Cell Phones Turning Teens Into Chimpanzees
READ MORE: Cellphones, Chimpanzees, research

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Well, this is certainly news. Looks like a professor at the Kyoto University Primate Research Institute has accused Japanese teenagers of acting like monkeys—all because of their overuse of mobile phones. Basically, younger folk are mocking the behavior of chimpanzees by losing the ability to discern between public and private space.

“They don’t eat meals at home with family members and you can clearly see with your own eyes the large increase in young people who hang about on the streets together with the same old friends,” Masataka says. “They make places like Shibuya their territory and rarely head even to places like (nearby entertainment and shopping districts) Shinjuku or Harajuku. They get tired going to new places or meeting new people. If they get hungry while they’re strolling around, they simply get food by going into a convenience store, buying something and sitting down outside on the curb to eat it. If not that, then they just hang around for hours in fast food joints.”

Well, I have to admit, it sounds frighteningly like my younger years, and though I don’t like to say I’m old, I can firmly assert that I didn’t have a mobile phone. However, Masataka says these behaviors closely resembles the behavior of chimps

which tend to travel in groups, walking around for a long time without going to any specific place, then eating and disposing of their wastes in the same place before bedding down on piles of grass whenever and wherever the inclination takes them.

And this intense loitering happens because of cellphones. He believes parents allow their kids out later because they can reach them easily, and this is actually cutting down on the communications within families. And of course, let’s not even get started on the whole text messaging thing limiting conversations. Now can someone please tell the Creationists about this?

Mobile phones making a monkey out of Japanese [Mainichi Daily News]

Brought a smile to my face reading that.

Just like all the gangs around my way, it makes alot of sense.

Didnt need a professor to work it out though?

I think cell phones are a waste. I do not, nor ever will own one for personal use.


Lapi'che

I Australia everyone has a mobile phone. It is unusual if someone doesn't. We have camera functions, music functions, games, etc. In fact I have even thought that we use them for 'safety' the same way as Americans carry guns for 'safety'....

They are just fine for that. They should be used just for emergencies. But when people who can't walk and chew gum at the same time are in front or next to you on the highway gabbing away then forget what indicator lights are for or they don't see you it's a problem. Or the ignoramous that talks to you while on the phone at the same time. Or that agravating Nextel "roger beep" when your eating in a restaurant.


Lapi'che


* grabs phone while being charged by bear * NAH! Won't work in the woods. LOL just kidding Roo.

That's in every country (everybody having a cell phone these days)

Personally, I think everyone SHOULD have a cell phone. They should not use them while driving because those people annoy the hell out of me, but having a cell phone and other people I might want to get in touch with having a cell phone is good.

I think this guy is just mad that no one ever wants to call him on his?

PIney, i agree whit you too. Here in Argentina, i see cellphones even in the soup!! There are comercials of it everywere, and all go in the street has zombies talking, taking pictures, sending text msn, or playing the silly games it has. Truly bizarre.

My 13 year old has one for emergencies. We carefully monitor who she talks to by the bill.

I hate having to listen to those little buggers whom insist on testing out their ringtones in public, and on FULL-BLAST!!! Never mind hearing a one-way conversation about "who dumped who", and "who's gonna get the crap kicked out of them tonight because they tried it on with blah-blah last night" They don't exactly speak quietly, lol.

AcK!

EDIT: And the part that really bugs me, is that the person who they're talking to on the phone, is most likely the person they're on their way to see. They'll be at their house in like 10 minutes, so why let the rest of the world know what's happening?

I was never a big fan of mobile phones and if I wasn`t with Tiddlyjen I probably still wouldn`t have one. I only use it to speak with her, my family and in case of emergencies. And I certainly dont go around upgrading it every couple of months like everyone else who seems to think its a necessity!

Yeah! It would come in real handy here in the Pine Barrens. You can watch it flash "no signal" like it does on the state troopers when we're out looking for a missing person.

Lapi'che

Yes those people who drives cars and talk on their mobiles should be banned, along with old-men-hat drivers.

Hey, Piney, maybe they should equip mobiles with tasars to zap those regular oncoming bears or those nuisence drivers!!

I think mobile phones are a good idea, but using them just for the sake of it is annoying - mainly by kids. Kids should have them for emergencies only.


My opinion.

Lol, that's a thought.

I think they're ok for emergency's but I'd say about 90% of the people I know use them for texting and games and ringtones etc. and that's when it annoys the crap out of me.

Please...get back on subject.

But the subject is.... mobile phones. Or should we be talking about monkeys?

How Mobile phones effect the younger majority. Not just mobile phones or primates.

Chimps? Ha! I have had a cell phone now for the past four years now and I can tell you I'm no more ape like than anyone else. Of course kids stay in groups, I mean it's not that surprising. I don't think you get dumber if you use your cell a bit too much.

They should be equipped with 911 and their home numbers and nothing else PERIOD!
and all those stupid add-ons are part of the idiot technology that makes people "sensory retarded".


Lapi'che

Not to mention the radiation microwaving their brain cells

But exactly how did this scientist come to the conclusion that the cause of this is Cellphones?!

I hate cordless phones, give me a corded phone anyday!

however, for those out their considering buying a mobile phone, for the love of your hard earned money DO NOT get T-Mobile! it is the worst service in the nation, Catherine Zeta LIES!

The best service in America is probably Verizon, however Verizon guys are difficult to work with. (no offense to any Verizon workers here...if any).

That report is ridiculous. You can find connections between anything if you look hard enough.

Also, their reasoning for blaming cell phones is pretty crude; it's as if they want to blame cell phones. This is a very weak attempt at discrediting mobile phones if you ask me.

Cellphones turning teens into primates? Hmm . . I'm not a big fan of Cellphones, but why blame Cellphones . . the beeps, the lights?? It's just like JayMan said, "You can find connections between anything if you look hard enough."

I'll take a 'landline' phone any day!!

I hate cell phones, they kinda crowd me. I have to carry it wherever I go, I really hate it when it rings when I'm busy, I always keep it in the vibrating mode, no ring tones for me. I use a cell phone just because I stay away from home and my family needs to get in touch with me. Almost all my friends and everybody in my office has it. The problem is that most people give a damn to what inconvenience they are causing others. Many people speak over the cell phone absolutely anywhere, not to mention, the loud voice and the irritating ringtones that they use.

Having said all this, I believe a cell phone is very useful in an emergency. Cell phones are not actually that bad, you just have to use them right.

Gee, I remember hanging out with my friends and getting food from convenience stores when I was a teenager too. And any portable phones we had then were about 5 pounds and had to be plugged in somewhere -- making them kinda not portable.

I think it scary that so many kids are glued to their cell-phones because people are forgetting how to interract socially with the world. Between video games, internet, TV, cell phones and even stuff like drive thru fast food joints -- NO ONE know how to interact on a casual social level anymore. I'm talking about changing a pleasantry or two with the check out girl at the supermarket, or saying "Hey, where did you find the pickled herring?" to the person behind you in line. I hate that that stuff is going away. People look at you like you're nuts if you say one thing to them -- and then they just plug themselves back into whatever technological coma they are currently experiencing.

lol I thought about that as soon as I read:


Bet somebody $50 the writer is an atheist and an evolutionist.

i only use my phone for send text messages to friends if i need to. i also use it as an adrees book and i love the cordless phone. it allows me to talk to my friends without my parents listening