As I was reading the material from the 1920s and thinking about “what’s missing” in Hist and Major Problems it dawned on me that when we teach about technological advances, we typically ignore one gigantic field: medicine. Hist mentions some prior advances, like the introduction of aspirin. But while we pay a lot of attention to the emergence and democratization of automobiles or the role of the radio in disseminating information and creating new entertainment cultures, we rarely include the medical world or its transformation.
Including medical history would be a significant way to amp up the global history of the United States as well, since so many medical problems and innovations move across and beyond national borders. The influenza epidemic, for instance, would get much more attention. The discovery of vitamins and identifying of particular ones (and then the synthesizing of them). Penicilin would become just as important to the 1920s as the radio, perhaps. And the history could move forward into the late 1930s with the creation of the first U.S. blood bank in Boston. Innovations with and discoveries in blood could even be tied to civil rights stories through the life and legends of Charles Drew – the black doctor who helped the Red Cross develop its method of collecting blood, but then barred African Americans from donating. Legend had it that he was refused a medical stay or a transfusion because of his race. It wasn’t true, but the story mattered. Does anybody know a good medical history of the U.S. for this?
But now to the question of what to do with the material in Hist and Major Problems. I plan on asking my students to pick another kind of poison: if you had to go without one of these, your cell phone or your car, which would it be? The point of the question would be to think about the 1920s and which was altered society more: the automobile or the radio (I’ll see the cell phone as the descendant of the radio and the automobile the descendant of the … well … automobile). If any students want to chime in now and connect their opinion to the readings, I’d love to hear it. If not, expect that question when we meet again.
If I had to give up a car or cell phone I would give up my car first. A car seemed like such an essential item, which it is, but now that I’m in college without a car it’s not a big deal. There are so many other ways of transportation that are available that allow me to still get from place to place. As a result, that makes giving up a car easy. Also, I believe a cell phone is an item that everyone must have. It no longer allows you to just talk on the phone but it provides email access, GPS, a calendar, a camera, internet access and much more. Everything I need is in one little device. The phone even gives me the ability to find other ways of transportation since I gave up my car.
However, in the 1920’s I believe the automobile was more important than the radio. The automobile had a bigger effect on society than transportation. It led to the assembly line, which sped up production of items and the “five-dollar day” which created a supply of consumers. The radio didn’t start becoming effective until after the economy turned into a consumer economy because it was used to advertise products nationally including cars. So, I think the automobile industry helped create the radio and its effectiveness. Therefore the car was more important in the 1920s.
If I had to give up a car or cell phone, I would give up the car. This is an easy choice for me since I do not own a car and I am pretty comfortable riding the bus as a means of transportation. My phone has everything I need, unlimited texting, internet, means of communication and plenty of apps to help pass the time. I feel as if the cell phone is more important as these new smart phones are capable of performing many tasks we encounter every day. Cell phones are pretty much a must have, there are other means of transportation aside from owning a car.
As far as what was more important in the 1920’s however, I think the automobile was of greater importance compared to the radio. Sure the radio brought music into homes and the dance scene became a big craze, but the 1920’s were the time of the flapper. Young men and women wanted to go out and have a night of fun, a car was needed to get around the town and have fun. Automobiles were able to get people from point A to point B rather quickly. People were able to go out and enjoy themselves to a much greater extent from what listening to the radio at home offered. The automobile offered a new late night fun craze and allowed people to live a more enjoyable life, and for that, I say the automobile was more important for the time.
If I have to give up a car or my cell phone, I would give up my car. I can’t see my self with out my phone. There are other types of transportation besides a car. I can always take a bus, the trolley, or ask family or friends to drive me around if I really need it. I don’t use my car often unless I go up north to visit, other than that I don’t really need a car, despite the “ok” alternative transportation. Having a car is time efficient, but if I plan ahead I can still get to my destination on time, even if I have to get early. A phone is what I can’t live without; it has everything I need from texting, internet, apps, GPS, and etc. There is so much a phone can do compare to a car. To me communication is more important than a car.
