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-   -   You stupid f***ing cell phone users, stay off the roads. (https://forums.operationsports.com/fofc//showthread.php?t=37503)

thetrilogy 03-30-2005 12:35 PM

You stupid f***ing cell phone users, stay off the roads.
 
Not one more life should be endangered or lost because
of these stupid, inconsiderate, MF cell phone asswholes.

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp...9&nav=5UaiXzVy

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 12:40 PM

Cell phones are stupid anyway.

Totally unnecessary unless you are on a trip or are emergency/police people.

For everyday life it's pointless. At least the way they are used now.

Fritz 03-30-2005 12:40 PM

cbs too. motherf*ckin' truckers!

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fritz
cbs too. motherf*ckin' truckers!


How are they to arrange their bathroom breaks?

jeff061 03-30-2005 12:52 PM

I've always been a tech head.

I bought my first Cell ever couple days ago, never saw the point. I have it mostly for work purposes. Right now its a crap load of computers I need to support by myself and I'm not staying in the office from 6am-7pm just in case something goes wrong.

Passacaglia 03-30-2005 12:56 PM

If you've ever been charged $200 for one day of service by Ameritech, cell phones begin to look pretty good.

Lathum 03-30-2005 12:58 PM

It always cracks me up when I tell people I didn't have a cell phone ( I have one for work now)

Their reaction is always on of " how can you live without a cellphone"

I managed without one for 28 years and did just fine

shrug

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff061
I've always been a tech head.

I bought my first Cell ever couple days ago, never saw the point. I have it mostly for work purposes. Right now its a crap load of computers I need to support by myself and I'm not staying in the office from 6am-7pm just in case something goes wrong.


That makes sense. Wandering around the supermarket saying "uh I'm in the bread aisle now " or "Yeah, hey I'm driving" is assinine.

I guess if it's your primary phone it makes sense too but you should be forced to leave it at home.

st.cronin 03-30-2005 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lathum
It always cracks me up when I tell people I didn't have a cell phone ( I have one for work now)

Their reaction is always on of " how can you live without a cellphone"

I managed without one for 28 years and did just fine

shrug


Ditto. The dumbest social trend in america is the idea that you HAVE to have a cell phone. People get angry sometimes because they can't call me up whenever they want... which is fine with me.

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by st.cronin
Ditto. The dumbest social trend in america is the idea that you HAVE to have a cell phone. People get angry sometimes because they can't call me up whenever they want... which is fine with me.


I get that too. Dumbfounds me. The whole "what's your cell phone number?" and the look on their faces when I say "none". Priceless.

I feel like saying, trust me I can wait to get your message.

albionmoonlight 03-30-2005 01:06 PM

As Garrison Keeler said, "every cell phone conversation ever had can be summarized as follows: 'I'm here now; I'm on my way there; I'll be there in about a half hour.'"

panerd 03-30-2005 01:11 PM

Hey I am not a fan of the idiots who drive with cell phones and cause accidents, but this thread seems to be spiraling out of control. I have a cell phone instead of a home phone and it is about $25 cheaper a month then the racket SBC had going here for years. Sure as hell makes it easier to meet up with friends downtown, or tell the girlfriend/wife you are running late, or give to a kid to call for a ride from soccer practice. I could go on, but you guys seem to have a small dick complex just because you don't have a cell phone that they serve no purpose.

Hurst2112 03-30-2005 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf
Cell phones are stupid anyway.

Totally unnecessary unless you are on a trip or are emergency/police people.

For everyday life it's pointless. At least the way they are used now.


Let's see:

Wrong

You got a point

Wrong

Possibly

I can live without a cell phone, but I don't wish to. It's extremely handy. I don't have a land line, and haven't for about 5 years. I got sick of paying for stupid charges and extra for long distance.

I have gotten jobs because I HAVE had a cell phone. Engineer was supposed to do a session, boss couldn't get in touch with him (he didn't have a cell phone) called me on my cell phone (wife and I were looking at new cars, started working the same day. The 50 dollars a month I paid for my phone got me $1700 in my pocket.

Hurst2112 03-30-2005 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panerd
Hey I am not a fan of the idiots who drive with cell phones and cause accidents, but this thread seems to be spiraling out of control. I have a cell phone instead of a home phone and it is about $25 cheaper a month then the racket SBC had going here for years. Sure as hell makes it easier to meet up with friends downtown, or tell the girlfriend/wife you are running late, or give to a kid to call for a ride from soccer practice. I could go on, but you guys seem to have a small dick complex just because you don't have a cell phone that they serve no purpose.


I thought 'small dick complex' only worked for guys with a lot of tattoos, big trucks, fancy cars and expensive car stereos. And the ever popular short angry guy you see in the bar.

:D

Subby 03-30-2005 01:18 PM

I hope we can all agree that the only things more annoying than cellphone users are the crotchety old bastards that complain about them...

Hurst2112 03-30-2005 01:19 PM

I make fun of people with pagers, that's about it. I HATE it when they try to look at their pages while driving!!!

gstelmack 03-30-2005 01:20 PM

I'm with Panerd. My wife and I got cell phones as soon as she got pregnant with our first kid. It's come in very handy. We don't give our number out to everyone, we only use it to deal with errands/kid/and the like.

As for the phone company racket, I'm looking into what to do about our landline right now. Once I can figure out what to do about DirecTV and the DirecTIVO (yeah, I know I can hack them, but I'm not quite willing to do that yet) I may well have Vonage. $25/month (plus whatever for 911 service) vs. $70/month is a no-brainer. The phone companies are going to be in serious trouble...

Radii 03-30-2005 01:21 PM

I have a cell phone instead of a land line. I like it.

