think they are doing this on purpose to irritate you. I think they are just
trying to keep up with the traffic. What I hate more is when a driver cuts in
front of you and starts driving slower than what you were driving. Now, this is
what I call annoying!
Newsgroup
#6
Red Light
Green Light
Date:
2000/04/18
À
Related
to this is the person cruising along on a street, approaching a green light.
And all of a sudden, that person will get on the brakes as if he was thinking:
"Gosh, the light is green, but WHOAH, it could turn *YELLOW* any moment,
ohmyGAWD this is DANGEROUS, I'd better SLOW DOWN!" And when that light
DOES turn yellow they go through the intersection anyway. And, to top it off;
by the time *I* get there it's red.
My Reaction
This happens to me all the time,
especially when I am running late for an appointment. However, I understand
that this driver is being cautious so I should not get upset. Being angry and
rushing to get somewhere is a cause for a accident. My motto is to leave at
least 10 minutes earlier. It is always better to be early than late.
Conclusion
My experience with
newsgroups was very interesting. This is the first time that I have ever
participated in any type of newsgroup so it was a good experience. Rather than
posting a message, I would prefer being a lurker because it is interesting to
read about what other people have to say about certain topics. We all have our
own mind so I feel that newsgroups is a good place where people can speak
freely about what they believe in. I also felt that newsgroups is a good place
to gather information. If you want to find out about something in particular,
people are willing to help. Although, I did find some people who were complete
idiots and did not respect other writers. But I guess this is what newsgroups
is about, speaking your mind freely is what makes it interesting.
Suggestions
My suggestions to future
generations is to start your assignments early. Earlier the better! Start on it
now! Do it right away! Do not procrastinate! I can't stress on this enough. One
thing that really helped me out was looking at other student's reports. It's
really interesting to see how your classmates do on their homepage. Some people
really get into it and it can be fun! But like I said, start on it early so you
can fully enjoy the class!
Back to top
|
|