The Cell Phone; A great example on how morons destroy...

[FordSVT]

I actually rolled down my window at a stoplight and called a woman an idiot about three weeks ago because she was texting while driving. I'd been following her at 5mph under the limit for about a mile watching her ride the centre line while picking away with her head down.

I'll take a quick call in light traffic now and then, but I don't make them and I don't do it in heavy traffic. I also usually use the speaker phone.

 

[Michael Chris]

I have to say to all who would block communications: you have no idea the consequences of what you're talking about. Don't you dare try to stop me from having access to cell phone service.

 

[scottydog]

Sometimes I think we're a little too hard on people who use cell phones. Once I was chewed out by a complete stranger for talking the phone while walking down the aisle in a grocery store. Now, what's the difference between talking to a live person while shopping and talking on the phone?

But I do agree that it's rude to be on the phone when paying for merchandise. The checker-outer deserves our full attention. I've been guilty of doing that more than once, I'm ashamed to say, and I'm making a new year's resolution to change my behavior.

Regarding driving and cell phone use: If you read the terrific book Traffic, by Tom Vanderbilt, there is research presented there that indicates that people are not significantly worse at driving when talking on a cell phone. The problem isn't the talking, it's taking your eyes off the rood to look up the person on your contact list. Any time you take your eyes off the road, even for a second, you are inviting disaster.

 

[FordSVT]

And I've read studies that say talking on the cell phone is in fact a lot worse than, for example, talking to a person who is really in your car. There is a completely different conversational dynamic at work. The person you're talking about isn't aware of the traffic around you, when you're on the phone you won't stop talking to navigate a tricky situation whereas in person you would, things like that.

But I do agree that the physical dialling and manipulation of the phone is probably much worse than the actual typing. There is no excuse for texting. None. It's idiotic. Might as well put your laptop in your seat and do some work while you're driving.

 

[FordSVT]

I have to say to all who would block communications: you have no idea the consequences of what you're talking about. Don't you dare try to stop me from having access to cell phone service.

If I'm a private business owner who chooses to passively block your signal, how dare you tell me I can't.

 

[Michael Chris]

I tell you you can't because it's immoral, disgusting, and dangerous.

 

[JonathonWally]

I have to say to all who would block communications: you have no idea the consequences of what you're talking about. Don't you dare try to stop me from having access to cell phone service.

If I'm a private business owner who chooses to passively block your signal, how dare you tell me I can't.

With my wallet.

 

[sidious618]

I couldn't believe it when I saw someone texting in a car. I think I had a minor heart attack.

Personally, I never use my cell phone. I carry it with me in case I'm assaulted by a gang of horrible people and need to be rescued but otherwise than that it stays off. I don't want to be "available" all day long.

 

[FordSVT]

I tell you you can't because it's immoral, disgusting, and dangerous.

Wow, talk about hyperbole. A private business owner blocking cell phone signals in his own building is "disgusting, dangerous and immoral?" Be thankful this isn't TNZ.

I have to say to all who would block communications: you have no idea the consequences of what you're talking about. Don't you dare try to stop me from having access to cell phone service.

If I'm a private business owner who chooses to passively block your signal, how dare you tell me I can't.

With my wallet.

That's fine, that's your choice. I'm talking about the State telling me I can't.

It's akin to the difference between corporate censorship and state censorship.

You'd wonder how anyone got along without a cellphone before we all had them. It's like everyone is SCARED TO DEATH that an emergency situation is suddenly going to rear it's ugly head and the only thing that will save them is their Razor.

And I'm not even saying it's in any business' interest to do this, I'm just saying I don't see the problem if they do. You don't like it, don't go there. Simple. But don't whine like a sanctimonious bible thumper that it's immoral.

 

[John Picard]

I have to say to all who would block communications: you have no idea the consequences of what you're talking about. Don't you dare try to stop me from having access to cell phone service.

Yeah, life is sooooooooooooooooooooo important on the cell phone. You're taking blocking the signal discussion out of context.

Try living for once.

 

[Emher]

I always turn off my phone if I'm at the movies, the theatre, a concert, a funeral, etc. I'm as a rule very quick on the phone, except for when talking to my mom, who is incapable of being quick on the phone. Also with one of my friends, but it's mostly her talking, and I try to be discrete. I'm I'm on the phone while in a shop and happen to be in line and get to the cashier I kindly ask the person on the other end to hold or if I can call them back.

