Cell Phone in public

[edicehouse]

Have you ever felt like strangling one of those 'loud mouthed' cell phone users who seem to sit near you in a restaurant or any other place and forcibly share their private call with you.
Here's one solution, provided by a commuter on how to combat this display of bad manners. After a very busy day,a commuter settled down in her seat and closed her eyes as the train departed Montreal for Hudson.
As the train rolled out of the station, the guy sitting next to her pulled out his cell phone and started talking in a loud voice: "Hi sweetheart it's Eric, I'm on the train - yes, I know it's the six thirty and not the four thirty but I had a long meeting - no, honey, not with that floozie from the accounts office, with the boss. No sweetheart, you're the only one in my life - yes, I'm sure, cross my heart" etc., etc.

Fifteen minutes later at St. Anne de Bellevue he was still talking loudly , when the young woman sitting next to him, who was obviously angered by his continuous diatribe, yelled at the top of her voice:

"Hey, Eric, turn that stupid phone off and come back to bed!"

My guess would be that Eric doesn't use his cell phone in public any longer.

​

 

[PTsideshow]

Here is another reason it is shouldn't be against the law to shoot Stupid!
I was coming home and just passed a traffic signal, the guy in front of me. Was on a phone he came to a stop, in the traffic lane for no apparent reason, three times in the space of about 100 feet.
I hollered to him hang up the phone and drive! The party he was talking to hung up. Just 200 feet more down the street, as I was turning left he sticks his upper torso out the drivers window and turns back to me. Screaming at the top of his voice, couldn't understand him as he was red in the face. Mind you he is still driving at 30 miles an hour forward. He is somebody that needs to have their genes kept out of the human gene pool!
:clown:

 

[Andrew_K99]

It'd be even funnier if the she was a HE that said that to Eric!

Awesome regardless, those people annoy me! Like those that sit in the line talking on their phone before ordering ... what is that important and if it is that important why aren't you rushing to them!

AK

 

[Seer]

If that phone were up their butts they would be paying as much attention as if it were in their ear. Out here in Phoenix people are getting shot at for yelling things like this so I grit my teeth and get away from them.

 

[edicehouse]

If that phone were up their butts they would be paying as much attention as if it were in their ear. Out here in Phoenix people are getting shot at for yelling things like this so I grit my teeth and get away from them.

I thought people only got shot at in Phoenix if you say something bad about Kurt Wargner.

 

[GoatRider]

If that phone were up their butts they would be paying as much attention as if it were in their ear. Out here in Phoenix people are getting shot at for yelling things like this so I grit my teeth and get away from them.

I thought people only got shot at in Phoenix if you say something bad about Kurt Wargner.

Who's Kurt Wargner? (ducks behind cover)

 

[edicehouse]

Lol Warner. Isn't he like a Demi God in Arizona?

 

[Haynie]

Lol Warner. Isn't he like a Demi God in Arizona?

Who? Seriously never heard of the guy.

The cell phone is the bane of my existence but NEED it for the business. The best three months of owning this business was when the cell broke and that is how long it took to get another. A very peaceful time.

I really don't like cells. The rudeness allowed to happen, with them as an excuse, disgusts me.

 

[ldubia]

I am waiting for the day when they build cell phones that are smart enough to not allow texting when moving, including walking, will not allow a call to be connected incoming or outgoing while moving, or shuts down if the user is louder than need be.

 

[GoatRider]

I am waiting for the day when they build cell phones that are smart enough to not allow texting when moving, including walking, will not allow a call to be connected incoming or outgoing while moving, or shuts down if the user is louder than need be.

That would be easy to do, since most phones have a GPS now. But they can't disable it for drivers while not disabling it for passengers.

 

[EBorraga]

Just think, without cell phones you could never get that afternoon pen order from someone out of state that needs 30 pens next week. You could also never receive payments at shows through your cellphone and square device.

There are many negatives to about cell phones, but I assure you there are just as many positives.

