If another friend of mine pulls out their cell phone while we’re hanging out together, I think I might scream. Isn’t the point of spending time with your friends and family that you spend quality time with them and not on your phone? Plus, now that cell phones have morphed into mini-computers with video, cameras, web access, texting, etc., they’re even more difficult to pry out of our tech-savvy loved ones’ hands. But still, there are no social norms around when we should and shouldn’t use a cell phone. Some states have passed laws against driving while using cell phones unless you use a no-hands headset. Some restaurants and businesses put up signs telling people not to talk on their premises. Let’s figure this out once and for all: When and where should you NOT be allowed to talk or text on your cell phone in public? Send me your rules and pet peeves, and I’ll collate them for a comprehensive list for the next Your Take Roundup.
- 14 years ago
Mark Glaser
Categories: Uncategorized
In what social situations should you NOT use a cell phone?
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View Comments (31)
Ah, cell phones... Let me count the ways...
*theatres
*funerals
*red lights
*banks
*dinner w/ friends (or enemies)
*church
One should not talk on the cell phone at a funeral!! (It has happened)
I feel that all social situations require care and that one should step outside of that situation to have a cell phone conversation. If it is possible to ignore the call and focus on the people that you are phsically close to.
Hmmm. Let me count the ways. Yelling on the cell phone in the car when there are other passengers.
In the airport in a tiny waiting area.
Restaurants, bathrooms, walking on the street (I have seen people almost get hit by cars because they are not looking!), DRIVING (the scariest, because it can kill), at your home when you have visitors (at least long, loud conversations),
And don't put it on speaker so I can hear both parts of the conversation. I consider that an invasion of the other person's privacy, and just rude to the person listening.
One of the worst things about cell phones is how much real time they are taking away from real living.
Special areas for cell phone usage would alleviate much of the "bad feelings" regarding the use of cell phones in inappropriate places. People who need to do things that are not universally socially acceptable (e.g. smoking, blowing their nose, putting on makeup, etc.) have particular areas where they may go to do that activity. Why not have the same for using a cell phone. When your cell phone rings, if the call is THAT important and you feel you need to take the call--simply excuse yourself and go take care of it. If not, have the phone take a message and get on with your life!
Do you realize how much crime rates will increase if the use of cell phones gets banned in all public places? If there is a burglar in a bank you should be able to call the police and not get in trouble just because the use of your cell phone is banned in a "public place". Also, if a restaurant catches on fire, you would not be able to call the fire department because the phones are banned yet again. And another thing, if you are using a cell phone in a car that is a "private place", not a public one and they can't ban the use of cell phones in a car because it is a private place. It would be like you telling someone they can't watch T.V. in the own privacy of their own home!
From
Ashley
I was at church and i was getting a pretty important blessing and the guy giving me the blessins cell phone rang. What the hell
Howard Owens wrote in this blog, "A mobile phone is no more nor less distracting than any other in-car activity." Actually, mobile phones are worse than many other activities. Whether the phone requires your hands or not, it requires concentration and has been proven to be one of the most dangerous activities you can do while driving, equivalent to drunk driving.
People buy cell phones for safety and socialization, then achieve danger and obnoxiousness.
Cell phones are rude to use in inappropriate areas. But from reading some of these some of you take it much to serious (paul bovino). Keep in mind that it is not a crime to use a cell phone and the most you can do about it is walk away or give the person a dirty look.
Jeremy I think you either have never had something bad happen to you while encountering a cell phone abuser or you just plain don't care. Maybe you need to just turn on the news. But to take something "to seriously" is not a bad thing. Most people nowadays don't take anything seriously. "Oh well who cares it didn't happen to me," type attitude really makes me sick.
Maybe the comment above yours was long but you don't know what happened in this other person life either. Many different times my family members or myself have almost been seriously hurt due to one of these self important cell phone users.
I just can't believe it took them so long to put some laws out there to protect people, but then again everything is so political, and it doesn't seem to stop them from using them either.