And I never ever talk LOUDLY SO THAT THE WHOLE BUS CAN HEAR ABOUT ALL OF MY BUSINESS AND ALL THE GOSSIP like the ditzy bitches who get on the same bus as me at least three times a week. Then again these are probably the same people who talk extremly loudly in their little group at the back of the bus. Seriously, some people need to grow the hell up.

 

[Timby]

But if cellphone jamming devices were widely available? Count me in. We'd have them in our store inside of an hour. There's no practical reason that anybody should be talking on a cellphone when they're in a place like that.

You work in a grocery store. When I'm at home or at the office, and my wife is at the grocery store, and she wants to see whether I want a top sirloin or a strip steak, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

But if cellphone jamming devices were widely available? Count me in. We'd have them in our store inside of an hour. There's no practical reason that anybody should be talking on a cellphone when they're in a place like that.

You work in a grocery store. When I'm at home or at the office, and my wife is at the grocery store, and she wants to see whether I want a top sirloin or a strip steak, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I hope you would at least conclude the conversation before you went to the checkout lane. Right?

 

[Searider Falcon]

I'm a little stunned at home many grocery employees want cell phones banned in their stores. I do completely understand how frustrating it is to have someone on the phone while you're trying to check them out, especially if they can't even bother to acknowledge you. Not only would it make communicating with them difficult, but I'm sure it slows the whole process down, particularly when they try to pay and end up fumbling around as they try to balance the phone while digging around in a purse or wallet.

I can understand the annoyance of having people wandering around just babbling about little Joey's baseball game or whatever to some degree, if person is broadcasting it everyone in the store.

But as it's been pointed out, it is to the store's advantage if someone like me is calling to ask what it is I'm forgetting or to let my mother know the store is out of an item so would she like me to substitute it with another. Frankly, I'm not going to abandon the cart to go outside or make two trips when I can do it in one just to keep somebody's blood pressure down over a pet peeve.

Personally, I'm far more annoyed at people who encounter someone they know in the store, who then proceed to block the aisle or an item I wanted, who are completely oblivious to this fact and do not move for a long stretch of time. At least cell phone users in stores typically multitask by continuing their shopping and staying on the move for the most part. And where all are you people shopping and/or working that has all these cell phone users bumping into you and everything else?

I would not shop at a store that jammed signals or banned phone use throughout the store (I'd be fine with a store making a rule that their cashiers wouldn't serve someone who won't put the phone a aside for the duration of the checkout, though).

 

[Kestra]

I would not shop at a store that jammed signals or banned phone use throughout the store (I'd be fine with a store making a rule that their cashiers wouldn't serve someone who won't put the phone a aside for the duration of the checkout, though).

I agree with this completely.

 

[Trekker4747]

I'm a little stunned at home many grocery employees want cell phones banned in their stores. I do completely understand how frustrating it is to have someone on the phone while you're trying to check them out, especially if they can't even bother to acknowledge you. Not only would it make communicating with them difficult, but I'm sure it slows the whole process down, particularly when they try to pay and end up fumbling around as they try to balance the phone while digging around in a purse or wallet.

I can understand the annoyance of having people wandering around just babbling about little Joey's baseball game or whatever to some degree, if person is broadcasting it everyone in the store.

But as it's been pointed out, it is to the store's advantage if someone like me is calling to ask what it is I'm forgetting or to let my mother know the store is out of an item so would she like me to substitute it with another. Frankly, I'm not going to abandon the cart to go outside or make two trips when I can do it in one just to keep somebody's blood pressure down over a pet peeve.

The craziest thing happens to me on occasion. Once in a while someone will come up to me and ask me if they can use a store phone to call home/a loved one to check to double-check on a wanted item or on a subisitution. "Sure, it's right there. Just dial "9."

And, come on! I love these excuses. I do, really. "Oh they might need to call to see if they need something to pick up," "Oh they might be a doctor giving life-saving information over the phone!"

Please.

I gaurantee you some percentage in the high 90s of the people yakking on their phones are yakking about something ordianry, mundane and pointless. They're just yakking on the phone. Frankly, life isn't that exciting.