Just my .01 worth of thoughts.

 

[Smitty37]

Just think, without cell phones you could never get that afternoon pen order from someone out of state that needs 30 pens next week. You could also never receive payments at shows through your cellphone and square device.

There are many negatives to about cell phones, but I assure you there are just as many positives.

Just my .01 worth of thoughts.

Without questioning the truth of that statement I would say this - many if not most of the negatives can be eliminated without impact on the positives....

turning the phone off when in public places.

not taking calls when in the middle of a conversation with a live person.

leaving the phone in the car when entering someone elses home.

if a call must be taken in a public place, going off to a quiet spot and not talking louder than needed.

not interrupting a live conversation with "Oh, I have to make a phone call"

not talking or texting while driving

That's just 6 things which can be greatly improved by simply using good manners and common sense; fixing them would have no impact on the good things cell phones bring.

 

[Seer]

Just think, without cell phones you could never get that afternoon pen order from someone out of state that needs 30 pens next week. You could also never receive payments at shows through your cellphone and square device.

There are many negatives to about cell phones, but I assure you there are just as many positives.

Just my .01 worth of thoughts.

Without questioning the truth of that statement I would say this - many if not most of the negatives can be eliminated without impact on the positives....

turning the phone off when in public places.

not taking calls when in the middle of a conversation with a live person.

leaving the phone in the car when entering someone elses home.

if a call must be taken in a public place, going off to a quiet spot and not talking louder than needed.

not interrupting a live conversation with "Oh, I have to make a phone call"

not talking or texting while driving

That's just 6 things which can be greatly improved by simply using good manners and common sense; fixing them would have no impact on the good things cell phones bring.

The easiest way is for people to learn manners too many of today's generation have no clue what manners are they are too wrapped up in their own little world to care about what others think or feel.
I agree with all your points Smitty and I try to remember them when I am out and about. I personnaly will not buy a smart phone unless I really need it.

 

[edicehouse]

There was a guy up here when he got on the phone he is loud ass you can get on a phone. So I started a couple little jokes on him, "Hey just hang up the phone they can hear you without it." That was not working so he would get on the phone and start in, I would say something pretty loud along the lines of "Look at me I got a phone call, I am important so I have to talk louder so you know how important I am" That ended that rather quickly.

 

[sbell111]

Without questioning the truth of that statement I would say this - many if not most of the negatives can be eliminated without impact on the positives....

turning the phone off when in public places.
not taking calls when in the middle of a conversation with a live person.
leaving the phone in the car when entering someone elses home.
if a call must be taken in a public place, going off to a quiet spot and not talking louder than needed.
not interrupting a live conversation with "Oh, I have to make a phone call"
not talking or texting while driving

That's just 6 things which can be greatly improved by simply using good manners and common sense; fixing them would have no impact on the good things cell phones bring.

You'll never get concensus on that list as some of your solutions seem to be huge negatives. For instance, you advocate turning off the phone while in public places, not talking on it while in a vehicle, and not having your phone with you when in someone else's home. So basically, you believe that cel phones should only be used in your own home. Why even bother having a cel?

Myself, I frequently have the need to use my phone when I am in a public place or while I am driving. Further, I sometimes need to take or make a call when I am around others. The world hasn't ended and there has been no gnashing.

I really think that these concerns are largely overblown. While it is true that sometimes people are too loud on cels, this is hardly an issue to be concerned about as the impact is mild and temporary.

 

[Seer]

For those who think it is safe to talk on the phone while driving I will disagree 100% with that as being safe. I am on the road quite a bit and have seen these drivers swerving, slowing down considerably on the freeway causing jams behind them, trying to write something down while driving and so forth. I have had too many near misses from these same people swerving into my lane or just slowly moving into without even noticing this happening and then when you blow your horn to make them aware you are flipped off and yelled at by them. Texter's are even worse and it is not just the younger generation doing this from what I have seen it ranges across all generations.
IN MY OPINION when you are driving that is all you should be doing talking or texting is just plain stupid, this will probably upset people but drive as much as I do and then you can see my point, I like being alive and healthy. My company forbids any use of a cell phone while driving and we can be fired for it if we do. If that call is that important pull over off the road ie: off ramp etc and then make that call and maybe you or someone else may not be hurt.