This leads me to picking a radio instead of a car in the 1920s. Yes a car was a new way to go out and have fun and enjoy the night life, but how many times can u go to the same places over and over again. I feel a radio is more important, we don’t just get entertainment, we get news and important announcements. A radio allows people to communicate faster than a car in the 1920s. There are other ways to travel besides a car, and if u do want to transport by car, ask a friend I’m pretty sure they would have one.
Scott Cooper said…
If I had to give up my car or cell phone, I would give up my cell phone. I would give up my cell phone because I can still get to school and work without it. I would have to take the bus which would take hours, causing my days to be way to long. In the 1920s the radio was great for entertainment, but from what I read people wanted to go out and see entertainment not just listen to it on the radio. Entertainment was new and people wanted to experience it in person. I feel if I did not have a car it would be hard for me to get by, I have to drive 20 miles to school and about 15 miles to work everyday. I feel the car was valued more in the 1920s as well, because it allowed people to expand their small circle they were able to travel to, which was very small before the car.
I would give up my car. Even though transportation is really important for me, I couldn’t live without communication to other people. Walking is always and option as well as public transportation. If it were also necessary i could always get a ride with one of my friends. I also think that communication in the 1920’s was more important than mobility. People didn’t have the luxury to call up a friend everyday to say what’s up! Those people turned to the radio to feel connected with the rest of world and have a sense of connection with their fellow Americans. Overall, a car is convenient, but communication whether it’s through the radio or cell phone, is essential to life in the 1920’s and today.
Kristina Lynn
So most of you would choose your phone … in part because of public transporation (that’s a nice “end-around” the question). But wouldn’t there be other ways to acquire information and interact with people than a phone? One could, for instance, drive to the library to get information there. Or one could drive to see friends or family. I’ve had my cell off for 5 days now and I don’t miss it (and I went off Facebook more than a year ago and do not feel like I’m missing any personal interactions). Just thinking out loud about this.
I actually have relatively recent experience living without both, and I would say my answer would most definitely be to live without a cell phone. Living in Japan for two years I had neither cell nor automobile, and somehow survived relatively well adjusted. I would stay in touch with my family mostly from my home computer and with occasional calls from my home phone. I never felt like I was out of communication with people.
Without a car in Japan it was easy to take public transit, but compared to our friends overseas public transit in the United States is a joke. Besides that, the car represents something more in Americana to me… freedom. You aren’t restricted by some schedule or route, you can hop in your car at any time and go anywhere you want. I love the sense of freedom that provides. Calling up my friends and talking is nice and all, but I much prefer to drive over and say hello in person.
If I had to give up either my phone or my car, I would definitely give up my phone. I believe that my car is a lot more useful in my personal everyday lifestyle. On the otherhand my phone, I could live without because I could drive to my friends homes and have a conversation with them in person (which I think is better anyways) rather than shooting them a text or a phone call. My car is more useful than my phone because I it makes traveling to places more convenient, because I can choose when I want to leave and I can also control how fast I go. I think that both the radio and the car were important to Americans during the 1920s but ultimately I think that the car was more important because it allowed Americans to get to work and home much faster than taking public transportation because it gave them more time to spend with their families and less time traveling. Even though the radio was also important, it wasn’t the only way of connecting with the rest of the world; the newspaper was still booming and they could find out about national news from that rather than just the radio. Overall, I think that the car had a greater impact on the Americans of the 1920s simply because it was much more practical and was used in their everyday lives.
If I had to give up either my cell phone or my car, I would definitely give up my cell phone. For me, information about friends and/or family can be achieved by simply seeing the person that I wish to talk to. Although cell phones do come in handy at times, I do think that not having my car would be a much bigger problem. I find that I am behind the wheel of my car far more than I am using my cell phone whether it is to run errands or go to and from school.
If I lived back in the 1920s, and I had to give up either an automobile or a radio, I would give up the radio. Again, although radios may have been helpful, I think that one could have heard news stories through word of mouth instead of having to listen to the radio. With the automobile becoming more and more popular and necessary throughout the 1920s, I think that the automobile would have been more handy to have access to.
