CellManners.com:
November 23, 2001 6:06 AM Subscribe
CellManners.com: "A site devoted to promoting civility between cell phone users and the people around them." Don't miss the Cell Slang. (Brought to my attention by NY Times article "Cell Yell: Why Do Phone Calls Turn Into Broadcasts?")
Cell phone use is an intrusion upon what had been deemed by convention to be public space. We have not yet adjusted to having someone use a phone a table next to us at a restaurant though we are likely to hear overly loud conversation between two people not using phones. We accept this, or make faces of annoyance. We still are used to people ging to a phone booth.
Imagine using any old spot to take a leak instead of going to the nearest bathroom. Odd example but it makes the point.
posted by Postroad at 6:48 AM on November 23, 2001
Imagine using any old spot to take a leak instead of going to the nearest bathroom. Odd example but it makes the point.
posted by Postroad at 6:48 AM on November 23, 2001
As one who has chosen to live his life in Cellibacy, I am perhaps overly senstive to acts of Cellfishness. However, I am disturbed by how often cellphone users react with outright hostility and aggressiveness when asked politely to keep their voices down or move to a more private area.
posted by MrBaliHai at 6:55 AM on November 23, 2001
posted by MrBaliHai at 6:55 AM on November 23, 2001
At least there's no proven secondary cell health risks. And they don't stink.
posted by rushmc at 7:13 AM on November 23, 2001
posted by rushmc at 7:13 AM on November 23, 2001
They're invariably referred to as "mobiles" in the UK, by the way. I presume the use of "cell" comes from cellular, which apparently refers to the cells of a radio network.
posted by walrus at 7:22 AM on November 23, 2001
posted by walrus at 7:22 AM on November 23, 2001
[OK, I have just a little rant left in me.]
It's not just a matter of convention. We calculate space for ourselves based on what we see and hear. And most enclosed places are designed to comfortably hold fairly quiet people. Restaurants, for example, aren't made for people who beep and buzz and start yelling into space. When you design for beeping, buzzing, yelling people, you provide more personal space, put up dividers, and use materials that absorb sound. (Office cubicles are designed for beeping, buzzing, yelling people.)
When you sit down in an open public place (airport, restaurant, pub, etc.) near one guy, you expect things to remain fairly peaceful; after all, he's a stranger and so is unlikely to start gabbing to you. Then the guy pulls out his cell phone and starts barking into it.
In effect, an invisible man (or a succession of them) who is quite hard of hearing has just popped out of nowhere and plunked down on some invisible chair next to you and the phoner. Yes, you can't hear the invisible man with the hearing problem, but the volume of the visible man always more than makes up for Claude Raines with an ear trumpet.
> At least there's no proven secondary cell health risks.
There's always hope.
posted by pracowity at 7:43 AM on November 23, 2001
It's not just a matter of convention. We calculate space for ourselves based on what we see and hear. And most enclosed places are designed to comfortably hold fairly quiet people. Restaurants, for example, aren't made for people who beep and buzz and start yelling into space. When you design for beeping, buzzing, yelling people, you provide more personal space, put up dividers, and use materials that absorb sound. (Office cubicles are designed for beeping, buzzing, yelling people.)
When you sit down in an open public place (airport, restaurant, pub, etc.) near one guy, you expect things to remain fairly peaceful; after all, he's a stranger and so is unlikely to start gabbing to you. Then the guy pulls out his cell phone and starts barking into it.
In effect, an invisible man (or a succession of them) who is quite hard of hearing has just popped out of nowhere and plunked down on some invisible chair next to you and the phoner. Yes, you can't hear the invisible man with the hearing problem, but the volume of the visible man always more than makes up for Claude Raines with an ear trumpet.
> At least there's no proven secondary cell health risks.
