Comments on: Do Cell Phones and Airline Flights Mix? http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/12/04/do-cell-phones-and-airline-flights-mix/ Rebooting the workforce Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:12:29 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: JD http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/12/04/do-cell-phones-and-airline-flights-mix/#comment-309979 JD Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:22:26 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=5466#comment-309979 The correct analogue here is the train. Anyone who has ever taken Amtrak (even the basic reserved trains) knows that it's generally unbearable. From business people to the traveling hausfraus whose call people up simply to say they're calling from the train and then proceed to talk about their physical ailments and body fluids for 40 minutes, it's miserable. The only sanity one can find is in the Quiet Car, and believe me - every person who goes and sits in the quiet car is quite prepared to visit bold acts of aggression upon anyone who breaks the rules. In fact, you can always tell who'll have your back when you decide to open a can by the knowing glance that says "you hit 'em high, i'll hit 'em low, and then we'll rip their arms off and beat them to death with them". If this were to come to pass I would happily give up my preferred status upgrades for a spot in the "Quiet Section" of the plane. The correct analogue here is the train. Anyone who has ever taken Amtrak (even the basic reserved trains) knows that it’s generally unbearable. From business people to the traveling hausfraus whose call people up simply to say they’re calling from the train and then proceed to talk about their physical ailments and body fluids for 40 minutes, it’s miserable. The only sanity one can find is in the Quiet Car, and believe me – every person who goes and sits in the quiet car is quite prepared to visit bold acts of aggression upon anyone who breaks the rules. In fact, you can always tell who’ll have your back when you decide to open a can by the knowing glance that says “you hit ‘em high, i’ll hit ‘em low, and then we’ll rip their arms off and beat them to death with them”.

If this were to come to pass I would happily give up my preferred status upgrades for a spot in the “Quiet Section” of the plane.

]]> By: Martin Clarke http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/12/04/do-cell-phones-and-airline-flights-mix/#comment-309497 Martin Clarke Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:02:46 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=5466#comment-309497 <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/business/article3589941.ece" rel="nofollow">Emirates also already allows this.</a> I was on a flight to Oz last week where you could use your mobile/cell after take off. It wasn't widely used. I don't think it really matters since so many planes (even in economy) have sat phones installed. I think it is fine myself. Someone chatting on a mobile/cell will simply join the list of hazards we already deal with when traveling; such as crying babies, stag/hen parties on the flight and broken entertainment systems. Emirates also already allows this. I was on a flight to Oz last week where you could use your mobile/cell after take off. It wasn’t widely used. I don’t think it really matters since so many planes (even in economy) have sat phones installed.

I think it is fine myself. Someone chatting on a mobile/cell will simply join the list of hazards we already deal with when traveling; such as crying babies, stag/hen parties on the flight and broken entertainment systems.

]]> By: Eric S. Mueller http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/12/04/do-cell-phones-and-airline-flights-mix/#comment-309485 Eric S. Mueller Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:40:08 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=5466#comment-309485 Perhaps I haven't done sufficient research on this topic, but over the years, other than FAA claims about "interference with instrumentation", the only real argument I've ever heard against using cell phones on planes is "I don't want to sit next to the self-important jerk who has to talk loud on his cell phone!" While that is certainly a concern many people have (I'd just follow dtj's suggestion in the previous comment), I have yet to hear a serious ARGUMENT (as in a position, not a bunch of contention) against using cell phones on planes. I can't provide one. Perhaps I haven’t done sufficient research on this topic, but over the years, other than FAA claims about “interference with instrumentation”, the only real argument I’ve ever heard against using cell phones on planes is “I don’t want to sit next to the self-important jerk who has to talk loud on his cell phone!” While that is certainly a concern many people have (I’d just follow dtj’s suggestion in the previous comment), I have yet to hear a serious ARGUMENT (as in a position, not a bunch of contention) against using cell phones on planes. I can’t provide one.

]]> By: dtj http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/12/04/do-cell-phones-and-airline-flights-mix/#comment-309484 dtj Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:33:58 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=5466#comment-309484 I'm not terribly worried about obnoxious cellphone users on flights, any more than I am worried about obnoxious talkers on the plane. The reason to avoid cellphone usage on planes is the havoc that it wreaks on the cell tower infrastructure. I'm typically plugged into an ipod on a plane, or asleep, so someone yammering on a cellphone would either be a non-issue or get dealt with through some carefully chosen words. When it comes down to it, the cellphone user is talking to someone else that doesn't have a grasp of the cellphone users context. Do if the jerk is talking loudly on his phone, just get close and say jokingly to who ever "Should I get you a beer while I am up?" in a stage whisper within earshot of the cellphone. That'll usually take care of it. I’m not terribly worried about obnoxious cellphone users on flights, any more than I am worried about obnoxious talkers on the plane. The reason to avoid cellphone usage on planes is the havoc that it wreaks on the cell tower infrastructure. I’m typically plugged into an ipod on a plane, or asleep, so someone yammering on a cellphone would either be a non-issue or get dealt with through some carefully chosen words.

When it comes down to it, the cellphone user is talking to someone else that doesn’t have a grasp of the cellphone users context. Do if the jerk is talking loudly on his phone, just get close and say jokingly to who ever “Should I get you a beer while I am up?” in a stage whisper within earshot of the cellphone. That’ll usually take care of it.

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