Thanks,
Devin W
If i had to choose between my cell phone and my car, I’d definitely choose my cell phone. The car would be the more logical choice because it is more convenient for transportation in a short amount of time, however, I would prefer to keep my cell phone because it keeps me connected to everyone no matter how far they are. It also provides me with GPS, internet, games, music, and so much more. I would definitely miss having the convenience of a car, but there are so many other ways of transportation that I can utilize such as the bus or trolley. In the 1920s I think the automobile would be more important than the radio. The radio gave people entertainment at home so they could feel connected to what’s going on outside instead of literally leaving their house, but the 1920s was the time of the flappers. People wanted to go out around the town so I think the car would be more important because it gave them easy transportation to wherever they wanted to go. The automobile gave people the chance to experience the night life for themselves so they didn’t have to just sit at home and listen to the news on the radio. It allowed people to go anywhere they wanted so I believe the automobile was more important than the radio in the 1920s.
Kim T.
Whether or not to give up my car or my cell phone is definitely a tough question. The cell phone allows me the convenience of call my parents, texting my friends, playing games, using GPS, even checking anything I want on the internet. The car allows me to get to anywhere my heart, and my tank of gas, allows me to go. Even for an info-maniac such as myself, I would have to give up the cell phone. The car is overall the best thing to keep, I mean I still remember times before the cell phone was widely used, at that was just to make a phone call. This would also be the case in the 1920’s. The automobile has had much more impact on society. It allowed Americans to get out of their little bubble and be able to easily travel more than 50 miles away from their house. While the radio provided entertainment, the automobile allowed for travel from rural areas to the urban cities, from the inlands to the beaches, and vice versa. I could not imagine living without my car today. Now say the car had never been invented in the 20’s and public transportation had been built up, I may choose the cell phone over the car. Yet in modern America, I would choose my car over my cell phone anyday.
If I had to give up my cell phone or my car I would choose my car. This is simply because i would call everyone else and have them come to me. Just kidding. I would give up my car however because i have things very centralized living here in San Diego. School is a bike ride away as well as work. Communication can be obtained very quickly through my phone (much faster then physically driving to the source). I feel the same would have applied during the 1920’s. Giving up your radio meant you either had to walk or drive somewhere to obtain that information which could have been passed quickly over the radio. For instance, if you wanted to know about a citizen meeting at town hall (Date time etc.) you would have to go down to town hall and ask someone. Maybe your local grocery would know but that still requires physically going down and talking to someone. The radio would broadcast that information very quickly and efficiently similarly the cell phone today.
Note-Also what helped spring my decision was my dependency on my little hand crank radio during the blackout!
Jonathan C
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Choosing if I would give up my car or my cell phone, I would definitely chose my car. Currently, there are very few occasions I have to leave campus and very few situations that I cannot depend on public transportation. Giving up my car would also be the more economically friendly choice, which would make me feel more confident in my decision. Coming from New Jersey to California, my phone is my way of communicating with family and friends on the other side of the country. It is already hard enough being away from everyone I spent my entire life with and to take away my main source of communication with them would not be easy for me. Although it is true that I can use my computer for this, phones have proven to be far more convenient. With the time difference and my family’s limited knowledge of technology, skype has not proven to be very effective in my situation. Phones are very good for on-the-go usage and I would find myself at a much greater loss without it.
However, if I were living in the 1920’s I would definitely like to keep my automobile rather than the radio. Things were not as close together back then and public transportation was not as developed as it is now. I definitely care about staying in touch with what is happening in the world and our country, however I care more about staying in touch with, and being able to see my family and friends. If I lived on my own, this would not be easy without a car and I would instead feel very trapped inside my own town. I enjoy traveling and getting away and that would be very hard for me, therefore I would definitely prefer a car.
I have to go with most of the crowd and give up my car before my cell phone. A car is necessary from getting to point A to point B, but once you are at your destination, it doesn’t have much use. A cell phone is in use every minute of the day. It serves as a convenient form of communication no matter where you are. Pay phones an computers are effective ways of communicating, but they are not as simple as a cell phone. The average cell phone bill is about 30 dollars a month, but depending on the car, gas can cost up to 200 dollars a month.
