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The Cell Phone Has Changed — New Etiquette Needed
CWmike writes to share a recent manners-rant that has some great gems about how not to be "that guy" on a cell phone. What rules of engagement are absolutely necessary and what social penalties should become standard practice for repeat offenders? "It's easy to be rude with a cell phone. A visitor from another planet might conclude that rudeness is a cell phone's main purpose. Random, annoying ring tones go off unexpectedly. People talk too loudly on cell phones in public because of the challenge of holding a conversation in a noisy environment with someone who's not present. Cell phones need their own rules of etiquette, or we'll descend into social barbarism."
He should know to ignore the phone call and focus on the situation when the need arises. If the driver is incapable of doing this simple thing, they shouldn't have a radio or a passenger either, or better translated, they shouldn't be driving.
Sorry but from the thousands of miles I drive every month, I can tell you this.....
MOST DRIVERS have no business driving a car. The ratio is over 50% of people that really should not have a license.... but here in the USA it's a god given right! We have greyhairs that are blind and have a reaction time of a snail in a jar of molasses that the govt is AFRAID of taking their drivers license away.
Soccer moms spraying hairspray and doing their nails. I love the whackjobs that drive with a foot out the window, yes the driver has a foot out the window or on the dashboard... I even saw a guy playing a trumpet while driving....
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Be willing to toss the phone/headset/whatever into the seat beside you...
Or get yourself a bluetooth earbug so that you can keep your hands free. I should add that while this a good solution for routine phone conversations, or allowing that bimbo to keep at least one hand on the wheel while applying her make-up, I wouldn't recommend this as a solution in a situation like an earlier poster mentioned, where the caller is making demands on your problem-solving skills.
If someone is demanding that you fix their computer or solve differential equations over the phone, you have to just say you'll get back to him.
I am in Korea, so driving, being on the bus, being on the train, walking, watching a movie, eating at a restaurant, teaching a class and having sex are all good times to answer the phone and have long and conversations.
Maybe that's why Koreans hate Japanese (besides Dokdo is ours!).
riding round the world on an old motorcycle
DON'T USE A PHONE WHILE DRIVING PERIOD YOU IDIOT!
Are you honestly saying that the use of a blue tooth headset makes driving a car while using a phone as safe as driving a car while not on the phone?
You then proceed to point out that the iPhone/JesusPhone actually has distracting issues for a driver. And then you admit it caused you too loose focus on the road.
There is no safe way to use a phone and drive PERIOD.
This is all like saying while in the bar. "Well I had 2 drinks my first 30 min, Then about 1 ever 30 min after that. But my last one was a coke. So I should be good to drive in 10 minutes." If you play drink math you are not good to drive. It's simple. Don't drink/use phone/have sex/cook a pasta dinner while driving.
People get upset at me because I don't answer the phone the nano second it rings. They actually do not understand my response. "Sorry I was driving and I had to pull off the road."
STOP USING THE PHONE AND DRIVING!