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Plan9 · 12-08-2009, 08:06 AM

Here's my threadjacking tangent: Do cellphone displays flash a red border around emergency calls these days? I was unaware that they incorporated Psychic Friends Network technology or featured panic-sensing caller ID. Where have I been?

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I'm sure we're all aware of when it's appropriate to verbally masturbate on the phone and when it isn't. A lot of people just don't have that kinda class.

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But let's say for a second that phones can be used for emergency purposes and that a cellular phone with caller ID has alerted many people to really bad things that they wanted to know about immediately. When I get a random cellphone call from my family or close friends... I assume that they have something important to say until the call proves otherwise. I can cut them off after the initial 20 seconds of blah-blah. No harm, no foul.

I'm not going to let a dying parent or a sobbing friend that just got into a horrible car wreck go to voicemail because I'm blabbing with my current fuckbuddy about how ugly Sarah Jessica Parker is or the endless homestyle vs. buttermilk waffles debate. That's just all bad.

I don't see it as rude as long as its prefaced correctly (I answer all calls to confirm the issue) and handled respectfully (I apologize, it may have been an emergency). Obviously you can't do it in every situation, such as at work or while driving, but at home or while out and about? Why not? Is what you're doing right now so incredibly important that a potential emergency call should be ignored? Call me hypervigilant, but I've had this kinda thing happen a few times and it makes me glad I answer the phone. Maybe I'm just all wound up because of my occupation. Either way, I take the call.
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Text messages, while the preferred method for these types of things due to their nature, aren't always a viable option. Trying to text after a tractor-trailer smashes your car into scrap iron is a real challenge, I'd imagine. Sometimes people call. These people are important enough for me to answer.

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I realize that there is a school of thought that believes cellphones are Rectal Leashes of The Man or Anal Tethers of Society. That's fine as long as you realize an inanimate object is only as evil as the human operating it. I've got up and left the restaruant during a date where the girl talked to her girlfriends on her phone for ten minutes in my presence. I've also had cases where others have called, genuinely needed my help and I had to excuse myself from a college class or social gathering. It's a tossup. I'm a big fan of privacy and Old School but cellphones are a good idea when used properly.

12-08-2009, 08:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Here's my threadjacking tangent: Do cellphone displays flash a red border around emergency calls these days? I was unaware that they incorporated Psychic Friends Network technology or featured panic-sensing caller ID. Where have I been? ... I'm sure we're all aware of when it's appropriate to verbally masturbate on the phone and when it isn't. A lot of people just don't have that kinda class. ... But let's say for a second that phones can be used for emergency purposes and that a cellular phone with caller ID has alerted many people to really bad things that they wanted to know about immediately. When I get a random cellphone call from my family or close friends... I assume that they have something important to say until the call proves otherwise. I can cut them off after the initial 20 seconds of blah-blah. No harm, no foul. I'm not going to let a dying parent or a sobbing friend that just got into a horrible car wreck go to voicemail because I'm blabbing with my current fuckbuddy about how ugly Sarah Jessica Parker is or the endless homestyle vs. buttermilk waffles debate. That's just all bad. I don't see it as rude as long as its prefaced correctly (I answer all calls to confirm the issue) and handled respectfully (I apologize, it may have been an emergency). Obviously you can't do it in every situation, such as at work or while driving, but at home or while out and about? Why not? Is what you're doing right now so incredibly important that a potential emergency call should be ignored? Call me hypervigilant, but I've had this kinda thing happen a few times and it makes me glad I answer the phone. Maybe I'm just all wound up because of my occupation. Either way, I take the call. ... Text messages, while the preferred method for these types of things due to their nature, aren't always a viable option. Trying to text after a tractor-trailer smashes your car into scrap iron is a real challenge, I'd imagine. Sometimes people call. These people are important enough for me to answer. ... I realize that there is a school of thought that believes cellphones are Rectal Leashes of The Man or Anal Tethers of Society. That's fine as long as you realize an inanimate object is only as evil as the human operating it. I've got up and left the restaruant during a date where the girl talked to her girlfriends on her phone for ten minutes in my presence. I've also had cases where others have called, genuinely needed my help and I had to excuse myself from a college class or social gathering. It's a tossup. I'm a big fan of privacy and Old School but cellphones are a good idea when used properly. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake." Last edited by Plan9; 12-08-2009 at 08:51 AM..