In the 1920’s, I would have given up my radio before my car. The car back then was one of the only forms of transportation besides walking. Railroads were still running, but they were an inconvenience if you did not live right next to a station. The automobile not only created a mass amount of jobs, but also allowed for more growth in the suburbs. The personal car allowed for men to work in the city, but have the option to live outside of the city in the suburbs. Radios were very important for understanding what was going on in the country, but it would be very easy to listen to a radio in a public place or at a neighbor’s house. It would be a lot easier to borrow a radio than borrow someone’s car.
If I had to give up my cell phone or my car today, I would give up my car. My cell phone has become the way I get through my days successfully. If i had no cell phone, i don’t know if I could remember anything and I would eventually have no friends. Practically everyone has a cell phone today, and not everyone have cars. Half of my friends don’t have cars, and, although they mooch on rides from their friends alot, they can still get around. We are blessed with conveniences such as trolley and bus systems that can help us get from place to place. You could even call a taxi if you were really stuck. But, if you were stranded, how would you contact a friend or a taxi?- a cell phone. This is why mobile phones are a necessity today.
In the 1920s, I think I would have given up a radio over my car. Having a car in the 1920’s would have extremely helped life and bring possibility to explore and thrive during that time. A radio was a luxury to be connected to the fresh radio world, but, I don’t think it would have brought as much positives and life changing experiences than a car would have done.
Its actually pretty ironic that I am having to choose between a cell phone and a car because I just lost my cell phone 2 days ago and I am miserable without it! However, as inconvenient as it is not having my phone right now, I could live without it. I dont think I could live without my car though. School is a 15 minute commute and my parents house is 20 minutes away so it would be extremely annoying to have to take a bus everywhere.
If I were in the 20’s I would probably give up the radio over the car. As much as I love music, I still think that the car is so much more useful and valued. It seems like communities were all so secluded from each other, so it would be nice to be able to break out of that and travel.
did you lose your phone in your car?
I would much rather have a car than a phone if I had to choose between the two. Maybe it’s because I’ve never had the “everything-in-one” iPhone but I feel as though an automobile is a much greater necessity. I’ve taken the public transport many times and it doesn’t take you everywhere and usually takes up a chunk of your day going from point A to point B. The phone is also a necessity but mainly for the function of communicating with your friends quickly. There are many quick alternatives for communicating to others such as facebook and skype. Not having a car is easy to cope with as a freshman living in the dorms, but 10 years from now I don’t want to be relying on buses and trolleys as a means of getting food, supplies, going to work, and visiting friends and family.
If I had to give up my car or my cell phone, it might depend on where i was living. Here in San Diego i would give up my cell phone because i can always find another source of communication. My computer is awesome for that. My car is used a lot even as a freshman living in the dorms. Living on campus isn’t very fun especially when all you see every single day when you wake up in the morning is school. Getting off campus for a short drive is really nice. And i also live a few hours from home so it’s nice to be able to drive back for the weekend and visit my family. But if I were living in New York City, i would easily give up my car. Walking or taking the subway is a lot easier when traffic is that bad. Taking the train or an airplane to travel instead of having my car would be fine with me. I would be perfectly content living with just my cell phone. But then again, I’m not living in New York City, so I’m going to have to stick with giving up my cell phone.
Oh sorry i forgot to answer the last part, In the 1920’s i think i would give up my radio. Although radios are an important source for news and entertainment, a car gave people the opportunity to travel easier and see more than just the town they live in. Getting the news from another source was possible, you didn’t have to have a radio, and you could also find entertainment elsewhere. But often, to get to your entertainment you would need a car so i would definitely want one of those. I think automobiles and radios have both impacted society in big ways but I’m going to have to say the automobile was greater.
If I had to choose whether to give up my cell phone or my car I would give up my car. Being a freshman and living in the dorms, I don’t have a car and I can get places just fine by walking, biking, and using public transportation. I find my cell phone extremely important for communicating with friends and convenient when using the internet and much more. If living in the 1920’s I would still choose to give up my car, because like I mentioned above, there are other modes of transportation, including even asking a friend for a ride. A radio or cell phone in that time would be very helpful when trying to communicate with people that don’t live close, and the radio is nice to stay connected with what’s going on in the world.