I probably make about 3 or 4 calls a week to oliegirl to take advantage of the convienance factor. I make about 5 calls a month to my parents or to friends just to say hi.

Cell phones are totally unnecessary, and there are days when I forget mine, it certainly doesn't bother me if that happens.

the attitude that everyone should be reachable at all times is one I disagree with, though I do keep my cell phone on me at all times simply b/c my wife does feel that everyone should be reachable at all times, and its easier to just keep my phone on me :D


But anyway, I do like not having a land line, it saves us money.

primelord 03-30-2005 01:25 PM

I think WSUCougar made a thread simialr to this awhile ago and I commented in there that people talking all cell phones while driving isn't always such a clear cut issue. I used to design and implement wireless networks for a company a few years ago. I would often be on my way to a site and have to take calls from my boss and or customers while I was on the road.

I think several people commented that in situations like that you should pull over to the side of the road or just tell your boss you refuse to talk while driving. These both sound fine in principal, btu when you have two upset customers and you are supposed to be at X site in 10 minutes there are only so many things you can do. It is easy to take the moral high ground and say you would refuse to talk while driving when you aren't put in that situation, but it is another thing entirely when you have a family to support and your job "requires" it.

Luckily I am no longer with that compnay and my current job doesn't require me to really ever be on the cell phone let alone when driving. So this isn't an issue for me anymore and I understand that a large portion of the people talking on cell phones while driving probably aren't doing it for work related reasons. I just wanted to comment that I don;t think it is always as simple as just expecting these people not to do it.

thetrilogy 03-30-2005 01:25 PM

There is absolutely NO need to be on a cell phone while driving.
Pay attention to what the f**k you are doing.

cuervo72 03-30-2005 01:25 PM

As the father of a 5 year old boy, this saddens me...

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 01:26 PM

I guess I just see too many people with it strapped to their ear 12 hours a day and constantly checking to see if they missed something.

I have no problem with the concept or convienience or securtiy. It's the I have to be reachable mentality that annoys me.

I have one but it's just there in case I need it. I have a land line so I've made probably 2 calls on it in the last 2 months.

If it's your primary phone, well that's another matter. But you find tons of people that think you are weird or square if you are not carrying a cellphone.

stevew 03-30-2005 01:26 PM

Vonage is awesome. Until they inevitably tax the fuck out of it.

panerd 03-30-2005 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gstelmack
As for the phone company racket, I'm looking into what to do about our landline right now. Once I can figure out what to do about DirecTV and the DirecTIVO (yeah, I know I can hack them, but I'm not quite willing to do that yet) I may well have Vonage. $25/month (plus whatever for 911 service) vs. $70/month is a no-brainer. The phone companies are going to be in serious trouble...


I can only speak for my experience, but I had Directv for about a year without a phone line. I just couldn't order pay-per-view, everything else is a one way connection anyways. I have also heard that TIVO works the same way, but can't personally confirm this.

As far as the phone company goes, you have to dump them. I live about 20 miles southwest of Saint Louis and the phone company charged a $20 a month fee to call into the metro area. (where most of my friends and family live) Well this may have made sense 30 years ago when they were laying the lines, now it is just a monopoly out of control. They tried to get me back when I dropped the service but can't understand why for $35 a month I can basically call anywhere from anywhere in the United States but for $35 from them I have to make toll calls to St. Louis. I hope for all of the jobs the are poised to lose that someone at the phone company gets a clue!

Honolulu_Blue 03-30-2005 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby
I hope we can all agree that the only things more annoying than cellphone users are the crotchety old bastards that complain about them...


Agreed.

I think it should be illegal to drive and talk on a cellphone. It's incredibly dangerous. But cellphones themselves are pretty handy.

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by primelord
I think WSUCougar made a thread simialr to this awhile ago and I commented in there that people talking all cell phones while driving isn't always such a clear cut issue. I used to design and implement wireless networks for a company a few years ago. I would often be on my way to a site and have to take calls from my boss and or customers while I was on the road.

I think several people commented that in situations like that you should pull over to the side of the road or just tell your boss you refuse to talk while driving. These both sound fine in principal, btu when you have two upset customers and you are supposed to be at X site in 10 minutes there are only so many things you can do. It is easy to take the moral high ground and say you would refuse to talk while driving when you aren't put in that situation, but it is another thing entirely when you have a family to support and your job "requires" it.

Luckily I am no longer with that compnay and my current job doesn't require me to really ever be on the cell phone let alone when driving. So this isn't an issue for me anymore and I understand that a large portion of the people talking on cell phones while driving probably aren't doing it for work related reasons. I just wanted to comment that I don;t think it is always as simple as just expecting these people not to do it.


Right but it's a self created situation by humans. It's not enough now to tell your customer, I'll be there in an hour.

It's not enough now to say "honey I'll be home around 7". You get a call asking where you are at.

st.cronin 03-30-2005 01:29 PM

I'm pretty sure it *is* illegal to drive and use a cellphone, at least in most states.

Subby 03-30-2005 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thetrilogy
There is absolutely NO need to be on a cell phone while driving. Pay attention to what the f**k you are doing.

You know, it *is* possible to talk on a cell phone and pay attention while driving...

mrsimperless 03-30-2005 01:30 PM

I don't agree with the idea of making talking on a cell phone while driving illegal. What about talking to another passenger in the car? Eating? Changing radio stations? Picking up something off the floor? Handing something to a child in the back seat? Daydreaming? All of these things are potentially dangerous and can cause accidents. Do we make them all illegal?

panerd 03-30-2005 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf
I guess I just see too many people with it strapped to their ear 12 hours a day and constantly checking to see if they missed something.

