One Thing I Don’t Hate March 11, 2005
Posted by Phineas in : Irrelevant , trackbackI don’t hate that other people talk on cell phones. It’s this famously, notoriously irritaing faux pas or something, but I don’t really understand the problem people have with it.
I hate a lot of things, I’m as grouchy and kermudgeonly as the next crank. I hate the neighbor’s dog, the high-pitched whine of the leaf-blower, the overly intense bass thump from the car next to me, etc. I hate all that, too. But what’s so wrong with people talking on their cell phones?
I guess I’ll make some distinctions, since that the name of the gripe game.
Of course, some people can be obnoxious when using their cell phones. Cell phones ringing during movies, or people talking during movies, sure. Talking loudly, or saying stupid things, yes that is obnoxious. But whether they are doing that on a cell phone or a land line or with a real person right next to them makes no difference. Obnoxiousness is obnoxious, but what’s the cell phone got to do with it? If a person is talking like a normal human being on a cell phone, even at a restaurant, so what? Why should that ruin your meal? People talking on cell phones on airplanes — it’s stupid maybe, but not offensive. It’s stupid because they are still confined to the airplane, saying “Yeah, I’ve just landed..” makes little difference to the person they are talking to. Whether you’re on the ground or not, you’re not there, dude. But offensive?
Talking on cell phones while driving, fine, I’m against that. There should be laws about that, because it’s dangerous. Not because it’s obnoxious or offensive.
I remember for a while in the early 90’s the complaint was that people talking on their cell phones were self-important, the conversation couldn’t wait for them, they had to have it now. But that complaint is really quaint these days. Everyone has cell phones, even kids and grandmas, and everyone has discovered a reason for them that makes sense to them. So talking on your cell phone in a public place (which is the whole reason for cell phones in the first place) no longer signifies self-importance or extravagance or anything like that.
So what’s left to complain about? That we have to hear each other? How is that new?
I guess I choose my gripes, and this isn’t one of mine.
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