There's always hope.
posted by pracowity at 7:43 AM on November 23, 2001
i can't live without my mobile, but i detest them at the same time.
saying that, since i put 'baby elephant walk' as my ringtone i have been alot happier.
posted by Frasermoo at 8:15 AM on November 23, 2001
saying that, since i put 'baby elephant walk' as my ringtone i have been alot happier.
posted by Frasermoo at 8:15 AM on November 23, 2001
I have the belief people actually *need* to use the cell phones. It's just a thing to keep their attention span from blowing a fuse. They're good for emergencies and occasional use but I know people who have them attached to their damn ear. I'm beginning to notice cell phones becoming a status symbol. If I ever have to carry one I turn it off (let voice mail pick up calls) and put it on the inside of my pocket. Most people, however, flaunt them. If you ever notice when people put things down on a table they put their keys and their cell phone. Cool, you have the new $500 3 ounce Nokia 99343...
posted by geoff. at 8:25 AM on November 23, 2001
posted by geoff. at 8:25 AM on November 23, 2001
At least there's no proven secondary cell health risks.
Well, not in the usual sense. Deadly Decoys: Cell Phone Guns Discovered.
posted by Carol Anne at 8:39 AM on November 23, 2001
Well, not in the usual sense. Deadly Decoys: Cell Phone Guns Discovered.
posted by Carol Anne at 8:39 AM on November 23, 2001
i can play games on my mobile.
i mean that's just the lick isn't it?
posted by Frasermoo at 8:47 AM on November 23, 2001
i mean that's just the lick isn't it?
posted by Frasermoo at 8:47 AM on November 23, 2001
i just read the mobile gun post from Carol Anne. my mobile is now redundant....
posted by Frasermoo at 8:49 AM on November 23, 2001
posted by Frasermoo at 8:49 AM on November 23, 2001
One-armed drink-driver was on mobile and 'Text message' driver gets five years. Two horrifying stories from the BBC of mobile phone misuse.
posted by Carol Anne at 2:01 PM on November 23, 2001
posted by Carol Anne at 2:01 PM on November 23, 2001
geoff: I'm beginning to notice cell phones becoming a status symbol
that's funny, they're becoming so ubiquitous that I would have thought their rank as a status symbol would have begun dropping a year ago or two.
I notice that people speak more loudly when they're on their cells; it's embarrassing to me when that person is in my group.
posted by rebeccablood at 4:02 PM on November 23, 2001
that's funny, they're becoming so ubiquitous that I would have thought their rank as a status symbol would have begun dropping a year ago or two.
I notice that people speak more loudly when they're on their cells; it's embarrassing to me when that person is in my group.
posted by rebeccablood at 4:02 PM on November 23, 2001
Art or mean-spirited humour? I love my mobile, but these guys made me laugh.
posted by Monk at 8:34 PM on November 23, 2001
posted by Monk at 8:34 PM on November 23, 2001
There are extra-legal means--why I think I read about it here--at hand, but can you get your mitts on them here? Hmm, I wonder.Well, it's not ovber til it's over...
posted by y2karl at 11:40 PM on November 23, 2001
posted by y2karl at 11:40 PM on November 23, 2001
> I wouldn't hesitate to beat the shit out of these guys
> if I they tried that on me.
But they might just beat the shit out of you. And break your little phone.
Like y2karl, though, I would prefer the jamming approach. Carrying a jammer in your pack (or coat or purse or whatever) would be great fun. The phone rings, the tedious monologue begins, you turn on the jammer, and you get the instant satisfaction of watching his face when the "BZZZZZZ" hits his ear.
But I wish someone would sell a jammer cheap enough to be disposable. I would like to have one (or several of them) that I could conceal and not worry too much about the cost of it being found and destroyed. Wire one right into the wall if you get a chance. Put them where you need peace and the phoners will eventually give up trying to use them there.
posted by pracowity at 11:58 PM on November 23, 2001
> if I they tried that on me.
But they might just beat the shit out of you. And break your little phone.
Like y2karl, though, I would prefer the jamming approach. Carrying a jammer in your pack (or coat or purse or whatever) would be great fun. The phone rings, the tedious monologue begins, you turn on the jammer, and you get the instant satisfaction of watching his face when the "BZZZZZZ" hits his ear.
But I wish someone would sell a jammer cheap enough to be disposable. I would like to have one (or several of them) that I could conceal and not worry too much about the cost of it being found and destroyed. Wire one right into the wall if you get a chance. Put them where you need peace and the phoners will eventually give up trying to use them there.
posted by pracowity at 11:58 PM on November 23, 2001
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posted by pracowity at 6:36 AM on November 23, 2001