I have no problem with the concept or convienience or securtiy. It's the I have to be reachable mentality that annoys me.

I have one but it's just there in case I need it. I have a land line so I've made probably 2 calls on it in the last 2 months.

If it's your primary phone, well that's another matter. But you find tons of people that think you are weird or square if you are not carrying a cellphone.


I will agree with this. I have friends that will constantly check their phones for messages when they are hanging out with 95% of their friends at the time! But these type of people will always find something annoying to do to make themselves look important, so I don't know that it is the fault of the cell phone.

condors 03-30-2005 01:32 PM

I hate phones, i will rarely answer mine(my dad long distance sometimes my brother or sister) my friends know to email me in advance if they want to set something up, or just stop by and we can see whats going on. work a job where you phone rings 100 times a day and you may not want to answer one or talk on one when you get home. The wife will answer the phone and has a cell phone so i wouldn't call me complelety unreachable and i have one for work (if i am not on call i don't have it on and nobody knows i have it)

Radii 03-30-2005 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panerd
I can only speak for my experience, but I had Directv for about a year without a phone line. I just couldn't order pay-per-view, everything else is a one way connection anyways. I have also heard that TIVO works the same way, but can't personally confirm this.



Yup, we have DirectTV and Tivo and no phone line. We took the box to our old apartment when we first got it and set it up on the phone line there, that's the only time we ever needed it.

We can even get pay per view, we just have to order it online on the website instead of through the TV.

WSUCougar 03-30-2005 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by primelord
I think WSUCougar made a thread similar to this awhile ago and I commented in there that people talking all cell phones while driving isn't always such a clear cut issue.

You mean THIS ONE?

As I've said before, you can justify the use of cell phones while driving, and I'm sure there are many examples of responsible people who can and do use them safely all the time.

What you cannot convince me of, however, is that in general cell phone usage among drivers is not a serious and dangerous plague upon our roads. Almost every single day I see obvious instances of its hazards. Almost every single day - and I'm not purposefully trying to find them. Sometimes, while I'm waiting at a left turn light, the number of drivers going by with phones stuck to their ears will far outnumber those without. It's truly scary.

Just my opinion.

primelord 03-30-2005 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf
Right but it's a self created situation by humans. It's not enough now to tell your customer, I'll be there in an hour.

It's not enough now to say "honey I'll be home around 7". You get a call asking where you are at.


I agree that is the problem. People make comments a lot like "Businesses used to get by without cell phones before why can't they now". There are two problems there. 1) As you pointed out they have set the expectation level higher now for their customers. Customers expect faster service and to be able to reach you at any time. 2) There will always be at least one company willing to use cell phones in this manner to get an edge. So that forces all competeing companies to do the same.

The resolution to this problem (in the business world) would be for all companies to agree to stop participating in it and for all customers to accept a lesser level of service because of it. Neither one of those things is going to happen. The only other way I see a real solution to this is if they do make it illegal to talk and drive in every state and they start enforcing it.

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by primelord
I agree that is the problem. People make comments a lot like "Businesses used to get by without cell phones before why can't they now". There are two problems there. 1) As you pointed out they have set the expectation level higher now for their customers. Customers expect faster service and to be able to reach you at any time. 2) There will always be at least one company willing to use cell phones in this manner to get an edge. So that forces all competeing companies to do the same.

The resolution to this problem (in the business world) would be for all companies to agree to stop participating in it and for all customers to accept a lesser level of service because of it. Neither one of those things is going to happen. The only other way I see a real solution to this is if they do make it illegal to talk and drive in every state and they start enforcing it.


You are correct. There is no way around it now. I speak idealistically and not realistically.

I guess that's why everyone turns into old bastards. The 30-40 crowd now can't believe the speed of information and technology. The teens to 30 can't believe it never existed.

Fast forward 40 years and at 80 we'll just shake our head and go play shuffleboard while the 30-40 group doesn't understand why you need anything else but cell phones. The teens to 30 will wonder how we survived with just cell phones.

sterlingice 03-30-2005 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passacaglia
If you've ever been charged $200 for one day of service by Ameritech, cell phones begin to look pretty good.


How the hell did you rack up a $200 Ameritech charge? I though they were an ISP. Were you connecting through your cellphone or something?

SI

Ksyrup 03-30-2005 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sterlingice
How the hell did you rack up a $200 Ameritech charge? I though they were an ISP. Were you connecting through your cellphone or something?

SI


Speaking of which, I'm probably going to have to move to a blackberry-type phone soon. How much extra is the email/browsing service going to cost me a month?

Karlifornia 03-30-2005 02:18 PM

This reminds me of a comedy bit I heard:

"Nowadays, cell phones are pretty widely accepted, but a couple of years ago they weren't. Every time I'd answer my cell there'd always be that one person giving me a dirty look.....Was this person doing that for every invention? What about the umbrella? 'Oh, I'm not scared of getting wet!' "

Or something like that....

sterlingice 03-30-2005 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby
I hope we can all agree that the only things more annoying than cellphone users are the crotchety old bastards that complain about them...


Get Off My Lawn!

SI

Hurst2112 03-30-2005 02:19 PM

Quote:

How the hell did you rack up a $200 Ameritech charge? I though they were an ISP. Were you connecting through your cellphone or something?

Ameritech is a phone service in Wisconsin (and maybe illinois too). It was about 5 years ago anyway. I think it still is the main one there.

Ksyrup 03-30-2005 02:20 PM

I do not use my cell phone all that much, but I find it extremely useful and comforting with a wife and two kids. You never know what could happen. And, if nothing else, it comes in very handy. If I go to the store to pick up 4 items, and the wife forgets to tell me to pick up the 5th, it's certainly not life and death to have to go back out to the store, but it's also very nice to be able to find that information out while walking around the store.

sterlingice 03-30-2005 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby
You know, it *is* possible to talk on a cell phone and pay attention while driving...


Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCougar
As I've said before, you can justify the use of cell phones while driving, and I'm sure there are many examples of responsible people who can and do use them safely all the time.

What you cannot convince me of, however, is that in general cell phone usage among drivers is not a serious and dangerous plague upon our roads. Almost every single day I see obvious instances of its hazards. Almost every single day - and I'm not purposefully trying to find them. Sometimes, while I'm waiting at a left turn light, the number of drivers going by with phones stuck to their ears will far outnumber those without. It's truly scary.

Just my opinion.


Exactly- you *can* drive safely with a cell phone. Very rarely do people do this.

SI

Desnudo 03-30-2005 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf
You are correct. There is no way around it now. I speak idealistically and not realistically.

I guess that's why everyone turns into old bastards. The 30-40 crowd now can't believe the speed of information and technology. The teens to 30 can't believe it never existed.

Fast forward 40 years and at 80 we'll just shake our head and go play shuffleboard while the 30-40 group doesn't understand why you need anything else but cell phones. The teens to 30 will wonder how we survived with just cell phones.


You won't need cell phones when your 80. Everyone will have Microsoft communication nanobots in their body.

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desnudo
You won't need cell phones when your 80. Everyone will have Microsoft communication nanobots in their body.


I will resist even if futile.

Desnudo 03-30-2005 02:26 PM

I find it amazing that some people think driving with one hand while talking on the phone with another isn't a big distraction. Driving isn't like getting a carton of milk out of the fridge.

Hurst2112 03-30-2005 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desnudo
You won't need cell phones when your 80. Everyone will have Microsoft communication nanobots in their body.


Stupid mark of the beast (in my best Homer Simpson voice).

panerd 03-30-2005 02:30 PM

Do you think we will need napkins in the future, or is this whole mouth-vacuum thing for real?

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desnudo
I find it amazing that some people think driving with one hand while talking on the phone with another isn't a big distraction. Driving isn't like getting a carton of milk out of the fridge.


I don't think it's the physical act. Many people drive with one hand anyway.

It's the mental energy into listening, planning a response and responding that occupys the mind.

For some reason the phone and phone conversation occupys more of your attention than the radio, passengers or eating. Someone smarter than me might be able to explain it.

st.cronin 03-30-2005 02:31 PM

You people are all going to die of brain cancer.

hhiipp 03-30-2005 02:32 PM

nm

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panerd
Do you think we will need napkins in the future, or is this whole mouth-vacuum thing for real?


I'll be happy when the make your own pizza shop opens.

Desnudo 03-30-2005 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf
I don't think it's the physical act. Many people drive with one hand anyway.

It's the mental energy into listening, planning a response and responding that occupys the mind.

For some reason the phone and phone conversation occupys more of your attention than the radio, passengers or eating. Someone smarter than me might be able to explain it.


I understand that aspect of it. I've seen the studies where people react much more slowly talking on cell phones versus talking to someone sitting next to them. But, there's a more a immediate, physical danger too. For example, an ex-girlfriend of mine use to gab on a cell phone while driving around town with a stick shift. Immediately annoying, in any case, which is why she's an ex. So every time she wanted to shift, the cell phone went between the shoulder and ear. And forget about using the turn signal at the same time. I drove as often as possible.

Marc Vaughan 03-30-2005 02:38 PM

Errr - hands free kit anyone? ... (I'm presuming that America is the same as the UK as in talking on a mobile/cell phone is illegal while driving but using a hands-free kit is fine (as its basically the same as talking to someone in the car).

These days you can even dial using voice so it needn't interupt driving at all.

PS> Do American phones have texting ability? (ie. send text messages to other people ala email) - I know they didn't when I worked over there, but I wondered if it'd been integrated yet (it happened as a happy accident in the UK and has turned into a multi-million pound industry).

Ksyrup 03-30-2005 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by st.cronin
You people are all going to die of brain cancer.


As for adults, that's pretty much been rejected. But recently, there have been studies suggesting that kids younger than 8 or 10 could be at risk. I'm not sure how much they would have to use one to have an effect (if any), but my daughter uses it to talk to her grandparents (cell phone is our long distance plan). Problem is, they need 30-40 years to study a lifespan to determine the effect, so who knows what the answer is.

Hurst2112 03-30-2005 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf
I don't think it's the physical act. Many people drive with one hand anyway.


For some reason the phone and phone conversation occupys more of your attention than the radio, passengers or eating. Someone smarter than me might be able to explain it.


Ah, the good old days...before cell phones. I used to pride myself on being able to drive and roll a joint at the same time in high school.

It was more knee driving for me.

;) :D

st.cronin 03-30-2005 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksyrup
As for adults, that's pretty much been rejected.


It's been mostly rejected on a theoretical level, but there aren't any long range studies yet, because cell phones haven't been around long enough to do any.

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurst2112
Ah, the good old days...before cell phones. I used to pride myself on being able to drive and roll a joint at the same time in high school.

It was more knee driving for me.

;) :D


See, cell phones are more dangerous than weed and knee driving.

Desnudo 03-30-2005 02:43 PM

Plus, I'm sure the accident rate drops substantially at <20 MPH.

Hurst2112 03-30-2005 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf
See, cell phones are more dangerous than weed and knee driving.


Touche!

Good thing I gave up both!

rkmsuf 03-30-2005 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurst2112
Touche!

Good thing I gave up both!


