Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - What are the rules of cell phone etiquette and usage?

analog · 06-30-2005, 06:19 PM

1. If people talk loudly on a cell phone, it's because A: they are loud talkers regardless, and the same annoyance would exist if they were talking to someone near you in person, or B: they are an idiot who thinks they have to yell into their cell phone to be heard. Neither of which can be blamed on the phone- both of those issues can only be attributed to the idiot him/herself. Regardless of the conversation, what they're saying, how "stupid" you may think it is, how useless a conversation you deem it to be- it's none of your fucking business what they're talking about, and you're a selfish ass for passing judgment on the way everyone carries on their lives. If you're a loud talker and inconsiderate of those around you, you're going to do the same whether it's in person or via cell phone.

2. Almost every invention has gone through a demonizing, had countless "experts" denounce it and "prove" how bad it is, and so on and so forth. Radio was said to be the end of the family unit, creating zombies that never went outside and played, the economy would fall because no one would go out to get the news anymore, people wouldn't have to pay for entertainment, etc. Then the TV was invented, and the same exact excuses were brought up again. As someone noted, the same excuses given now for cell phones in cars were once given for radios in cars. Experts were brought out, people failed awareness tests, bullshit like that.

3. I don't fear technology, like some people do. Fear is a product of ignorance- and in this case, it's not ignorance of cell phones, but of how little an impact they really make in the grand scheme of things.

People with weak minds, poor self-esteem, and those looking to fit in anywhere they can to get friends are easily lead and coerced into believing whatever gives them a sense of belonging, and the "popularity" gained by mutual interest in a cause. That's how cults operate, and I find it hilarious that people buy into that nonsense.

Of course, this mostly applies in America. Here in America, there is an imbalance. People's desires to get exactly what they want every second of their lives is badly disproportionate to their ability to respect others and what others want. You can't all have what you want, because then you interfere with other people's ability to live happily with what they want. We also can't all sit around trying to accomodate everyone's wishes all at once, or there would be no talking, no music, no art, no theater, no dancing, no anything. We, in America, are a society that wants what it wants, even at the cost of another's inconvenience, exactly when we want it. That means that people feel it's fine to talk in a movie theater. Yes, they're inconsiderate, but they're motivated by getting what they want.

There has to be a balance of respecting that other people have wants, but they also have things they don't want. Common courtesy goes a long way towards that end, but we (here in America) are far from any kind of resolution for this. We are so selfish as a society when it comes to each other's like and dislikes.

Also, there are many countries where the ownership and use of cell phones is so common, that their use is accepted and commonplace in a million more places than it is here- starting with the commute on the bus or subway.

We, as a country, are still coming to terms with how cell phones impact our lives, and how they change the everyday interactions we have with others. Rude and idiotic behavior is brought about by rude and idiotic people. If they happen to be using a cell phone at the time, that's unrealted. They're still rude and idiotic people. They could be holding the back half of a cat, it doesn't matter.

06-30-2005, 06:19 PM	#115 (permalink)
analog Banned	1. If people talk loudly on a cell phone, it's because A: they are loud talkers regardless, and the same annoyance would exist if they were talking to someone near you in person, or B: they are an idiot who thinks they have to yell into their cell phone to be heard. Neither of which can be blamed on the phone- both of those issues can only be attributed to the idiot him/herself. Regardless of the conversation, what they're saying, how "stupid" you may think it is, how useless a conversation you deem it to be- it's none of your fucking business what they're talking about, and you're a selfish ass for passing judgment on the way everyone carries on their lives. If you're a loud talker and inconsiderate of those around you, you're going to do the same whether it's in person or via cell phone. 2. Almost every invention has gone through a demonizing, had countless "experts" denounce it and "prove" how bad it is, and so on and so forth. Radio was said to be the end of the family unit, creating zombies that never went outside and played, the economy would fall because no one would go out to get the news anymore, people wouldn't have to pay for entertainment, etc. Then the TV was invented, and the same exact excuses were brought up again. As someone noted, the same excuses given now for cell phones in cars were once given for radios in cars. Experts were brought out, people failed awareness tests, bullshit like that. 3. I don't fear technology, like some people do. Fear is a product of ignorance- and in this case, it's not ignorance of cell phones, but of how little an impact they really make in the grand scheme of things. People with weak minds, poor self-esteem, and those looking to fit in anywhere they can to get friends are easily lead and coerced into believing whatever gives them a sense of belonging, and the "popularity" gained by mutual interest in a cause. That's how cults operate, and I find it hilarious that people buy into that nonsense. Of course, this mostly applies in America. Here in America, there is an imbalance. People's desires to get exactly what they want every second of their lives is badly disproportionate to their ability to respect others and what others want. You can't all have what you want, because then you interfere with other people's ability to live happily with what they want. We also can't all sit around trying to accomodate everyone's wishes all at once, or there would be no talking, no music, no art, no theater, no dancing, no anything. We, in America, are a society that wants what it wants, even at the cost of another's inconvenience, exactly when we want it. That means that people feel it's fine to talk in a movie theater. Yes, they're inconsiderate, but they're motivated by getting what they want. There has to be a balance of respecting that other people have wants, but they also have things they don't want. Common courtesy goes a long way towards that end, but we (here in America) are far from any kind of resolution for this. We are so selfish as a society when it comes to each other's like and dislikes. Also, there are many countries where the ownership and use of cell phones is so common, that their use is accepted and commonplace in a million more places than it is here- starting with the commute on the bus or subway. We, as a country, are still coming to terms with how cell phones impact our lives, and how they change the everyday interactions we have with others. Rude and idiotic behavior is brought about by rude and idiotic people. If they happen to be using a cell phone at the time, that's unrealted. They're still rude and idiotic people. They could be holding the back half of a cat, it doesn't matter.