Cell phones...

[Endangered Specie]

Poll question: Cell phones...

discuss... and keep the flaming to a minimum please ;)

I tried to cover all the bases.

[HEyHEY]

1. I was against them for years

After I got one, I liked it - it was handy. Of course I never had conversations on it - just the "Yup, I'm here meet you there at such and such a time."

[Endangered Specie]

2. What happened to that whole cellphones cause brain damage thing?

I think there is some weight behind that theory.

[HEyHEY]

6. I doubt they do

[politicat]

9. 1 study of 4.... probably a statistical aberration. it happens. eom

[Magrittes Pipe]

3. I hate it and I need it.

Like my job.

[sundog]

4. g h & i collectively

cell phones: useless products for useless times :mad:

[Endangered Specie]

7. Eloquently put...

I assume you mean choices 7,8 and 9?

[sundog]

11. yup

[Placebo]

5. It's nice to have, and it makes me feel special and wanted...

whenever it rings!

it's like, WEEEEEE! Someone cares enough about me to be calling me on my CELL!

[WindRavenX]

8. Love it

Unlimited long distance makes it possible for me to call the folks and my on the other coast.
Makes meeting up with people a snap.
Love them. However, I do think people need to be more, ah, familiar with cell phone etiquette-as in, TURN THE GODDAMN THINGS OFF IN CLASS OR IN A MOVIE THEATER!!!! :mad:

[skygazer]

10. Had to choose "other"

I think it's a great invention and comes in very handy in a lot of cases. I have one and use it only sporadically but I'm glad I have it. It's especially handy when I travel since I don't have to look for a pay phone or change. I don't take it everywhere or feel I "need" to have it - I got along for many years with no phone and don't feel naked without it.

I do get annoyed at the people who go about with theirs seemingly permanently glued to the side of their head, their uninteresting conversation for all to hear. I'm constantly surrounded by people driving while talking on them and many people are extremely rude about using them in public places like restaurants and movies.

Like anything else, ups and downs.

[politicat]

12. I feel about it the same way I do about land lines.

It's obtrusive, it's limited and it's unimaginative. It puts me at the mercy of other people (I like email for this reason....); it's limited in that it's really a two way street; conference calls don't work well. It's unimaginative in that people automatically reach for them for EVERYthing.... there's no thought required in picking up the phone.

That said, we have cell phones rather than land lines. The portability is a good thing and neither of us use a phone much to begin with. We don't like them.

The etiquette that everyone else seems to have so many problems with is something that I don't understand.... How oblivious does one have to be to remember that you should keep your phone quiet and your conversations private?

I've never actually had someone use one in the theater, but... and while I really hate it when people use them while driving, I have enough geographically impaired acquaintances to know that some people really can't follow directions.

What I don't understand is the anger. It's a tool. Do you get pissed off at the hammer because someone takes it into their head to repair their fence at 6 am? No, you get annoyed with the person. Cell phones are tools. It's the users that are offensive or not.

I like mine as well as I like a land line, which is to say, not much. But it's better than Qwerst and it's useful in certain situations.

Pcat

[marzipanni]

13. The world was my oyster

Now it's...your phone booth ...his phone booth...her phone booth...their phone booth...

[calico1]

14. I have one and hardly ever use it.

Usually stays in my car. However, I got stuck twice and boy was I glad I had my phone with me! So as an emergency thing they are great to have. I do get annoyed with the people talking constantly on them though, especially if they are driving! :mad:

[mrbassman03]

15. Everywhere but a car and restaurant!

I have seen cars almost take out people on the sidewalk because of excessive phone use... and a using a phone while eating a meal with other people is just rude as fuck. Oh, and using it while buying something at a store... arrrrrggggg.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

16. Hang Up and Drive

I drive a motorcycle. Don't get me started.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/Distraction/

http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/Drive-Now/

[Endangered Specie]

18. Nice Links...

I love car talk! :)

[bigwillq]

17. I can't live without mine

I'm addicted to my cell phone.
Plus, if I didn't have one I would even have to memorize like 200 phone numbers or carrying a phone number book around with me.

I travel around my state a lot for work so it's also good to have in case of an emergency.


But I did live without them before I had one so I guess I could live without it if I had to.

[Alenne]

19. I don't have one but they don't bother me

I don't like it when people use them when driving but other than that I don't care.

[rene moon]

20. I need one for my job!

The company paid for it and I am on-call 24hrs. a day. But I will admit that you get use to the cell---sigh.

[Misunderestimator]

21. Absolutely need one....

For work, for emergencies, for when the phone goes out during hurricanes, for when I'm in the middle of nowhere and get a flat (has happened three times), for the time I hope I saved someone's life by calling 911 and following a drunk driver for 10 miles, and, since NSMA and I have the same wireless service, we get to talk for free, anytime. Good stuff! :)

On edit... I do agree with the etiquette thing... I always turn mine off if I'm not on call when I'm in a place that I would disturb anyone with its ringing, and when I am on call, I turn it to vibrate and politely excuse myself to a private place to talk.