Or you are really a Jedi and just don't know it.

henry296 03-30-2005 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan
Errr - hands free kit anyone? ... (I'm presuming that America is the same as the UK as in talking on a mobile/cell phone is illegal while driving but using a hands-free kit is fine (as its basically the same as talking to someone in the car).

These days you can even dial using voice so it needn't interupt driving at all.

PS> Do American phones have texting ability? (ie. send text messages to other people ala email) - I know they didn't when I worked over there, but I wondered if it'd been integrated yet (it happened as a happy accident in the UK and has turned into a multi-million pound industry).


Only certain states (New York) is it illegal to drive while not using a hands free kit.

We do have text messaging as well.

Lathum 03-30-2005 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panerd
Hey I am not a fan of the idiots who drive with cell phones and cause accidents, but this thread seems to be spiraling out of control. I have a cell phone instead of a home phone and it is about $25 cheaper a month then the racket SBC had going here for years. Sure as hell makes it easier to meet up with friends downtown, or tell the girlfriend/wife you are running late, or give to a kid to call for a ride from soccer practice. I could go on, but you guys seem to have a small dick complex just because you don't have a cell phone that they serve no purpose.

I have a cell phone and I think it does serve a purpose. There are still a couple of things that irritate me about them.

1. People seem to look at them as a necessity which they are not, they are a convince. There is a big difference there.
2. I don’t have a “small dick complex” the problem I have is with the 21 year old kid almost killing me because he was on his phone. Or when I’m at the movie’s and peoples cell phones ring which happens at least 3 times a show. Or when my plane lands and you hear 100 people rush to get to their phone just so they can inform the people waiting for them at the gate that the plane landed. Duh. Or when I’m at a bar or restaurant and someone is using their Nextel so everyone in the place can hear their conversation. Or….I can keep going

Cellphones have evolved to be at best a basic necessity, however they are way overused. Explain to me why a 13 year old kid needs a phone? I had to beg to get a phone in my bedroom when I was 14 and that was a distraction enough, forget it if I had a cellphone.


End rant

BrianD 03-30-2005 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan
Errr - hands free kit anyone? ... (I'm presuming that America is the same as the UK as in talking on a mobile/cell phone is illegal while driving but using a hands-free kit is fine (as its basically the same as talking to someone in the car).

These days you can even dial using voice so it needn't interupt driving at all.

PS> Do American phones have texting ability? (ie. send text messages to other people ala email) - I know they didn't when I worked over there, but I wondered if it'd been integrated yet (it happened as a happy accident in the UK and has turned into a multi-million pound industry).


Doesn't seem to matter:

http://www.nsc.org/library/shelf/inincell.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0129080944.htm

Desnudo 03-30-2005 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lathum
I have a cell phone and I think it does serve a purpose. There are still a couple of things that irritate me about them.

1. People seem to look at them as a necessity which they are not, they are a convince. There is a big difference there.
2. I don’t have a “small dick complex” the problem I have is with the 21 year old kid almost killing me because he was on his phone. Or when I’m at the movie’s and peoples cell phones ring which happens at least 3 times a show. Or when my plane lands and you hear 100 people rush to get to their phone just so they can inform the people waiting for them at the gate that the plane landed. Duh. Or when I’m at a bar or restaurant and someone is using their Nextel so everyone in the place can hear their conversation. Or….I can keep going

Cellphones have evolved to be at best a basic necessity, however they are way overused. Explain to me why a 13 year old kid needs a phone? I had to beg to get a phone in my bedroom when I was 14 and that was a distraction enough, forget it if I had a cellphone.


End rant


And that's the way it was and we liked it!

Ksyrup 03-30-2005 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan
Errr - hands free kit anyone? ... (I'm presuming that America is the same as the UK as in talking on a mobile/cell phone is illegal while driving but using a hands-free kit is fine (as its basically the same as talking to someone in the car).


Not so. AFAIK, the vast majority of states do not outlaw driving while talking on a cell phone, regardless of whether it is hands-free or not. When NY passed that law a couple of years ago, it made big news. I'm not sure if any other states have gone along with that, but it's not a law in Florida and I don't hear any noise about it becoming an issue.

Castlerock 03-30-2005 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby
You know, it *is* possible to talk on a cell phone and pay attention while driving...

Just like it *IS* possible to be drunk and pay attention while driving.

A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver
Abstract:
We used a high-fidelity driving simulator to compare the performance of cell-phone drivers with drivers who were legally intoxicated from ethanol. When drivers were conversing on either a hand-held or hands-free cell-phone, their braking reactions were delayed and they were involved in more traffic accidents than when they were not conversing on the cell phone. By contrast, when drivers were legally intoxicated they exhibited a more aggressive driving style, following closer to the vehicle immediately in front of them and applying more force while braking. When controlling for driving conditions and time on task, cell-phone drivers exhibited greater impairment than intoxicated drivers. The results have implications for legislation addressing driver distraction caused by cell phone conversations

Lathum 03-30-2005 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desnudo
And that's the way it was and we liked it!

Damn Straight!

RendeR 03-30-2005 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby
You know, it *is* possible to talk on a cell phone and pay attention while driving...



utterly and completely wrong.

Subby 03-30-2005 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RendeR
utterly and completely wrong.

Utterly and completely right.

I do it all the time.

If one person can do it, then it *is* possible.

Buccaneer 03-30-2005 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby
I hope we can all agree that the only things more annoying than cellphone users are the crotchety old bastards that complain about them...


Hey. :mad:

Lol. While I personally detest (and do not have) cell phones, I understand the need for them...
Just not when you are fucking driving

Subby 03-30-2005 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buccaneer
Hey. :mad:

Lol. While I personally detest (and do not have) cell phones, I understand the need for them...
Just not when you are fucking driving

You know I was thinking of you and you alone when I posted that ;)

RendeR 03-30-2005 09:41 PM

99% of Americans have no talent for driving a motor vehicle, let alone driving it SAFELY.

