Saw this status on a friend's FB, saying "the new drunk driving: text walking". It is probably true that text walking can be as dangerous as drunk driving.
Now many people just stuck their face into the screens, texting, or on the internet, or whatever, while they are sitting, standing, and walking. While texting in class may get one lower grades, text walking might cost one's life. I've seen people text walking and cars almost hit them. They were lucky when the drivers were paying attention, if the drivers were drunk or text driving, bad things could happen! The potential harm is pretty well ackowledged by most people, but it is just hard not to be text walking sometimes for some of them. Just like it is the case with some drunk drivers who choose to drive even though they are aware of the risks (or maybe not if they are really drunk?), some people just can't resist the temptation of replying or initiating some text messages while they are walking.
While tripping over or rng into other people or objects are not new for us, a simple Google search of text walking brings up some really ridiculous stories. "A man in La Crescenta, Calif., learned this lesson when his obliviousness brought him face-to face with a bear". "Texting while walking, woman falls into fountain (at mall)." "St.Joseph -- A 44-year-old woman who was texting while she walked fell from the South Pier on Lake Michigan and needed the help of bystanders, police and Coast Guard officers to be fished out". And a student in UT got a ticket while texting and walking when the red light's on.
All these stories are real. I just hope people will be more aware of this kind of side effect from the new social tools we have, and stay away from unnecessary harms.
Reso
http://www.syracuse.com/have-you-heard/index.ssf/2012/04/california_man_encounters_bear.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500202_162-7265096.html
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/austin/walking-texting-leads-to-ticket
Now many people just stuck their face into the screens, texting, or on the internet, or whatever, while they are sitting, standing, and walking. While texting in class may get one lower grades, text walking might cost one's life. I've seen people text walking and cars almost hit them. They were lucky when the drivers were paying attention, if the drivers were drunk or text driving, bad things could happen! The potential harm is pretty well ackowledged by most people, but it is just hard not to be text walking sometimes for some of them. Just like it is the case with some drunk drivers who choose to drive even though they are aware of the risks (or maybe not if they are really drunk?), some people just can't resist the temptation of replying or initiating some text messages while they are walking.
While tripping over or rng into other people or objects are not new for us, a simple Google search of text walking brings up some really ridiculous stories. "A man in La Crescenta, Calif., learned this lesson when his obliviousness brought him face-to face with a bear". "Texting while walking, woman falls into fountain (at mall)." "St.Joseph -- A 44-year-old woman who was texting while she walked fell from the South Pier on Lake Michigan and needed the help of bystanders, police and Coast Guard officers to be fished out". And a student in UT got a ticket while texting and walking when the red light's on.
All these stories are real. I just hope people will be more aware of this kind of side effect from the new social tools we have, and stay away from unnecessary harms.
Reso
http://www.syracuse.com/have-you-heard/index.ssf/2012/04/california_man_encounters_bear.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500202_162-7265096.html
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/austin/walking-texting-leads-to-ticket