Thats almost a catch 22 for a girl who hasn’t had a car for over a year and until recently had a cell phone that tended to turn off spontaneously. After having both of these two things missing from my life for awhile I honestly would have to say that I would pick to give up my car. I have learned how amazing walking places is, and how much more you get out life when you slow down and take the time to enjoy everything you see when you walk or bike places. Asking people for rides too has helped me be more social and more willing to ask for help in a lot of other ways. My cell phone is sort of my life-line: i feel disconnected without it. Its what i access the internet with and how i communicate with my family and friends and how I stay up to date with news and other media. Living in the 1920’s would not change my answer. The car wasn’t as huge of a deal then as most things in cities that people needed for life was in one central area and poorer people couldn’t afford cars anyway, so in my situation of being a poor college student i wouldn’t be able to buy a car anyway, and a radio would have been able to keep me connected to the world. It would have provided me with entertainment in the form of music, and it would have kept me connected to news and other forms of broadcasted information. I understand the importance of the automobile because it was one of the hugest achievements ever for our world, but for me as a person I would definitely have wanted to stay connected to the world rather than get around in it faster.
Rebecca Arbino
If I had to choose to ditch my car or my phone, I would definitely give up my phone. I don’t even like it that much anyways. My car however gives me freedom to do what I want, when I want. Cell phones drive people crazy. It would be so cool to go back to the days where people sent postcards and hand written letters. The postman would probably cease to exist without the automobile! Goodbye priority and overnight mail. Yeah, cell phones are convenient but they aren’t essential. What if you worked and went to school and you had no car? You’d have to ride your bike (which would be good for you) and could take hours out of your day. People wouldn’t get a good amount of sleep nor get the social interactions which are extremely essential to human beings. People have said that they would take public transportation if they gave up automobile, but isn’t a bus an automobile? So they would have to take a horse or a train (if they existed) and then have to walk/ride their bike to their destination. Having the internet wouldn’t be affected by cellphones being non-existent. We could still have computers and such with the cellphone never being created. But, I’m not going lie, it would be pretty cool to ride a horse everywhere.
In the 1920’s I would still choose to keep the automobile. The radio was ONE form of entertainment. It was not the only source of entertainment. The creation of the automobile also creating tons of jobs for Americans. The radio was cool because you could hear stories and broadcasts on it, but the car was ever cooler because you could go see those stories live!
P.S. I responded to these with the notion that all automobiles, cell phones, or radios were never created.
To me, the car equals freedom, and the cell phone equals luxury. When I moved here from Hawaii I had to go without my car for a couple of weeks while it was being shipped and it was torture. While my husband was at work I was stuck in the house all day with nowhere to go. I felt very isolated and alone. I do not live near campus, and the only public transportation available was the bus. Transportation by bus is inconvenient and time consuming. I would much rather have my car. Sure, cell phones are convenient, but to me they are not a necessity. I remember a time, not too long ago, when cell phones were not nearly as popular and a few cents in my pocket could get me a phone call while out in public if something came up.
In the 1920’s the radio brought people together, while the car separated them. The car allowed for freedom and forever changed adolescence; teenagers could escape the watchful eyes of parents. The radio brought news and entertainment directly in to people’s homes. People all over the country could be listening to the same program at the same time. However, more entertainment was available through the car. People could drive to see movies, go shopping, go to the theme park, or go on vacation. The car had a larger impact on the time because of the freedoms it offered.
If I had to choose between my car or phone I would want to keep my cell phone. I understand why people chose their car but for me, I wouldn’t really mind mooching off my friends for once and no longer having to be the one driving everywhere. Not having a car would probably be a lot less stressful for me than not having a phone. I can pretty much do anything on my phone, so not having it cuts me off from a lot more than just talking to people. Having a job makes a phone necessary so that my boss and coworkers can contact me whenever, but I don’t need a car because I can walk there. In the 1920’s radio was something more people could afford, whereas not everyone could afford a car. And in the same way that radio was a great way to keep updated on events and music my phone is the way I know what’s going on and a way I can listen to music.