Add in the inherint IDIOCY of doing ANYTHING beyond driving the vehicle and you have simply made life for everyone that much more dangerous.

Motor vehicles are lethal weapons when no operated in a safe and secure manner, and some are even then.

Do everyone a favor, stop talking shit with your buddy, stop putting on makeup, stop talking on your phones, stop playing with the fucking radio, and stop making excuses for why you all want to feel special and not have to be responsible while driving a 2 ton killing machine.

fucking cell phones....

andy m 03-31-2005 12:48 AM

mobile phone twats.

MrBug708 03-31-2005 01:04 AM

I agree that most people are bad when driving and on the cell phone, but then again, in LA, there is so much traffic during rush hour that you aren't going fast enough to really worry about much.

However, I think it would be dumb to allow cell phones, because I'm sure more then one person has killed someone while adjusting the radio or just not looking.

ISiddiqui 03-31-2005 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lathum
Or when my plane lands and you hear 100 people rush to get to their phone just so they can inform the people waiting for them at the gate that the plane landed.


That's actually extremely convenient. One of the best uses of a cell phone, especially when you live in a city where delayed flights are the norm. That way the person waiting for you can go to the newsstand or coffee shop and not get bored out of their mind just waiting at the gate. When you call them, then they can go to the gate.

daedalus 03-31-2005 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gstelmack
As for the phone company racket, I'm looking into what to do about our landline right now. Once I can figure out what to do about DirecTV and the DirecTIVO (yeah, I know I can hack them, but I'm not quite willing to do that yet) I may well have Vonage. $25/month (plus whatever for 911 service) vs. $70/month is a no-brainer. The phone companies are going to be in serious trouble...

We're looking at doing something similar as well. At the moment, our current plan is to drop the landline and get a third line on our (shared) cellphone plan since we want to keep our number. That should cut our monthly phone bill down a large chunk - I'm looking at just under $50 per month from Verizon JUST for the priviledge of having a phone at the house since the only thing I use it for is for dialing into my ISP. Some of the money saved will go toward us getting broadband - which will have to be cable modem since DSL, other than Speakeasy, apparently needs active phonelines. At least that's the way I've heard it. But that still leaves us a big chunk of change that we're saving. Can't stand Verizon.

daedalus 03-31-2005 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lathum
I don’t have a “small dick complex” the problem I have is with the 21 year old kid almost killing me because he was on his phone. Or when I’m at the movie’s and peoples cell phones ring which happens at least 3 times a show. Or when my plane lands and you hear 100 people rush to get to their phone just so they can inform the people waiting for them at the gate that the plane landed. Duh. Or when I’m at a bar or restaurant and someone is using their Nextel so everyone in the place can hear their conversation. Or….I can keep going

But then is that an argument of "cell phone are stupid" (which seemed to have been the tone of some at the start of this thread which, in my opinion, led to panerd calling out some people) or "some people are assholes"?

jetpunk2000 03-31-2005 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby
You know, it *is* possible to talk on a cell phone and pay attention while driving...

Not for most people. I think this is almost like the I'm OK to drive even though I've had 10 beers in an hour sydrome. People in that situation THINK they can do it, when meanwhile they're in 3 lanes, causing accidents all around them, oblivious to everything.

Kevin 03-31-2005 06:39 AM

Bah! I don't want a cellphone. Someone might try to call me if I did. Bring back the Pony express!

Ksyrup 03-31-2005 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui
That's actually extremely convenient. One of the best uses of a cell phone, especially when you live in a city where delayed flights are the norm. That way the person waiting for you can go to the newsstand or coffee shop and not get bored out of their mind just waiting at the gate. When you call them, then they can go to the gate.

Yep, one of the many useful ways cell phones make our lives more efficient.

The bottom line is, at least in this country, work days seem to be getting longer, vacations - if they occur at all - are getting shorter, and people need all of the extra "down" time they can to rest, do things they enjoy, and be with their families (2 and 3 shouldn't be mutually exclusive :) ). If I can cut 20 minutes out of my work day by being attached to my cell phone, that's 20 minutes earlier I can get home to see my kids. As it is, during a regular work week, I see them for about 30 minutes in the morning and MAYBE an hour at night before they go to sleep. I need that efficiency.

cuervo72 03-31-2005 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby
If one person can do it, then it *is* possible.


Possible, but in many cases...I mean the idiot quotient is so high out their already...

I have no problem doing this riding home for work (usually anyway), but that's on a US highway with not a lot of traffic - a straight shot. I think when you're in an environment with more cars, more intersections, starting and stopping...well, you're just adding more variables to the equation, making things harder.

JonInMiddleGA 03-31-2005 07:41 AM

I'm on pretty much the same page that Ksyrup just posted -- minus the ability to be reachable by cell pretty much anywhere, I could forget about trips like the one coming up next week. Instead, because our primary client can reach me if he needs me, I get to take my son to WDW for his spring break (again). No cell, no near-instant access, no way I can leave for 6 days in the middle of their most important ad campaign of the year.

And without those kind of pleasures, those benefits of "being the boss", my desire to do what I do for a living drops noticeably.

Because she has her cell, instead of worrying about my wife as she travels back and forth 4-5 hours several times a week for the past two months to visit her father in the hospital, I've got a certain degree of comfort with it. Not complete comfort, but better than without it. Less worry = better focus on other responsibilities = keeping our business running a lot more effectively and efficiently in spite of being shorthand for the better part of 60 days during our most critical season.

