Gorillas Pound Chests, Men Check Cell Phones

According to research conducted at Sheffield Hallam University, men flash their cell phones in order to: attract women, look important, and show off to male peers.

They needed research to prove this? I have always thought that looking important and/or popular was the single biggest driver of cell phone use. It’s amazing to me how often someone will use a phone in public and then, once they’re away from inquisitive eyes, do something else.

I am also amazed at how desperate people are to turn on their phones the moment a plane lands. I admit that I am among those desperate people — because I want to read my e-mail. But I like e-mail a lot more than talking on the phone. E-mail is the ultimate time-shift mechanism, and I am thankful for it every day.