(no subject)

[andrewducker]

I have never, ever understood the aversion to mobile phones. Time and time again I hear people say "I don't want to be contactable."

So turn it off! Or turn it to silent! Or to redirect!

I can't think of any situation in which it would be useful to me to not be able to make phone calls. I can certainly think of situations when I don't want to be phoned (such as during gaming) which is why I tend to set my phone to redirect then,m so that calls go straight to the answerphone. If it's urgent people can leave a message and I'll call them back.

Complaining that the technology isn't used properly isn't a complaint about the technology, it's a complaint about stupid people or impolite people.

Comments

[wordofblake.livejournal.com]

who's been moaning now?

I like that I can use dead time, like walking to the shops, to catch up with people. I like that if I'm not up to a conversation, I can send a brief text message saying whatever I need to convey. I like that if I'm at the shops I can check if people need anything picked up. I like that if I get stranded somewhere I can ring people and tell them. I like that meeting people doesn't mean sitting about it means calling and saying "ok I'm here where are you, is that near a big pillar?"

People who complain about phones never really make their position clear to me, and in my experience, they all have landlines anyway. So they must want to be contactable

[octopoid-horror.livejournal.com]

If I lived alone, I wouldn't have a landline either. Unless it was a dedicated SooperDooperInternet line.

[a-pawson.livejournal.com]

I like mobiles, if I don't want to be contacted, I turn it off and the machine takes messages. I have a simple policy, if someone leaves a message, I will get back to them. If they don't then it obviously wasn't that important and they can call me again. Susan doesn't like mobiles, mostly because she communicates using a different set of moral standards.

For example:

My mobile rang late last night. It was my friend Bryan, no doubt calling for a chat. I was tired, about to head for bed, and didn't really want to start a long conversation etc., so I pressed the red key, and the call was diverted to the answering machine. This morning I picked up the brief message, gave him a ring back had a bit of a chat about my new house and stuff and all was well. Susan thought my actions were rude because I didn't answer the call. She will always answer, or call people back, even if they haven't left a message.

The minute Susan gets in the house, she instantly dials 1471 to see who called last. If there was a call while we were out, and she doesn't recognise the number, she instantly gets out her phone book and goes through the numbers one by one util she finds it. Sometimes she will even call back the number, without knowing who called. I don't. if someone calls me and leaves a message I will contact them. If they didn't, it's obviously not important and they can call again if they wish.

Another thing she hates is people ringing, getting the answering machine and not leaving a message. Again I have no problem with this, if someone is just ringing to have a chat they quite often just try again later on or try ringing my mobile. To me there is little point in leaving a message if you don't weant to do so. Susan again considers this annoying and rude.

Is there such a thing as communication ettiquette?

[andrewducker]

Is there such a thing as communication ettiquette?

Yup, lots and lots of them.

I'd tend to side with you. I'm in control of my communication. If people want to talk to me, I'll decide if I want to talk back.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

I don't have one, because I've almost never been in a situation where I would need one. I object to other people having them in large part because they are distracting. When I'm spending time with someone outdoors, I don't wish to have this time interrupted by a phone call. Oddly, even though I know few people who need one, many people who have them are so committed to being in touch that they are reluctant to turn them off.

[octopoid-horror.livejournal.com]

Andy, you don't remember to turn your phone off when at meals for people's birthdays, when going into hospitals and when in the cinema (until the big warning comes up on screen, at which point you sometimes remember)

Complaining that the technology isn't used properly isn't a complaint about the technology, it's a complaint about stupid people or impolite people.

Gosh, I'd hardly want to disagree with you.

:-)

[andrewducker]

My phone has _never_ _ever_ gone off in a cinema and I generally turn it off on my way oast the usher. I don't remember it ever going off at someone's birthday meal either. But if it did I expect I'd answer it and then carry on with the meal 30 seconds later, it being hard to hold a phone conversation when there's lots of noise around you. I wouldn't think of it as a breach of ettiquette to do so either. People a long way away from you aren't less important than the people you're right next to.

I _have_ had my phone on in a hospital on numerous occasions, when I was working there. It was always off when visiting Guy, however, as I was actually near electrical equipment then. I don't recall ever being in a hospital when with you, however.

[octopoid-horror.livejournal.com]

Every time I've been in a cinema with you, it's only been when the warning comes up on the screen that you remember to turn it off. If that warning didn't come up, I bet you wouldn't... And I never said it -had- gone off in the cinema.

You are renowned for being a teeny bit absent minded.... It's not hard to accept that without being reminded you'd leave your phone on...

It went off at my birthday meal the other year and you went outside for about ten minutes to talk on the phone.

And if I -did- have a mobile phone, I wouldn't think that it was dangerous to turn it off for 90 minutes unless I had some kind of razors-edge life where every missed phone call was a missed opportunity for something exciting-sounding... I mean, whoever called when your phone was off could always leave a message, just like you said..

And it was only off when visiting Guy with me because hugh told you to turn it off and you realised that indeed, that would be sensible. You seemed a little startled when he told you, as if it wouldn't have occurred.

And it's gone off during gaming as well ;-) Maybe not -recently- but it used to quite a bit.

I'm not -surprised- by any of these things because I know plenty of people with mobile phones. And quite a few of them are like this.

I just wanted to make sure you knew that you'd made a few factual errors. If your argument wasn't based on fact, it's hardly logical, now is it?

[andrewducker]

Hmm, I'm now curious as to why I went outside. Obviously something important. Or possibly just me being a bastard.

If your argument wasn't based on fact, it's hardly logical, now is it?

Logic and fact have nothing to do with each other. It's certainly traditional to base a logical argument on factual premises, but it's hardly necessary.

I'll happily agree that I have been crap on occasions with my phone, definitely. I'm definitely in favour, for instance, of turning off mobiles during gaming.