And that doesn't even start to cover the reality that I see a lot more stupid things done on the road that don't appear to involve cell phones than those that do (reference my soccer-moms-in-SUV's rant from at least one other thread).

Sorry folks, but I think whoever it was pointed out the "little dick syndrome" earlier in the thread is a lot closer to the truth than some whinyassmotherfuckers here are comfortable admitting.

ice4277 03-31-2005 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA
And that doesn't even start to cover the reality that I see a lot more stupid things done on the road that don't appear to involve cell phones than those that do (reference my soccer-moms-in-SUV's rant from at least one other thread).

Sorry folks, but I think whoever it was pointed out the "little dick syndrome" earlier in the thread is a lot closer to the truth than some whinyassmotherfuckers here are comfortable admitting.


Agreed. Bad drivers are bad drivers, and therefore more likely to find something, ANYTHING to distract them.

Ksyrup 03-31-2005 07:51 AM

The local paper has a "traffic doctor" who answers questions about bad roads, bad drivers, bad signage at certain intersections, etc. His latest crusade is against elbow drivers. Here's what was in one of his most recent columns:

"I encountered a new low in driver attention in traffic this morning," John Ter Louw wrote Thursday. "The lady in the white Camry was flossing her teeth while driving!"

She was southbound on Thomasville Road, between Bannerman and Kerry Forest. Going about 50, he said. Appeared to be using her forearm or (no, not again) her elbow on the wheel.

This elbow driving has to stop.



rkmsuf 03-31-2005 08:25 AM

It's sick. I watched this morning sitting at a light and at least a third of the cars going by contained people talking on the phone at 9:00 am.

JonInMiddleGA 03-31-2005 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf
It's sick. I watched this morning sitting at a light and at least a third of the cars going by contained people talking on the phone at 9:00 am.


And it seems a fair bet that at least a third of them were working, possibly more.
I got zero problem with that, better than driving like a bat out of hell to get somewhere.

WSUCougar 03-31-2005 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA
And it seems a fair bet that at least a third of them were working, possibly more.
I got zero problem with that, better than driving like a bat out of hell to get somewhere.

So as a driver, you are saying that you're perfectly willing to significantly reduce the concentration of a large percentage of fellow drivers? Interesting.

Ksyrup 03-31-2005 08:42 AM

If this chick had a cell phone, none of this would have happened...



KETTERING, Ohio (AP) -- A woman rushing to a hospital to give birth hit a few stops along the way -- first at a gas station where she delivered the baby herself, then when confused police ordered her out of the car at gunpoint.

Debbie Coleman, whose 3- and 4-year-old daughters were asleep in the back seat, pulled over at a gas station just after midnight Tuesday.

"I asked if she needed help, and she just leaned back in the seat, hollered a little, and I looked down and there was the baby's head," said station co-owner Lloyd Goff, who was alerted to the emergency at pump No. 7 by a customer.

Goff said Coleman "threw her leg over the steering wheel, groaned once, and the rest of the baby came out.

"She caught that baby, put it to her chest, gave me a look, like, 'I gotta go,' closed the door, put the van in gear and away she went."

A customer at the gas station in suburban Dayton tried to give police a heads-up about Coleman's situation, but a mix-up involving the license plate number had them thinking the van was stolen.

As officers went looking for her, Coleman headed for the hospital, naked below the waist and with the baby boy in her arm. His umbilical cord was still attached.

"I kept pulling over, making sure (the baby) was all right, breathing," she said.

Meanwhile, police had straightened out the license plate issue. But another caller mistakenly reported someone trying to throw a baby from a van.

Coleman said she noticed several cruisers following her before one cut her off. With guns drawn, officers ordered her out of the van with her hands up.

"I opened the door and said, 'I just had a baby' and just let them see everything," she said.

Officers sent Coleman on and let the hospital know she was coming.

Coleman was discharged Wednesday. Her 6-pound, 8-ounce son, Richard Lee Coleman Jr., remained in intensive care.

JonInMiddleGA 03-31-2005 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCougar
So as a driver, you are saying that you're perfectly willing to significantly reduce the concentration of a large percentage of fellow drivers? Interesting.


I've seen enough incidents caused by being in too big a hurry to feel like this is any more dangerous. I've got next to no confidence in the other drivers on the road anyway, so it's not like this gives me any additional concern.

I drove in Atlanta traffic before the widespread use of cell phones, I've driven in it since they became prevalent. I see no real difference in the overall number of incidents nor the severity of incidents. Apparently, if people are going to be distracted (or whatever) enough to be hazardous on the road, they're going to do that whether they're on the phone or not.

gstelmack 03-31-2005 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksyrup
Officers sent Coleman on and let the hospital know she was coming.


They sent her on? Not one of the officers could get in the van and drive her to the hospital? Call an ambulance out? They had her continue driving with a baby in her arms?

If that's true, I've got to wonder if Ohio is importing Sherriff's Deputies from Atlanta...

Castlerock 03-31-2005 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby
You know, it *is* possible to talk on a cell phone and pay attention while driving...


Quote:

Originally Posted by RendeR
utterly and completely wrong.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby
Utterly and completely right.

I do it all the time.

If one person can do it, then it *is* possible.


It's possible to drive drunk and drive well, too.
I do it all the time. :rolleyes:

rkmsuf 03-31-2005 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA
And it seems a fair bet that at least a third of them were working, possibly more.
I got zero problem with that, better than driving like a bat out of hell to get somewhere.



Working? On their way to work? You can't wait 5 minutes to check your messages?

I'm willing to bet the majority of them may have been "working" but there was zero reason for it. It's like why does a dog lick his ass...cuz he can.