 

[Gruntie]

I do a lot of traveling and people are always on their phones talking about nothing so I came up with a solution a while back for it, I join the conversation as though the person sitting next to me was talking to me, I usually get a dirty look but keep doing it and 99% of the time they move away from me and we are both happy. I have been toold several times that I am rude (mostly by females) but they really need to look at thier own actions before saying anything to me. One of the best things about doing this is the angrier the other person gets at me, the more I charm them and have even gone so far as to start asking irate women if they would like to join me for a dip in a hot tub. No matter what they do I never show anger and they are aggrevated more by that.

 

[Displaced Canadian]

One of the issues with driving and talking on the phone is for me most conversations will have the words," let me grab a pen" in them and it is difficult to drive, talk, find a pen and a page in a notebook, and write at the same time.
Here in Washington it is illegal to use a phone while driving without a hands free devise. A state trooper had a reporter along to show that even in a lager white car with lights on it's roof it was easy to sneek up from behind and many times drive beside on the cell phone side of the car for a few seconds to one time over a minute before the driver saw that the car in the lane beside them was state patrol. The point they were making was with a phone to your ear you have a large blind spot either caused by the phone or by the fact that you aren't paying attention.

 

[sbell111]

For those who think it is safe to talk on the phone while driving I will disagree 100% with that as being safe.

I don't think that anyone will argue that driving while talking on a cel is as safe as not talking on a cel, but that is true about every other distraction, as well, such as having a 'live' conversation, baby drama, radio issues, etc. I will argue that merely talking on a cel is not necessarily significantly dangerous in and of itself.

I am on the road quite a bit and have seen these drivers swerving, slowing down considerably on the freeway causing jams behind them, trying to write something down while driving and so forth.

Seems that the real issue here is the writing, not the talking.

I have had too many near misses from these same people swerving into my lane or just slowly moving into without even noticing this happening and then when you blow your horn to make them aware you are flipped off and yelled at by them.

I assume from your posts that you are a truck driver. I suspect that you have encountered many bad drivers who's dumb actions weren't caused by their being on a cel. If we could only do away with bad drivers, the roads would be a better place. Personally, I'd start with bad truck drivers. I'm a bit sick of truck drivers who fly through our cities inner loop and change lanes without caring whether there are vehicles in the lane that they are moving into.

Texter's are even worse and it is not just the younger generation doing this from what I have seen it ranges across all generations.

Texting is certainly dangerous. Of course, even that danger can be mitigated through the use of speech-to-text software, but I would not advocate it's widespread use instead of merely not texting.

That being said, texting is not talking and the dangers for the two cannot be equated merely because the same device is used any more than I would advocate the playing of 'Where's my Water?' or participating in this forum while driving simply because both activities can be accomplished with the same device.

IN MY OPINION when you are driving that is all you should be doing talking or texting is just plain stupid, this will probably upset people but drive as much as I do and then you can see my point, I like being alive and healthy.

Do you feel the same about talking to people who are in the vehicle? This certainly can be just as dangerous.

My company forbids any use of a cell phone while driving and we can be fired for it if we do. If that call is that important pull over off the road ie: off ramp etc and then make that call and maybe you or someone else may not be hurt.

That is a responsible corporate decision for a few reasons. First, you write policies to address the actions of your stupidest employee. Second, it is a smart policy for insurance and liability reasons. I don't see how either of these reasons translates into a good reason for my not using a phjone in my private vehicle.

