Horror at 37,000 Feet: EU Allows In-Flight Cell Phone Use

[Church Slave]

Roger57 wrote:

The problem is that poeple talk on the phone much louder, than they would talk to someone sitting next to them.

YES ROGER! SOME TALK 50% LOUDER!!!! AND IT IS ANNOYING IN A STORE OR MOVIE. So on a plane it would be that much worse because planes are so loud already.

[TheDIVA]

It is bad enough being locked in a metal tube for hours, but when someone loudly unecessarily babbles in my ear, I see myself slapping the crap out of them.

Cell phones are annoying and disturbing because people do not know the etiquette of using them.

[Stacey]

The poor flight attendants.

[Matthew Arnold]

SuperNinja wrote:

<quoted text>
Would you mind having to sit next to someone that was VERY flatulent?

I usually do. What are the chances.

[sesostrus]

Why is it that many people find the sound of a person talking on a cell phone more annoying that a conversation?

[Matthew Arnold]

Compromise. Texting and internet only.

[common sense]

sesostrus wrote:

Why is it that many people find the sound of a person talking on a cell phone more annoying that a conversation?

Hmmm, maybe because MOST of them talk TOO LOUD which is obviously much louder than a conversational voice.

[Super Wayne]

common sense wrote:

<quoted text> Hmmm, maybe because MOST of them talk TOO LOUD which is obviously much louder than a conversational voice.

Maybe just put signs on the flip down tables that reminds people to use their "inside" voices. Have a disclaimer on the ticket that tells people to be considerate when using their phones and then train the flight crews on how and when to enforce those rules?

[steve]

zevania au gus!!

[good to me]

Super Wayne wrote:

<quoted text>
Maybe just put signs on the flip down tables that reminds people to use their "inside" voices. Have a disclaimer on the ticket that tells people to be considerate when using their phones and then train the flight crews on how and when to enforce those rules?

i Here is an idea, just leave things the way they are, you can wait to use your phone once you are on the ground. This is like going to a restaurant to eat and the rude bastard or basterett sitting next to your table spends forty-five minutes babbling on their phone,it would be twenty times worse on a plane, you can't get away on a plane

[eternal cynic]

Virg USAF Germany wrote:

Since when have airplanes become a Buddhist sanctuary for inner enlightenment? Most planes I have been on are uninteresting places to be anyway with not much to do to keep you occupied. I much rather spend my time talking to someone I know then to some person I’m only going to see for just a few hours of my life anyway. So I say bring it on and it’s about time!

Why must it be a flying phone booth?

You know those things sitting on your shelves at home collecting dust? Yes, the books. A long flight is the perfect time to catch up on reading. The best part is reading a book shouldn’t annoy anyone else on the flight.

We did just fine before cell phones, in many ways we were better off without all this technology.

[ByronMoreno]

Matthew Arnold wrote:

<quoted text>
I usually do. What are the chances.

If you know me, 100%.

[sesostrus]

common sense wrote:

<quoted text> Hmmm, maybe because MOST of them talk TOO LOUD which is obviously much louder than a conversational voice.

I don't know if volume is the only factor. When a group are having a conversation they often get much louder than a single cell-phone user particularly when they laugh. I think you are right though that some cell phone users are louder than typical conversation. It would seem that there might be some technical solutions to that. I think that people get louder if they are not receiving confirmation that they are being heard. Perhaps we can design phones that provide more feedback -- like echoing back your own voice or amping the volume on the person on the other end. I read that the newer microphones are good enough that you really don't need to speak loud. Perhaps not having the microphone in front of the mouth makes us think at least at an unconscious level that it cannot pick up our voice. The older tech which we grew up on required us to speak into the mic, and that was more intuitive.

Still, I think there is some psychological factor not strictly related to volume. Perhaps hearing half of a conversation signals us that we should be listening and participating. While we file full conversations under the category of "I don't need to pay attention".