Why do you check your messages on your way to work...cuz you can.

Or maybe I'm just bitter because they are important people and I am not.

JonInMiddleGA 03-31-2005 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf
Working? On their way to work? You can't wait 5 minutes to check your messages?


Or running late for some reason. Or redirecting something in the office so things are on track when you get there. Or checking msgs to see if there's something that should re-route you. Or rcvg a call from work rerouting you for some purpose. Or any of dozen other things. [/quote]

Quote:

Or maybe I'm just bitter because they are important people and I am not.

Nothing personal, but I think you may have hit on something here.

WSUCougar 03-31-2005 09:29 AM

A bit of a side note, but this is what strikes and disturbs me perhaps the most about the cell phone plague. Many cell phone users have rapidly pushed such usage to their top priority in terms of activities, such that almost everything else is secondary. Driving, common courtesy, interaction with others, etc. They talk loudly in places they shouldn't (restaurants, stores, etc.), they ignore or barely acknowledge people who are trying to serve them (clerks, waiters, etc.), they lack awareness of personal space (obliviously standing in the middle of store aisles, bumping into people, etc.). All because they can. Why is this acceptable?

Mustang 03-31-2005 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsimperless
I don't agree with the idea of making talking on a cell phone while driving illegal. What about talking to another passenger in the car? Eating? Changing radio stations? Picking up something off the floor? Handing something to a child in the back seat? Daydreaming? All of these things are potentially dangerous and can cause accidents. Do we make them all illegal?


They are illegal. I believe they would all fall under inattentive driving . . .

If something impairs your ability to drive then yes, it should be illegal. That is the whole thing on Drunk driving.. is that it impairs your ability to drive a vehicle safely.

sterlingice 03-31-2005 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCougar
A bit of a side note, but this is what strikes and disturbs me perhaps the most about the cell phone plague. Many cell phone users have rapidly pushed such usage to their top priority in terms of activities, such that almost everything else is secondary. Driving, common courtesy, interaction with others, etc. They talk loudly in places they shouldn't (restaurants, stores, etc.), they ignore or barely acknowledge people who are trying to serve them (clerks, waiters, etc.), they lack awareness of personal space (obliviously standing in the middle of store aisles, bumping into people, etc.). All because they can. Why is this acceptable?


So a friend and I are at a ballgame a couple of years ago. A guy down the row is talking loudly on his cell. Now being drunk and heckling at the game is rude, being drunk and talking loudly on a cell about nothing at all related to a ballgame is heresy. So this friend gets out his bifold wallet, flips it down and starts yelling "BUY, BUY, BUY! SELL, SELL, SELL!" into his wallet until the guy hangs up. Good stuff.

{rant} I mean, geez. This is like the group of a couple of guys who drags their girlfriends along to the game who sit there and gossip the entire fucking ballgame. It's baseball. If you're going to pay for a ticket, sit there and watch the game, cheer for the game, talk about the game, talk about baseball, whatever. I don't go into that movie you're watching and talk through it. If you're dragging guys to the game who don't like baseball just because they want to get drunk at the game, seame thing. If you have a girlfriend who loves baseball, bless you, sir, you have something good going on. {end rant}

SI

rkmsuf 03-31-2005 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sterlingice
So a friend and I are at a ballgame a couple of years ago. A guy down the row is talking loudly on his cell. Now being drunk and heckling at the game is rude, being drunk and talking loudly on a cell about nothing at all related to a ballgame is heresy. So this friend gets out his bifold wallet, flips it down and starts yelling "BUY, BUY, BUY! SELL, SELL, SELL!" into his wallet until the guy hangs up. Good stuff.

{rant} I mean, geez. This is like the group of a couple of guys who drags their girlfriends along to the game who sit there and gossip the entire fucking ballgame. It's baseball. If you're going to pay for a ticket, sit there and watch the game, cheer for the game, talk about the game, talk about baseball, whatever. I don't go into that movie you're watching and talk through it. If you're dragging guys to the game who don't like baseball just because they want to get drunk at the game, seame thing. If you have a girlfriend who loves baseball, bless you, sir, you have something good going on. {end rant}

SI


Or the f*ckwads who sit behind home plate, whip out the cell phone and wave into the camera to their buddies on the other end.

WSUCougar 03-31-2005 12:52 PM

When Joe Buck's broadcasting Cards games for the local STL station he likes to make fun of the idiots in the FIRST ROW BEHIND HOME PLATE who spend literally almost the entire game on their cell phone and waving to either the camera or to people in the !@#$% stadium.

Edit: ACK! You beat me to it, rkmsuf

rkmsuf 03-31-2005 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCougar
When Joe Buck's broadcasting Cards games for the local STL station he likes to make fun of the idiots in the FIRST ROW BEHIND HOME PLATE who spend literally almost the entire game on their cell phone and waving to either the camera or to people in the !@#$% stadium.

Edit: ACK! You beat me to it, rkmsuf


They make fun of them up in Boston too.

Speaking of behind home plate, to this day I still see morons rolling their arms like the lady at the 1986 World Series.

Tekneek 03-31-2005 01:23 PM

This point of view may have already been represented, so please accept my apologies if I skimmed over it...

I don't believe the problem is cellphones. I think the problem is irresponsible people behaving recklessly. Each individual should have enough respect for everyone else to not talk on the cellphone if it impairs their ability to drive properly. If I can drive properly AND talk on a cellphone, I should not be punished because some other fools can't handle it.

I don't know if it is a parenting issue, but somewhere along the way they were not taught how to properly respect the vehicle they are driving and its ability to take away the life of others on or near the road. That's not my problem. It's their problem.


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