I do a lot of traveling and people are always on their phones talking about nothing so I came up with a solution a while back for it, I join the conversation as though the person sitting next to me was talking to me, I usually get a dirty look but keep doing it and 99% of the time they move away from me and we are both happy. I have been toold several times that I am rude (mostly by females) but they really need to look at thier own actions before saying anything to me. One of the best things about doing this is the angrier the other person gets at me, the more I charm them and have even gone so far as to start asking irate women if they would like to join me for a dip in a hot tub. No matter what they do I never show anger and they are aggrevated more by that.

In general, I don't believe that one person's rude behavior excuses the rude behavior of another person.

 

[sbell111]

One of the issues with driving and talking on the phone is for me most conversations will have the words," let me grab a pen" in them and it is difficult to drive, talk, find a pen and a page in a notebook, and write at the same time.

I would argue that very few conversations include that phrase and that it can be avoided in a number of ways, such as telling the person that you are driving and can't write something down and asking them to email or text you the information.

 

[Smitty37]

Without questioning the truth of that statement I would say this - many if not most of the negatives can be eliminated without impact on the positives....

turning the phone off when in public places.
not taking calls when in the middle of a conversation with a live person.
leaving the phone in the car when entering someone elses home.
if a call must be taken in a public place, going off to a quiet spot and not talking louder than needed.
not interrupting a live conversation with "Oh, I have to make a phone call"
not talking or texting while driving

That's just 6 things which can be greatly improved by simply using good manners and common sense; fixing them would have no impact on the good things cell phones bring.

You'll never get concensus on that list as some of your solutions seem to be huge negatives. For instance, you advocate turning off the phone while in public places, not talking on it while in a vehicle, and not having your phone with you when in someone else's home. So basically, you believe that cel phones should only be used in your own home. Why even bother having a cel?

Myself, I frequently have the need to use my phone when I am in a public place or while I am driving. Further, I sometimes need to take or make a call when I am around others. The world hasn't ended and there has been no gnashing.

I really think that these concerns are largely overblown. While it is true that sometimes people are too loud on cels, this is hardly an issue to be concerned about as the impact is mild and temporary.

Talking or texting on a cell phone while driving here in Delaware is unlawful but you'rer absolutely right ... the world hasn't ended ... nor would it if you stopped doing those things.

 

[leehljp]

For those who think it is safe to talk on the phone while driving I will disagree 100% with that as being safe.

I don't think that anyone will argue that driving while talking on a cel is as safe as not talking on a cel, but that is true about every other distraction, as well, such as having a 'live' conversation, baby drama, radio issues, etc. I will argue that merely talking on a cel is not necessarily significantly dangerous in and of itself.

I disagree with this assumption. From watching cell phone users in Japan and in the USA, the actions that the majority of people take while talking on cell phones is totally different from actions of talking with a person in the car or listening to music. In Japan, for a Drivers license renewal, I had to watch a video in which a small camera was mounted onto the frames of glasses, and another camera was mounted that focused on the eyes. When cell conversations began, all was attentitive. After a few seconds most people on cells fell into the normal practice of phone conversations that they learned or practice in an office or at home. People concentrate on the conversation, lower their eyes and loose the concentration of anything around. Particularly personal conversations draw people "into the phone" so to speak as though they were with the person, sort of a withdrawal.

This psychological event doesn't happen nearly as much when physically present with the one being talked to, or music is being listened to.

The problem is where the intense concentration is focused. With music and with a friend in the car, there is not usually as much intense focus on them as on the road itself. With cell phones, intense concentration drifts to the phone conversation more than on the road.

 

[Seer]

""I don't think that anyone will argue that driving while talking on a cel is as safe as not talking on a cel, but that is true about every other distraction, as well, such as having a 'live' conversation, baby drama, radio issues, etc. I will argue that merely talking on a cel is not necessarily significantly dangerous in and of itself.""
Using a handsfree device increases your attention to the road in my experience holding that phone in your left ear with your right hand now that is a reason I will state what i feel.