If I was asked for which item I would rather live without then it would easily be my cellphone hands down. Of coarse a part of this is due to the point that I have never owned a car and the yearning for owning one sometime soon in my life is high. Yet, as useful a phone is to communicate and be entertained by, I think a car serves as much more useful. First of all I could get around to the places I needed to in a fashionable amount of time, compared to the length of travel time it would take to get somewhere by bus and trolley. For example I work in Mission Beach, and getting to work by 1230 means leaving an hour to almost an hour and a half earlier than I need to because of the travel time of the trolley and bus mixture. I could drive home to the Bay when ever I needed in case of emergency instead of paying much more money for a plane ticket. I also think life would be less of a hassle if I didn’t have a cell phone. As nice and convenient it is, in order to get a hold of others and make plans; it is almost more of a head ache if you just want to hide away and not have anyone bother you.From past experience with losing my phone I know how nice it is to not be held down by something like a cellphone, and to not have distractions from life and class from owning a cell phone, that is a common problem for individuals today.
I believe in the 1920’s though that a radio would have been a much bigger dent in the society. The idea of the car was still new and even though it could get you from place to place, it was nothing like a train where it could take you across the country; nothing like the cars we have today though. In the past communication was a necessity and not just for neighbors and news, but for people across the country, for the government to use, and even for entertainment.
Jordan Kirchberg said
If I had to choose between the cellphone or an automobile in today’s world, I would one hundred percent choose to keep the cell phone. The cell phone allows us to be in contact with anyone we please. Whether its to get help for something or to find out what a friend is doing, the means of communication through cell phones is instantaneous. A car would definitely get you from place to place at a rapid pace. No matter the distance the car can take you there in a shorter time then walking. However, there are other ways of getting from place to place. For example you can use public transportation like a bus or trolley. You can also use a skateboard or a bike. They aren’t as fast as a vehicle, but they are faster then walking and will reduce the time to get to your destination. Besides if you don’t have access to public transportation or a bike, with the cellphone, you can call a friend to take you where ever you need to go. So in today’s world, I would definitely keep the cell phone. There are always ways to get around without having to walk, but in modern day, there are many ways of getting from place to place that you most likely don’t need a car
If I had to choose between giving up my cell phone or my car in today’s world, I definitely would give up my car. My cell phone allows me to stay in contact with all of my family across seas and even up the road. Yes a car can get me anywhere I want to go, but there are other ways of transportation I can use. I can even walk to places. If I did not have a phone I honestly think I would go crazy. My phone is on me 24/7 and never leaves my side. Being a freshman in college, I call my mom probably three times a day and text her throughout the day.
As for in the 1920’s I think I would have given up the radio. It does keep everyone up to date with what is happening in their world but people can live with out that. I would most likely keep my car if I lived in that time period. I think transportation was more important back then rather then our time period. Cars were the only way of transportation but today we have so many options of way to get around than that time period.
So all in all, I think a car would of been more useful back in the 1920’s rather than today and a cell phone is more important than a car in today’s world
If I was asked to give up either my car or my cell phone today, I would choose to give up my cell phone. I rely on my car as my transportation especially to work and school. Some would argue that I could just walk, ride a bike, or take the bus or the trolley, but I sort of think it’s inconvenient. I live about 15 minutes away from campus and another 20-30 minutes away from my job. Because the distances are so far away I depend on the ability to drive there. It’s also helpful for me to have a car when I want to go hang out with friends and visit with family. The automobile is a very reliable means of transportation and if I was asked this same question in the 1920’s my answer would stay the same. Sure having a cell phone is great but it isn’t the only way to stay connected and communicate with people. Being mobile just seems more important to me than checking my friends facebook pages when I can easily open my computer to do that.
So for me, a car is more useful.
Kalina G.
If I had to give up my car or my cell phone, I would give up my car. I would chose my cell phone so I can communicate with my friends and family. Cell phones today are so advanced they do way more things then just make a call. Cell phones now are like mini computers you can use them for basically anything. Cell phones keep you connected to the world, yes with a car you can travel to your friends and talk but you can’t travel to the east coast very easily if you wanted to talk. I would be lost without my cell phone, I constantly have it on me. If I ever needed a ride I could call a friend and ask or look up on my phone where the nearest bus or train station was. If I had to give up a radio or a car in the 1920’s I would give up the radio. In the 1920s transportation was crucial. Having a car changed many lives. It gave you freedom, entertainment and the option to travel and visit your family and friends. Although radio’s brought entertainment to your homes and the latest news, cars were much more useful during that time.