And even then it STILL wouldn't excuse them for being on the phone at my counter when I'm trying to help them. Infact, I often DON'T help people at my counter while on the phone. I don't want interupt their coversation. How do I know what they're talking about? Maybe they're talking about mom's biopsy results or giving detailed step-by-step surgical instructions?"

Why don't I interupt them, It's rude. The person, in turn, often is more rude and directs me over to them, forcing me to help them while they're on the phone. Treating me as a second-class person. Makes them an ass.

Show me an ounce of courtesy. Get off your phone when you want me to help you. Want to talk while walking in the aisles? Knock yourself out. Just talk at a reasonable conversation level.

Personally, I'm far more annoyed at people who encounter someone they know in the store, who then proceed to block the aisle or an item I wanted, who are completely oblivious to this fact and do not move for a long stretch of time. At least cell phone users in stores typically multitask by continuing their shopping and staying on the move for the most part. And where all are you people shopping and/or working that has all these cell phone users bumping into you and everything else?

Those people annoy me too. They do it sometimes standing right next to my counter, blocking people who need help from getting to it and even sometimes causing my managers to give me the stink-eye for not waiting on people standing at the counter.

 

[JonathonWally]

Those people annoy me too.

Let's be honest, at this point, it would be much easier for you to make a list of people who don't annoy you.

 

[sidious618]

Those people annoy me too.

Let's be honest, at this point, it would be much easier for you to make a list of people who don't annoy you.

 

[Trekker4747]

Those people annoy me too.

Let's be honest, at this point, it would be much easier for you to make a list of people who don't annoy you.

Surprisingly no, because very few are comming to mind right now.

Other than, perhaps, "hot young women."

 

[26138]

I'm a little stunned at home many grocery employees want cell phones banned in their stores. I do completely understand how frustrating it is to have someone on the phone while you're trying to check them out, especially if they can't even bother to acknowledge you. Not only would it make communicating with them difficult, but I'm sure it slows the whole process down, particularly when they try to pay and end up fumbling around as they try to balance the phone while digging around in a purse or wallet.

I can understand the annoyance of having people wandering around just babbling about little Joey's baseball game or whatever to some degree, if person is broadcasting it everyone in the store.

But as it's been pointed out, it is to the store's advantage if someone like me is calling to ask what it is I'm forgetting or to let my mother know the store is out of an item so would she like me to substitute it with another. Frankly, I'm not going to abandon the cart to go outside or make two trips when I can do it in one just to keep somebody's blood pressure down over a pet peeve.

The craziest thing happens to me on occasion. Once in a while someone will come up to me and ask me if they can use a store phone to call home/a loved one to check to double-check on a wanted item or on a subisitution. "Sure, it's right there. Just dial "9."

And, come on! I love these excuses. I do, really. "Oh they might need to call to see if they need something to pick up," "Oh they might be a doctor giving life-saving information over the phone!"

Please.

I gaurantee you some percentage in the high 90s of the people yakking on their phones are yakking about something ordianry, mundane and pointless. They're just yakking on the phone. Frankly, life isn't that exciting.

And even then it STILL wouldn't excuse them for being on the phone at my counter when I'm trying to help them. Infact, I often DON'T help people at my counter while on the phone. I don't want interupt their coversation. How do I know what they're talking about? Maybe they're talking about mom's biopsy results or giving detailed step-by-step surgical instructions?"

Why don't I interupt them, It's rude. The person, in turn, often is more rude and directs me over to them, forcing me to help them while they're on the phone. Treating me as a second-class person. Makes them an ass.

Show me an ounce of courtesy. Get off your phone when you want me to help you. Want to talk while walking in the aisles? Knock yourself out. Just talk at a reasonable conversation level.

Personally, I'm far more annoyed at people who encounter someone they know in the store, who then proceed to block the aisle or an item I wanted, who are completely oblivious to this fact and do not move for a long stretch of time. At least cell phone users in stores typically multitask by continuing their shopping and staying on the move for the most part. And where all are you people shopping and/or working that has all these cell phone users bumping into you and everything else?

Those people annoy me too. They do it sometimes standing right next to my counter, blocking people who need help from getting to it and even sometimes causing my managers to give me the stink-eye for not waiting on people standing at the counter.

I think I can pretty much agree 100% with you, Trekker4747.