I learned a new word today. It’s a perfect word for the 21st century. The word is “cellfish” and it’s a mashup of “cellphone” and “selfish. Cellfish is used to describe a person who immediately answers all cellphone calls or text messages, then chats or texts on and on, ignoring and/or disregarding the wishes of the people they’re with.
Do you know anyone who is cellfish?
This, That, and the Other 
I see it all the time!
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OMG yes.
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Good word! I know a character it relates too for sure.
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This reminds me of someone.
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Oh many.
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Oh I know so many.
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I had been summoned by a patient who wanted to complain. I got there and he started talking then his phone rang so he answered it !!!!!! So I left…. he then got annoyed by my leaving and stated I should have waited the 30 minutes in his room while he took the call….. I may have had a sense of humour failure after this and gave him two choices “behave” or “leave” …. moron and he was 70 ….. I would expect this from an under 40 year old …. love the word
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Sheesh!
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It’s an excellent word although unlikely to take off in Australia as we don’t say “cell phone” We certainly have plenty of those people though.
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What do you call cellphones in Australia? Mobile phones?
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Yes.
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Everyone complains to me that I never answer my mobile phone when they call, I don’t have a voice message service I sometimes don’t reply to texts for days.
I have told all my friends I have a very basic mobile that I carry in my bag for emergencies. At work it is locked away in my locker all day. I leave it in my handbag so I don’t forget it. So I sometimes don’t look at it for days. I use my landline to call close friends and family and use emails to keep in touch with everyone.
Can I claim to be uncellfish???
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Yes, you can! 😉
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If you want to have a phone attached to you 24/7 because you feel disconnected you could be cellfish. But it is possible to have it with you, and still be respectful of others, when you are interacting.
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Exactly. You don’t have to answer the phone or respond to text instantly.
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There are times when we can’t answer promptly, so it should be perfectly acceptable to respond later rather than sooner.
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It’s extremely disrespectful to who you’re with and/or an addiction that needs to have intervention.
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Very true. I keep having to remind my adult children to put down their cellphones and to be present in the moment. Oh wait. It’s to me that my kids keep saying that.
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Tsk tsk! “Teach… your parents well…”
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Great descriptive word.
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Yes it is. Whatever happened to being present in the moment?
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Not currently, but I dated men like that. Love the neologism!
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That’s a very fine word.
Speaking of made-up words, I am taking the liberty of providing a link to my latest post, which was left off Reader, where I know you go for posts. It appeared 20 hrs later after my bereft email to WP.
This one involves wordplay and is short—both items you like—so instead of waiting til July 27, 2021, here ‘tis:
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And what great wordplay it was. I giggled until I dribbled.
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😜
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They’re everywhere.
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In some way my daughter is, but to her defense she is a manager of a coffee shop so is constantly getting work calls when she isn’t there, so she kind of has to answer the calls and texts. Good word though!
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Are you inclined to believe that each person has their own responsibility for being cellfish, or do you think the current environment of the information society is the leading cause? Interested to hear your thoughts on that!
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I think it’s both. Since cellphones are ubiquitous and nearly everyone has theirs with them at all times, people expect others to answer calls or respond to text messages instantly. And most people can’t resist the allure of a ringing phone or the notification of a text message. But I believe, when in the company of others, people should either turn off their smartphones or set them to Do Not Disturb. You should be in the moment, not glued to your phone.
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I agree! Being in the moment is essential, although, really hard nowadays.
In which directions would u like to see the development of technology and societal norms to go, in order to decrease our level of cellfishness?
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I don’t know if there is anything technology can do to decrease cellfishness. As to societal norms, just encourage people to put down their smartphones and to pay attention to what they are doing and who they are with!
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I absolutely agree with couragement of a changed norm. It is at the core. But I am also inclined to believe that there are actually alot technology can do to change the norms. I Think that it is the technology that leads to certain human behavior in most cases, not the other way around.
Im new to blogging, but I would be more than happy to hear ur thoughts and feedback on my recent posts. I write about these topics right now. Have a wonderful day!😚✨
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