Slashdot Mirror
The Real Reasons Phones Are Kept Off Planes
jcatcw writes "Mike Elgan argues that the the real reason that cell phones calls are not allowed is fear of crowd control problems if calls are allowed during flight. Also, the airlines like keeping passengers ignorant about ground conditions. The two public reasons, interference with other systems, could easily be tested, but neither the FAA nor the FCC manage to do such testing."
Atleast he didn't quote some made up fact of "Billions of dollars of lost productivity".
I ride the train to work every day, it's an above ground train so you can use your cell phone. I realized that the one thing I hate most is the invention of cell headsets. either the little cable that comes with the phone (which hangs down by your chest) or the tiny bluetooth headsets. Either way, people think they need to yell to be heard. I can't imagine sitting on a flight to Tokyo in the middle section with a few people around you all yelling into their bluetooth headsets to be heard above the drone of the engines and the other people on flight.
While on the train I can get up and move to a different seat or stand by the door. On an airplane I'm forced to sit next to this moron yelling in whatever language he is fluent in. I think i could make billions selling a 'bluetooth' jammer http://www.ladyada.net/make/wavebubble/index.html right before you get on the flight.
What about WIFI? That's all I need some jerkoff, connecting to the internet, firing up Vonage/VOIP and then either a) using speakerphone and built in mic, OR b) Using a f-ing bluetooth headset. Also on the subject of wifi, that's all i need, I pay $10 (or whatever) and then get almost NO bandwidth as everyone has to fireup a VPN and connect to their Exchange servers. Also, if I pay $1000 for a first class ticket, do I get better wireless? Or a AP for ONLY first class passengers? Surely, if there are 20ppl in first class, I don't want to have to share it with the 200 cattle in the back.
"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better." - Unknown
We could put the smokers and the fatties and the children and their parents and the loud talkers and the snorers and the stinkers ALL together into one section. But lets face it, who would be left for the normal person section?
I mean, they don't allow you to sit in the cockpit anymore. Another thing islam has ruined.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.