“Surprisingly, Nobody Tried to Caution Her”: Perceptions of Intentionality and the Role of Social Responsibility in the Public Use of Mobile Phones

Abstract

As public use of wireless technology becomes more widespread, the world is no longer divided into users or non-users.Most of us now maintain the dual role of mobile phone user and observer (of other people’s use of this technology). This duality of roles creates a dual allegiance in the sense that, during time spent in public places, we may respond negatively to seemingly irresponsible mobile phone users, yet, as mobile phone users ourselves, we may promote protecting the unregulated use of wireless technology in public spaces. This chapter is based on a research study that examined the differences in how people respond to their own public mobile phone use compared with the public mobile phone use of others. The theoretical foundations for these differences will be explored and the data analyses will illustrate that the nature of people’s emotional response to the mobile phone use of others indicates their belief in the intentionality of the mobile phone users’ behavior. Differences in emotional response indicate that perhaps an ethical solution is needed to facilitate the integration of wireless technology into the public sphere.