""Seems that the real issue here is the writing, not the talking.""
Nope talking causes people to slow down from 10 to 20 mph below the speed limit and once they hang up zoom off they go to the races'


""I assume from your posts that you are a truck driver. I suspect that you have encountered many bad drivers who's dumb actions weren't caused by their being on a cel. If we could only do away with bad drivers, the roads would be a better place. Personally, I'd start with bad truck drivers. I'm a bit sick of truck drivers who fly through our cities inner loop and change lanes without caring whether there are vehicles in the lane that they are moving into.""
Not a truck driver but a field service technician and I agree I have seen truckers get right on your ass vecause you are not going fast enough and I have also seen them talking on cell phones while driving and even when it is rush hour traffic. Not all truckers do this as neither do all drivers so i do not blame all.

One thing I do believe though is this so called smart phone is making people really stupid. I have enough distractions watching out for other drivers etc to have some idiot have to respond to LMFAO post from a friend who just texted them.
I had 2 more close calls this morning because of these same users so I do have an attitude towards stupid people.

 

[Seer]

Without questioning the truth of that statement I would say this - many if not most of the negatives can be eliminated without impact on the positives....

turning the phone off when in public places.
not taking calls when in the middle of a conversation with a live person.
leaving the phone in the car when entering someone elses home.
if a call must be taken in a public place, going off to a quiet spot and not talking louder than needed.
not interrupting a live conversation with "Oh, I have to make a phone call"
not talking or texting while driving

That's just 6 things which can be greatly improved by simply using good manners and common sense; fixing them would have no impact on the good things cell phones bring.

You'll never get concensus on that list as some of your solutions seem to be huge negatives. For instance, you advocate turning off the phone while in public places, not talking on it while in a vehicle, and not having your phone with you when in someone else's home. So basically, you believe that cel phones should only be used in your own home. Why even bother having a cel?

Myself, I frequently have the need to use my phone when I am in a public place or while I am driving. Further, I sometimes need to take or make a call when I am around others. The world hasn't ended and there has been no gnashing.

I really think that these concerns are largely overblown. While it is true that sometimes people are too loud on cels, this is hardly an issue to be concerned about as the impact is mild and temporary.

Talking or texting on a cell phone while driving here in Delaware is unlawful but you'rer absolutely right ... the world hasn't ended ... nor would it if you stopped doing those things.

No it hasn't ended but it could if you are killed by someone not paying attention while texting or talking on the phone couldn't it. These new TV commercials about texting and driving are strong imho but because too many have this mentality of "Oh that won't happen to me" until it does resulting in serious injury or death then the world has ended for that individual.

 

[Smitty37]

Without questioning the truth of that statement I would say this - many if not most of the negatives can be eliminated without impact on the positives....

turning the phone off when in public places.
not taking calls when in the middle of a conversation with a live person.
leaving the phone in the car when entering someone elses home.
if a call must be taken in a public place, going off to a quiet spot and not talking louder than needed.
not interrupting a live conversation with "Oh, I have to make a phone call"
not talking or texting while driving

That's just 6 things which can be greatly improved by simply using good manners and common sense; fixing them would have no impact on the good things cell phones bring.

You'll never get concensus on that list as some of your solutions seem to be huge negatives. For instance, you advocate turning off the phone while in public places, not talking on it while in a vehicle, and not having your phone with you when in someone else's home. So basically, you believe that cel phones should only be used in your own home. Why even bother having a cel?

Myself, I frequently have the need to use my phone when I am in a public place or while I am driving. Further, I sometimes need to take or make a call when I am around others. The world hasn't ended and there has been no gnashing.

I really think that these concerns are largely overblown. While it is true that sometimes people are too loud on cels, this is hardly an issue to be concerned about as the impact is mild and temporary.

Talking or texting on a cell phone while driving here in Delaware is unlawful but you'rer absolutely right ... the world hasn't ended ... nor would it if you stopped doing those things.