[Say the Truth]

sesostrus wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't know if volume is the only factor. When a group are having a conversation they often get much louder than a single cell-phone user particularly when they laugh. I think you are right though that some cell phone users are louder than typical conversation. It would seem that there might be some technical solutions to that. I think that people get louder if they are not receiving confirmation that they are being heard. Perhaps we can design phones that provide more feedback -- like echoing back your own voice or amping the volume on the person on the other end. I read that the newer microphones are good enough that you really don't need to speak loud. Perhaps not having the microphone in front of the mouth makes us think at least at an unconscious level that it cannot pick up our voice. The older tech which we grew up on required us to speak into the mic, and that was more intuitive.
Still, I think there is some psychological factor not strictly related to volume. Perhaps hearing half of a conversation signals us that we should be listening and participating. While we file full conversations under the category of "I don't need to pay attention".

In the telecom world this is known as 'sidetone' and was originally used to get people to talk louder or softer depending on how far away they were from the telephone central office, due to limitations of the phone lines. Obviously with cell phones this isn't the case, so if the user doesn't hear their own voice being fed into their ear they talk louder to compensate.

I think you are right about the one-sided conversation being more annoying, since you keep thinking someone is talking to you.

[Virg USAF Germany]

I don't know what wind tunnel you folks are living in but I have never really heard a lot of yelling going on when people are on the phone. Unless the noise level is already high. On average I think most people are considerate and do not talk too loud. Oh and by the way read a book? Nobel thought but let’s be real about it. As much as I like a good King novel how many others out there are going to do that? Again it’s about time and bring it on.

[Virg USAF Germany]

Jane from Babylon wrote:

<quoted text>well, it is all about YOU, isn't it. hope "Narcissist" is stamped somewhere on your passport.

And here I thought we were having a nice debate about cell phone usage on a plane (by the way not a bad idea). Now it has broken down to name calling. Try to concentrate on the issue at hand. The world is a much better place for having this technology. This is just one more avenue that was inevitability going to happen.

[eternal cynic]

Virg USAF Germany wrote:

<quoted text>
And here I thought we were having a nice debate about cell phone usage on a plane (by the way not a bad idea). Now it has broken down to name calling. Try to concentrate on the issue at hand. The world is a much better place for having this technology. This is just one more avenue that was inevitability going to happen.

I agree with you on the name calling bit. Some people are unable to construct a reasonable argument in favor of their position so they resort to name calling.

Is the world really a better place with all this technology? I’ll preface this, technology puts food on my table. I make a damned good living off technology but I would gladly change professions in exchange for a bit of peace and quiet.

There was once a time before cell phones, fax machines and computers. That time wasn’t all that long ago. People actually spoke to each other face to face, families sat down with each other for meals, we knew our neighbors and were far more patient. We want everything instantly now, we can’t stand to wait for one second. Is this really healthy?

Your point made on the noise level due to cell phones leaves out one factor. The more people you have talking on them the louder every conversation will become. Commercial airliners are the quietest method of transportation to begin with. Listen on your next flight. The sound of the air running over the plane, the roar of the engines. People will talk louder to overcome that noise.

I’m against cell phones in many places. I loathe the person who must have a conversation at the expense of people around them. Yesterday I did something unusual for me. I answered my cell while standing at a cash register at the grocery store. I knew it was a very important call but I answered it simply with,“let me call you back in a few minutes”. I was on the phone less than 10 seconds.

It’s not my right to get in everyone’s way, it’s not my right to fill the ears of nearby strangers with my life. I’m no better than anyone else and I do have a bit of respect for those around me. It’s interesting the timing of this thread. Monday I had a meeting with my attorney and asked a question. It simply was what was my legal exposure if I took someone’s cell phone, broke it in two and handed it back. I didn’t care about the monetary aspect, it would be worth it. But, there are legal implications so I won’t do that. Still, I like the thought. The look on their face would be priceless.

That’s just how some of us feel about cell usage in inappropriate places. As for the books, people should read more. They should learn to actually enjoy life a bit. So many of us have forgotten how to enjoy life. We spend it scurrying around.

