Cell Phone Rant

[actor61]

I have a straight, young friend who I'm very fond of in a platonic, kind of fatherly way (there's a 37 year age gap between us) but his addiction to his phone is really putting a wedge into our friendship. Last night, he came to my place to use my printer (his is broken) and during the entire 2 hours he was here, he was texting his new girlfriend, watching videos she sent him, calling her on Skype, and when all else failed, sending emails. It was non stop and when I spoke to him, I got no reply as he was so engrossed in his phone. I finally went into my bedroom, turned on the news and it was 10 minutes before he realized I'd left the room. When he came to find me, I gently said, "I'm really getting tired of this 3 some we have going on, and I don't mean with your girlfriend; I mean with your phone." He looked very sheepish but then his phone pinged, he raised his finger in the universal gesture for "just a minute" and then read his new message. I got up, went into the hallway, opened the front door and waved my hand in the universal gesture for "you gotta go".

 

Is anyone else getting as impatient and exasperated with our cell phone culture as I? I have seen people fall of the curb while crossing the street because they were looking at their phones instead of where they were going. I have seen people miss their stops on the bus and subway because they were concentrating on their phones. I have been on dinner dates with people who keep their phones next to their plates and have watched their eyes wander down to the screen while pretending to converse across the table. My ex used to reach for his phone to check his messages about 10 seconds after cumming. Talk about killing the afterglow! It was part of the reason we eventually parted ways. I am becoming so intolerant as a result of my cell phone fatigue. I actually turn mine off when I'm at the movies; I've never texted during a film in my life, I'm very proud to say. I turn it off when I'm out with friends and I have never, ever grabbed it immediately after sex to make sure I hadn't missed a message - I'm not that important. I have seen people posting on here about how escorts have paid more attention to their phones than their clients but it has nothing to do with escort behavior - it's unfortunately everyday, everybody behavior. I guess I'm an old fogey and don't fit into the 21st century because I really am able to walk down the street, ride the train and have dinner without needing a phone.

[LaffingBear]

I often feel the same way. And have alot of thoughts on why its happened and the effects on society.

 

But its not going to change, and is likely to continue to pervade into moment-to-moment life.

 

My own reaction: Im never going to like it, and admit to feeling frustration and even contempt. But Id better figure out a way to at least tolerate as much as I can. Because ranting about it wont help beyond the benefits of momentary catharsis.

[+ Reisr30]

I completely agree but have to say I’m guilty of being attached to my cell. It’s take a lot of therapy to pry it away from me during dinner

[caliguy]

Strange that it's only been 11 years since the smart phone came into being. I remember having the very first Iphone but never thought how much of a game changer it was.

[LaffingBear]

The cellphone devices and carrier plans are the greatest marketing success of all time.

[+ VeryHappyCustomer]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/05/smartphone-addiction-silicon-valley-dystopia

[+ pitman]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/05/smartphone-addiction-silicon-valley-dystopia

Thanks for the link. And PLEASE guys, give me some "likes" for this. I need them!

[bigvalboy]

http://crasstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/breifcasephone1.jpg

 

My friend bought one of these way back in the day. It weighed several pounds, cost thousands of dollars and I think he could only talk for 20 mins or so.

He was so proud of it. He brought it to dinner one night at a restaurant and people would come by the table just to see it. When all the lookie loos were gone and we were in the middle of a conversation, he looked at me and said, "Hold on, I've got to make a call" He plopped that monstrosity up on the table, opened it up and began talking so everyone could hear him. Not much has changed since then.

 

Proper phone etiquette is something most people just never got the hang of...

[+ poolboy48220]

One of my oldest friends is one of these. We meet up for dinner (usually carry-out brought back to one of our houses), and it's very common for her to take a call in the middle of our visit. I'd never say "turn it off completely" because we're both in the situation of waiting for emergency calls from/about our aging parents, but some of these are just friends calling to chat. I gently (my best attempt at gently, anyway) pointed it out when one of these calls went on for 15 minutes or so. There are people who truly believe that *not* answering their phone is rude to the caller. I totally disagree - I'm at nobody's disposal 24-7.

 

Another common habit that bugs me - answering a call, saying "I'm in the middle of something, can I call you back?" Isn't that what your voice mail is for?

 

I appreciate my phone and would be at a serious handicap without it, but it's a tool for me, not for others. I don't bring it on walks with the dog because I want to be there to pay attention to her. I've missed some great photo opportunities that way, but I have my memory for that.

[rvwnsd]

While I agree in principle, the friend described by the OP is an extreme case. It can be irritating when someone is glued to their phone.

 

On the other hand, here's a question: How many times have we heard rants about our friends, colleagues, escorts, etc not getting RIGHT BACK TO US despite the fact that they have smart phones?

 

This is a no-win.

[Ghadd]

What gets me the most is the text-walking. People who walk in a crowded mall or on a busy sidewalk, their eyes glued to their phone, not caring who/what they bump into. Some cross a street without looking up, just following blindly those around, even if they're walking into traffic, as long as they can keep texting.

 

I never understood what was SO important that they couldn't put their phones down long enough for them to get where they needed to go. If you have to text, fine. Stop, pull over, THEN stop paying attention to what's going on around you...

[dcguy20]

I ride my bike to and from work. How many times to I see a cyclist pull out there phone if we're at a stop light. Even worse, texting on a bike while riding with no hands. I see that behavior much too frequently.

[LaffingBear]

What gets me the most is the text-walking. People who walk in a crowded mall or on a busy sidewalk, their eyes glued to their phone, not caring who/what they bump into. Some cross a street without looking up, just following blindly those around, even if they're walking into traffic, as long as they can keep texting.

 

I never understood what was SO important that they couldn't put their phones down long enough for them to get where they needed to go. If you have to text, fine. Stop, pull over, THEN stop paying attention to what's going on around you...

San Francisco is proposing laws making it illegal to be holding and looking at a phone while in an intersection. Other communities are considering similar laws.

 

I oppose the laws. In contemporary times, it's society's way of culling the herd.

[rvwnsd]

...In contemporary times, it's society's way of culling the herd.

Self-cleaning gene pool is what I call it.

[+ poolboy48220]

In late 2011 I attended the Oracle user conference in San Francisco. A gazillion people in a two-block space, walking to and from the different sessions at the conference and every one of them on their phones/blackberries. Kind of harrowing but amusing at the same time.

[actor61]

In late 2011 I attended the Oracle user conference in San Francisco. A gazillion people in a two-block space, walking to and from the different sessions at the conference and every one of them on their phones/blackberries. Kind of harrowing but amusing at the same time.

We can discuss this and relate anecdotes until the cows come home, as the saying goes. The bottom line is that people should be polite. If you're invited to dinner by a friend and then you spend said dinner consulting your phone rather than having a nice time with your friend, you're rude.

[jawjateck]

My oh my......I'll restrain my commentary, but the surest way that a provider will never again hear from ole JJT is if he services his smart phone more than me. It has happened, and I do not forget the slight.