Unprecedented in her show’s history, last season on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Forbes’ list chart topper began to champion a cause; and by “champion” I mean Oprah made celebrity guests like Justin Bieber sign her “No Phone Zone” pledge on TV and she ended EVERY SHOW by reminding viewers to do the same. I have not signed the pledge and I refuse to ever do so.
Kim Kardashian also thinks the pledge is very important and has even encouraged her followers on Twitter to sign Lady O’s pledge; but my main reason for rejecting Oprah’s campaign is that the bitch DOESN’T DRIVE! She has chauffeurs and personal jet(s). On an episode from a few years ago where Oprah and her best friend Gayle went on a road trip, TMZ reported: “The Queen of TV had to be helped out as she fumbled with the pump, saying “I haven’t pumped gas since 1983.” When Oprah got off her billionaire ass and did something that the common folk do (pump gas), that was the first time she had touched a gas pump in over 20 years. Before a few years ago, when Oprah previously paid for gasoline, cell phones did not even exist!
It is because Oprah does not drive why she believes that talking and texting while driving is more harmful than it is. I’m not an advocate of talking or texting while driving, but it’s not the apocalypse either. New drivers are the ones who should never dial/ talk or text and drive because they have yet to master the skills required to react swiftly when faced with various situations that may arise while driving; however, they still will.
Texting while driving on the freeway is always extremely dangerous for everyone, no matter how many years of experience a driver has. While driving at high speeds, I don’t text and drive at all. But talking or texting while driving happens and encouraging people to sign something they won’t abide by is a waste of time. Furthermore, traffic is exhausting and calling someone keeps drivers awake. And let’s not forget about all those times when we’re able to call someone for directions.
While promoting the movie adaptation of the touching memoir “Eat Pray Love” on Lady O’s show, Julia Roberts said she puts her cell phone in the trunk of her car because of Oprah’s pledge/ “movement.” WTF?!!! It’s one thing to suggest that a driver turn off their phone, but to make a phone inaccessible altogether is ridiculous. Furthermore, Oprah has clearly forgotten what it’s like to anticipate an important phone call – a scenario in which no one who finds themselves in will stick to her pledge while under such circumstances. Most important, many lives ARE SAVED because people are able to call or text for help when in a dangerous and compromising situation whether he or she is outside of or inside an automobile during his or her time of need.
MY SUGGESTIONS FOR PREVENTING TEXTING AND DIALING RELATED AUTO ACCIDENTS: …
AUDIO TEXTING: Phones should be able to recite incoming texts aloud and also allow users to say the what they want to send in a text message via a phone’s speakers. The phone will then type, send and recite messages on its own (keypad free) like T-Mobile’s Genius Button. “The “Genius Button,” lets users make calls, dictate texts or emails or search the web — with just the sound of their voice.” I’m confident this feature will become extremely popular once perfected.
Until then, drivers will text and drive and talk and drive. It’s a reality we must change by requesting more hands-free functionality from our phones, and it seems as though phone companies are cognizant of its users needs and improvements rapidly continue to be made. Relax Oprah. Pump the gas for your chauffeur every once in a while and STFU.
