I have disliked smartphones from the start. Actually, I've always even disliked cell-phones from the start. It's a rare person and a rare situation in which you in fact require an anywhere anytime conversation, and those who do seem to ironically be the last person I'd want to talk to.
So fast-forward to today and of course they're everywhere. You can't even get a Facebook account anymore unless you register it with a cell-phone number. But my problem is not in conversation anymore, it's whatever the hell everyone is always on them for.
Watching people walking around with phones out like zombies has been an irritant for a while, but I don't have a great deal of justification for it. What is a real problem, though, is doing so once you're where you're going. If you are in a situation including in-person social interaction that you chose to be a part of, put the phone away.
This is coming from the person most-likely-to-die-alone-due-to-social-awkwardness award, and even I have more tact than that. There are a lot of things that I've not understood as being deemed as rude, but this is flagrant.
Additionally, it's not just texting. How often are you waiting on an important phone call? I would wager for the vast majority of people, it's almost never. And if you are, you mention it to the people you're with so as not to be rude. So just because a call is different than a text, that doesn't mean everyone in the world should be stopping so you can answer it. If you were already on the phone, they would get sent to voicemail. Just because your current conversation happens to be in-person doesn't mean that hey, 2 lines, better answer em both!
Is this a hard concept to grasp? Is this socially unreasonable? It's also not for the benefit of everyone else. It's for your own benefit as well. I can only receive phone calls when I'm at home. Know why I'm fine with that? Because I don't want to receive phone calls if I'm not at home. If I'm out, it's because I'm doing something else. I'm busy. Doesn't that sound nice?
So fast-forward to today and of course they're everywhere. You can't even get a Facebook account anymore unless you register it with a cell-phone number. But my problem is not in conversation anymore, it's whatever the hell everyone is always on them for.
Watching people walking around with phones out like zombies has been an irritant for a while, but I don't have a great deal of justification for it. What is a real problem, though, is doing so once you're where you're going. If you are in a situation including in-person social interaction that you chose to be a part of, put the phone away.
This is coming from the person most-likely-to-die-alone-due-to-social-awkwardness award, and even I have more tact than that. There are a lot of things that I've not understood as being deemed as rude, but this is flagrant.
Additionally, it's not just texting. How often are you waiting on an important phone call? I would wager for the vast majority of people, it's almost never. And if you are, you mention it to the people you're with so as not to be rude. So just because a call is different than a text, that doesn't mean everyone in the world should be stopping so you can answer it. If you were already on the phone, they would get sent to voicemail. Just because your current conversation happens to be in-person doesn't mean that hey, 2 lines, better answer em both!
Is this a hard concept to grasp? Is this socially unreasonable? It's also not for the benefit of everyone else. It's for your own benefit as well. I can only receive phone calls when I'm at home. Know why I'm fine with that? Because I don't want to receive phone calls if I'm not at home. If I'm out, it's because I'm doing something else. I'm busy. Doesn't that sound nice?
Recently Spotted:
robio (8m)
If only walkie talkties had taken off instead.
Cell/smart phones = evil.
I've got into the habit of holding it in my hands whenever I'm on the bus. Everyone else does this too, there is also a weird trend with black people where they tend to have 2 phones and hold them both at once. Not racist, just an actual observation. I've yet to figure it out, I'd like to hypothesize one is their legit phone and one is for dealing with drugs, or another number for the woman they're having an affair with, but it's probably more an international phone for long distance calls.
Anyway I hold my phone all the time partially paranoia about someone somehow pickpocketing me without me knowing it, and partially in case it vibrates since I always have it on silent and when it's in my pocket I can't feel it sometimes. But I'm far too worried of people listening to even answer my cell phone in public anyway. I won't even text if someone sits next to me in case they read over my shoulder (hell, I try and do it to them.)
Taking public transportation every day I get a good chance to listen in on all these conversations. A small percentage of the time they are about jobs. The vast majority are people organizing plans for that night or in the future, maybe talking about their day. I don't understand why people need to do this immediately after work or on their way to work though, do they do it in transit to avoid having to talk to people at night while they watch tv? Or do they talk to people on the phone all night too? That part I can't tell you.
I don't like the concept of phones in general anyway. Everything is made urgent because you only get 3 rings, or else it will go to voicemail and then you have the inconvenience of having to call them back and get their voicemail. Away from your desk to make coffee across the room and your phone rings? Getting something from the printer? TOO BAD YOU WILL NEVER MAKE IT BACK IN TIME.
I could see them answering, then asking them to please hold, if they don't have an automated system.
Anyway, this reminded of another thing -- phones while in line. Can't even go get something from a shop without the damn thing out while you do it.
Yeah I know what you mean Yoda. I also find it weird when people get off work/school/university start grabbing their cell and start talking. Is is almost like their fear boredom, like they fear to think. When I am in a train I stare outside the window and think about stuff. Or I look around and observe people. Being bored is refreshing sometimes. Thinking about your life, what you have done and what you will do is also refreshing. To many vapid and boring people.
I use my smart phone as a pc alternative. Mostly for reading RSS feeds, checking this site and e-mail (oh and it's also my MP3 player, so I use it to manage and listen to podcasts).
I do this all the time.