[miss_kitty]

24. yeah see-i have NO problem with that, nor should I

it does not impinge on others or cause safety issues. It's a judicious use of a remarkable invention (thank Hedy Lamarr for the technology, too. Viva La Woman!). and I think it's great that you have a plan that allows you to talk to your sweetie for free! :)

it's the people who shove it in everyones face.
there was this story from years ago in England, on a busy, crowded evening train. Everyone was quietly reading when Nigel comes into the car jabbering loudly on his cell. he made several calls and they all would begin with "Hallo? Yeah this is Nigel. Guess where I am?!" Finally, after this all too familiar greeting, those in the car heard him say "Really? I'm on that train too! Which car? Toward the front? Great I'll come find you!"
As he got up to leave, one person started to clap, and then, the whole car erupted in applause.

[miss_kitty]

22. I would strangle rude cell phone users with the cord...

you know, cell phones are OK-IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN HOME, or office, or car that you've pulled over to the side of the road. Or office. They're great for emergencies, and if I were going on a road trip I would definitely get one, so if i got stuck on the highway, I could summon help.
but I don't want to hear about how you are in the dairy aisle at the store, or what so and so said to whoever. I don't want to see you headed toward me in your vehicle yakking on the phone, or doing 15 in a 30 or so or 45 on the fucking freeway in front of me, because you are talking on the phone
It's bullshit. rude bullshit. stupid assed bullshit. get a brain morans!

[dietdpfan]

23. I selected "Other"

Cellphones are a great invention. It's certain cellphone users who should be dragged outside and shot.

:)

[put out]

28. I don't own a gun.

That said, I would cheerfully aid and abet you in this undertaking.

Ah yes, the people for whom being out of contact with the other people would be...solitude? attending to the task? taking care of the business at hand? Or would it be more important to be say things such as, "Yeah, I'm here. Still here. Yeah. So, what's up. Yeah, I'm still here. So, what's up. Oh, yeah, so where are you. Oh. Should I go there? I don't know. Where are you again. Should I go there? How long are you going to be there? How long? Huh? Do you want to come here? I don't know. I'll call someone and then I'll call you back. Wait, I got another call. I'll call you. Or, yeah you call me. O.K. You call me. So, you coming here? Oh, man, I'm cutting out here. So I better call you..."

Truly, I am amazed at the number of folks I follow every day on my way to work talking talking talking. Holy Shit People, it is now 7:15 a.m. and you can't have left your home but a few minutes ago! Please make your wonderful phone calls before you leave your home, please, please. And by doing this simple thing, you will not be weaving into other lanes so often, you will not be oblivious in your little world when the lights are changing, you will be able to use a signal so that the rest of the commuters know what you intend to do with your vehicle.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. It is my job. I am on the road and need to contact clients. I pull over.

They are great when used properly. :hi:

[Chovexani]

26. They are tools.

Unfortunately so are 90% of the people who use them.

[happyasaclam]

27. I hate Mobile Phones so damn much

as well as some of the rude and obnoxious people who use them.

I was at a restaurant last week with family, and a woman sitting at the opposite table had her mobile phone ring a couple of times during dinner, and then sat there talking loudly on the damn thing for the next 5-10 minutes. When someone politely asked her to take the call outside, she told told him to stop listening to the conversation. He then made a scene and embarrassed her.

Anyway, what could possibly be so important that you need to take phone calls at 8pm of a Saturday night when your at a restaurant? unless your a doctor.

[DS1]

29. I felt like screaming on Sunday while visiting a museum

STUPID PHONE NOISE 1 - oopps, user clicks it off after much scraping through purse

STUPID PHONE NOISE 2 - less than a minute later, dude turns off phone rather sheepishly

2 minutes later - IDIOT FUCKTARD PHONE TUNAGE NUMBER 3....

HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES WILL IT TAKE YOU MORON FUCKS TO GET THE IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

runs through my mind

[Endangered Specie]

31. hehe, kick them out!

[DS1]

33. I would have but I wasn't working there

It's not so much the actual event sometimes, as it's the I'm going to be clever and pick some playful ring nobody has ever heard before, don't you like it, isn't it just so *air-brake* ME?

[BlackVelvetElvis]

30. It's a leash

I finally got one a couple of years ago. It's great for emergencies and when my friends and family need to get ahold of me or the other way around.
Lots of times I forget about it and leave it at home or turn it off. I don't let it control me and rarely give my number out.
God, do I HATE them going off in class though. The rings just get more and more annoying!

[blondeatlast]

32. I have diabetes and a child. Even though I don't like them

I'm glad I have it.

They are sooooooooo abused, though.