What is there to "deal" with about people talking on phones? Do you also have to "deal" with people talking to the person next to them?
The deal:
By some act of manufacturing or quirk of human nature, cell phones seem to have this inherent ability to turn otherwise friendly, considerate people into inconsiderate jerks.
On top of the obvious rudness of leaving your cell phone to ring in a movie - and then talking on it as you leave the theater - there's the more subtle rudeness of ignoring the people who are actually *present*.
Talking to Joe on your cell phone is isn't anything like a conversation with another passenger: It's the opposite. Conversations with other passengers are generally held at a respectful volume, and often other passengers are welcome to join in the discussion (a la slashdot).
On the other hand, having a long, loud conversation on a cell phone is disrespectful of other passengers. It says, "Not only are you not interesting enough to talk to, but you're so insignificant, I'm not going to feel any qualms about interrupting your ride by talking at the top of my voice."
Ignoring junkbusting software for the moment, kuro5hin's model is fascinating... It's the exact inverse (converse?) of the model that newspapers and magazines and television have been using for years.
Personally, I don't see how kuro5hin's management plans to play both sides of the table like this - charging advertisers to post ads and charging subscribers to hide them - but if this deal swings, it's going to have interesting consequences for advertising and mass media.
Slashdot Mirror
What is there to "deal" with about people talking on phones? Do you also have to "deal" with people talking to the person next to them?
The deal:
By some act of manufacturing or quirk of human nature, cell phones seem to have this inherent ability to turn otherwise friendly, considerate people into inconsiderate jerks.
On top of the obvious rudness of leaving your cell phone to ring in a movie - and then talking on it as you leave the theater - there's the more subtle rudeness of ignoring the people who are actually *present*.
Talking to Joe on your cell phone is isn't anything like a conversation with another passenger: It's the opposite. Conversations with other passengers are generally held at a respectful volume, and often other passengers are welcome to join in the discussion (a la slashdot).
On the other hand, having a long, loud conversation on a cell phone is disrespectful of other passengers. It says, "Not only are you not interesting enough to talk to, but you're so insignificant, I'm not going to feel any qualms about interrupting your ride by talking at the top of my voice."
Ignoring junkbusting software for the moment, kuro5hin's model is fascinating... It's the exact inverse (converse?) of the model that newspapers and magazines and television have been using for years.
Personally, I don't see how kuro5hin's management plans to play both sides of the table like this - charging advertisers to post ads and charging subscribers to hide them - but if this deal swings, it's going to have interesting consequences for advertising and mass media.
If the mass media survive personalization.
-technobabble