If i had to choose either to give up my car or my cell phone, I would give up my cell phone. Even though there are various ways of transportation in the modern day, having a car would seem more useful and convenient than a cell phone. A car would give me the ability of going anywhere at anytime. Especially at night, not much transportation are open at midnight whereas you can take your car out at anytime. Yes not having a cell phone will enable you to keep in contact with a majority of friends but to make up for it, you can simply just plan a day to hang out or chat via internet. If this was the 1920’s, I would choose the same. Having an automobile would be way more useful seeing how there were barely any way of transportation around. The loss of radio will just effect you knowledge of whats occurring everyday in the 1920’s.
Thanks,
Brian Lieu
If I had to give up either my cell phone or my car, I would choose to give up my phone. I would choose this because I have previously before not had a cell phone for a few months, and it was fine. Besides the fact, I don’t really like using my cell phone anyway. I think it is a waste of time to text 24/7 like most people do in our society today. There are other ways to be connected to people and the world rather then just using your cell phone. You could read a newspaper, listen to the radio, or talk with friends and family. The reason why I would not give up my car is because public transportation consumes a lot of time. Having the convenience to just get in my car and go where ever I need to go is really nice and saves me a lot of time through out the day.
Zoe Carroll
I would easily choose to give up my cell phone over my car because going to work, school, and visit friends and family is waaaaay more important than talking to them. Cars have been around longer than cell phones have and society has proved that it is possible to do without them. Transportation and communication are two extremely important aspects of life but you can still communicate without a cell phone, but transportation is a lot easier when you are only depending on yourself to get you there.
I would definitely choose to have my car over my cell phone. It has been proven that we can survive without the cell phone and independent transportation is more important to me than a phone that can go everywhere with me. Communication and transportation are both extremely important in our every day life but my car will get me to work, school, visits with family and friends and anything else I need to go to. Transportation is something that is becoming bigger and there are places that people don’t even own cars because the accessibility. If that is the way it becomes here, I might change my mind, but for today, I would much rather have my car then my cell phone.
If I had to give up my car or my cell phone i would definitely ditch the wheels. Since I have not ever had a car I have found other sufficient ways of getting where I need to go. Besides gas is expensive anyways, I would save a lot of money if I took the bus or the trolley to places i needed to go. My cell phone is something I need in my life for communication. I receive important emails, communicate with my friends and family, and read up on the latest world new. It also is a form of entertainment to me in some cases when Im bored and as a lazy college student i need that sometimes.
As for the 1920’s i believe that the radio was more important than the automobile because it helped get out the news and information very quickly over a widespread area. I think people could survive back then without the automobile.
If I had to give up my phone or my car, I would actually give my cell phone. I can make arrangements through e-mail and Facebook anyway. The only time a cell phone is truly necessary is when you’re in an emergency. But I cannot live every moment thinking I will be in an emergency situation. So I’d rather have my car because it is more practical. I would still have the convienence to go places without having too much to worry about. I don’t have to worry when the nearest bus will come or if my friend can give me a ride. I cannot rely on things like that because for me, it is too much time wasted “waiting.” I feel like the car is more useful in a practical sense, because reality is, people don’t need their phone as much as they think they do. Or well, that’s just my opinion. I always loved face-to-face conversations than the whole text message / phone call conversations. A phone call is not the same as a good conversation in person anyway.
If i have to choose between giving up my car or cellphone, I almost think I may actually give up my cellphone. Other than the select few of my good friends, I am not really that “addicted” to my phone or texting. Not having unwanted people constantly texting me or prank calling, as well as no nagging parents sounds somewhat nice. With wi-fi available practically everywhere, Facebook and Twitter would still be accessible on electronic devices such as ipods and ipads. The freedom and ability to go places that my car offers seems more valuable to me. Walking or riding a bike everywhere does not sound too appealing, and if I needed to reach a friend I could still use a house phone to contact them. Therefore I think that when it came down to it, I would give up my cellphone and keep my car.