Aug 22, 2015 2 min read

According to the letter, “Chat more, text less,” which appeared Aug. 1, “This country has two major problems that support one another. They are drugs and cellphones.”

I agree and disagree with this statement. Drugs are definitely a problem, but I don’t think that cellphones and drug use support each other. Saying cellphones are a “tool for drug dealers” is silly. A vehicle can easily be a tool as well. Cellphone use can be a problem, depending on the situation. There are definitely situations where cellphone use should be limited, but there are many more reasons why it shouldn’t be.

It’s estimated that over 90 percent of American adults own a cellphone and over half own a smartphone. Mobile phones play a huge part in the economy, and they can be very useful. There are countless apps for smartphones that make life a lot easier. They also make communication with loved ones easier, by allowing you to video chat and even get ahold of someone quickly via texting.

It all comes down to the user. They shouldn’t text and drive, and they don’t have to answer calls. I would never be without a cellphone, and neither should anyone else. What would happen in an emergency if no one had a cellphone? Emergency use alone makes them a huge necessity. As a society, we have become dependent on cellphones and the only thing we can do is learn to manage the time and place we use them.

Joseph Armstrong

Houston