[Say the Truth]

eternal cynic wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree with you on the name calling bit. Some people are unable to construct a reasonable argument in favor of their position so they resort to name calling.
Is the world really a better place with all this technology? I’ll preface this, technology puts food on my table. I make a damned good living off technology but I would gladly change professions in exchange for a bit of peace and quiet.
There was once a time before cell phones, fax machines and computers. That time wasn’t all that long ago. People actually spoke to each other face to face, families sat down with each other for meals, we knew our neighbors and were far more patient. We want everything instantly now, we can’t stand to wait for one second. Is this really healthy?
Your point made on the noise level due to cell phones leaves out one factor. The more people you have talking on them the louder every conversation will become. Commercial airliners are the quietest method of transportation to begin with. Listen on your next flight. The sound of the air running over the plane, the roar of the engines. People will talk louder to overcome that noise.
I’m against cell phones in many places. I loathe the person who must have a conversation at the expense of people around them. Yesterday I did something unusual for me. I answered my cell while standing at a cash register at the grocery store. I knew it was a very important call but I answered it simply with,“let me call you back in a few minutes”. I was on the phone less than 10 seconds.
It’s not my right to get in everyone’s way, it’s not my right to fill the ears of nearby strangers with my life. I’m no better than anyone else and I do have a bit of respect for those around me. It’s interesting the timing of this thread. Monday I had a meeting with my attorney and asked a question. It simply was what was my legal exposure if I took someone’s cell phone, broke it in two and handed it back. I didn’t care about the monetary aspect, it would be worth it. But, there are legal implications so I won’t do that. Still, I like the thought. The look on their face would be priceless.
That’s just how some of us feel about cell usage in inappropriate places. As for the books, people should read more. They should learn to actually enjoy life a bit. So many of us have forgotten how to enjoy life. We spend it scurrying around.

Excellent response. If everyone behaved as you suggest then there wouldn't be any issue. The problem is a small minority of thoughtless or self-important people who make life unpleasant for the majority.

[Virg USAF Germany]

eternal cynic wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree with you on the name calling bit. Some people are unable to construct a reasonable argument in favor of their position so they resort to name calling.
Is the world really a better place with all this technology? I’ll preface this, technology puts food on my table. I make a damned good living off technology but I would gladly change professions in exchange for a bit of peace and quiet.
There was once a time before cell phones, fax machines and computers. That time wasn’t all that long ago. People actually spoke to each other face to face, families sat down with each other for meals, we knew our neighbors and were far more patient. We want everything instantly now, we can’t stand to wait for one second. Is this really healthy?
Your point made on the noise level due to cell phones leaves out one factor. The more people you have talking on them the louder every conversation will become. Commercial airliners are the quietest method of transportation to begin with. Listen on your next flight. The sound of the air running over the plane, the roar of the engines. People will talk louder to overcome that noise.
I’m against cell phones in many places. I loathe the person who must have a conversation at the expense of people around them. Yesterday I did something unusual for me. I answered my cell while standing at a cash register at the grocery store. I knew it was a very important call but I answered it simply with,“let me call you back in a few minutes”. I was on the phone less than 10 seconds.
It’s not my right to get in everyone’s way, it’s not my right to fill the ears of nearby strangers with my life. I’m no better than anyone else and I do have a bit of respect for those around me. It’s interesting the timing of this thread. Monday I had a meeting with my attorney and asked a question. It simply was what was my legal exposure if I took someone’s cell phone, broke it in two and handed it back. I didn’t care about the monetary aspect, it would be worth it. But, there are legal implications so I won’t do that. Still, I like the thought. The look on their face would be priceless.
That’s just how some of us feel about cell usage in inappropriate places. As for the books, people should read more. They should learn to actually enjoy life a bit. So many of us have forgotten how to enjoy life. We spend it scurrying around.

First: Thank you for a polite response. Civility is always welcome. Now in a small way you have proven my point. You say you answered your phone at the cash register and ask to call back later. You did not inconvenience people behind you and you did not miss an important call. No harm no foul. I’m still not convinced staying still is a good thing or going forward is a bad thing. It’s true a person can be rude but remember people on the whole are considerate. I’m still pro cell.

[sesostrus]

Say the Truth wrote:

<quoted text>
In the telecom world this is known as 'sidetone' and was originally used to get people to talk louder or softer depending on how far away they were from the telephone central office, due to limitations of the phone lines. Obviously with cell phones this isn't the case, so if the user doesn't hear their own voice being fed into their ear they talk louder to compensate.
I think you are right about the one-sided conversation being more annoying, since you keep thinking someone is talking to you.

Thanks. I'm going to look into sidetone. Thats very interesting.