No it hasn't ended but it could if you are killed by someone not paying attention while texting or talking on the phone couldn't it. These new TV commercials about texting and driving are strong imho but because too many have this mentality of "Oh that won't happen to me" until it does resulting in serious injury or death then the world has ended for that individual.

I'm not sure whether you misunderstood my post or whether you're just adding to it. But, I greatly favor not using cell phones while driving.

 

[Seer]

I was just adding I believe cell phones should not be used while driving.

 

[Smitty37]

I thought that was probably it...but didn't want any mistake that I don't think they should be used while driving.

 

[Gilrock]

To be honest most of you probably do drive worse while driving and talking on a cellphone....I actually drive safer with a cellphone...you don't want to be near me when I'm not a little distracted with a phone. When I'm on the phone I ease off on the aggressive driving....lol.

 

[Smitty37]

To be honest most of you probably do drive worse while driving and talking on a cellphone....I actually drive safer with a cellphone...you don't want to be near me when I'm not a little distracted with a phone. When I'm on the phone I ease off on the aggressive driving....lol.

I don't know - I've never tried driving and talking on the phone....it is like walking and chewing gum at the same time...one too many things.

 

[Gilrock]

To be honest most of you probably do drive worse while driving and talking on a cellphone....I actually drive safer with a cellphone...you don't want to be near me when I'm not a little distracted with a phone. When I'm on the phone I ease off on the aggressive driving....lol.

I don't know - I've never tried driving and talking on the phone....it is like walking and chewing gum at the same time...one too many things.

What's funny is I use that as my example. I always say yeah there are plenty of people that can't walk and chew gum at the same time so the result is laws saying none of us can chew gum.

 

[sbell111]

Talking or texting on a cell phone while driving here in Delaware is unlawful but you'rer absolutely right ... the world hasn't ended ... nor would it if you stopped doing those things.

Nowhere in my post do I suggest doing anything unlawful.

(It should be noted that I noticed that you failed to reply to my main criticism of your position; that your rules would basically limit cel usage to one's own home and only when no other people are present.)

For those who think it is safe to talk on the phone while driving I will disagree 100% with that as being safe.

I don't think that anyone will argue that driving while talking on a cel is as safe as not talking on a cel, but that is true about every other distraction, as well, such as having a 'live' conversation, baby drama, radio issues, etc. I will argue that merely talking on a cel is not necessarily significantly dangerous in and of itself.

I disagree with this assumption. ...

We can agree to disagree.

Regarding your discussion about cels being more dangerous than in person conversation. I am reminded of a study that was done some time ago which showed the dangers of in person conversations because people tend to look at the person that they are talking to, rather than to keep their eyes on teh road.

I don't think that anyone will argue that driving while talking on a cel is as safe as not talking on a cel, but that is true about every other distraction, as well, such as having a 'live' conversation, baby drama, radio issues, etc. I will argue that merely talking on a cel is not necessarily significantly dangerous in and of itself.

Using a handsfree device increases your attention to the road in my experience holding that phone in your left ear with your right hand now that is a reason I will state what i feel.

First, no where do I suggest that using a handsfree device isn't better than not using one, for a number of reasons.

Second, I'm not understanding your point about holding the phone with the wrong hand.

Seems that the real issue here is the writing, not the talking.

Nope talking causes people to slow down from 10 to 20 mph below the speed limit and once they hang up zoom off they go to the races

First, you are misapplying my post. It was made specifically to a comment about people talking on cel phones and writing down information while driving. Certainly, you aren't making the argument that writing while driving is a safe practice.

Second, while it is true that some people behave as you've described, I hardly think that all phone users do. (In fact, I'm pretty darn sure that I do not.)

One thing I do believe though is this so called smart phone is making people really stupid. I have enough distractions watching out for other drivers etc to have some idiot have to respond to LMFAO post from a friend who just texted them.

Again, I think that you are mixing issues. The mere fact that a person uses a smart phone does not mean that they are texting and driving any more than it means that they are on facebook, ordering from amazon, or participating in this thread.