No, love, I can't talk just now, I'm on an airplane, and if I don't stop talking right now ...

[percival]

Well, I don't have a mobile phone - I have an EKNO account instead. That's a voice mail cum phone card distributed by the lonely planet which I can use around the world. If somebody needs to reach me or leave me a message, they can use EKNO and I'll be able to check my voice mail from any pay phone.

Why?

Well, mobiles can lead to people being rude.

Take, for example, the family friend at my mother's 60th birthday party. (Yes, I was in Germany for two days; more later.). He did not switch off his mobile, in fact, he made arrangements to meet people while sitting outside. Just - no. If you're at a party, be there with all your heart.

Or take the spooky experience we had when our ancient Ryanair made its final descent into Glasgow Prestwick. Just as we were approaching the airport, somebody's mobile went off.

It rang five or six times.

After that, another mobile went off, but was silenced by its owner after one ring.

The pilot landed without a hitch.

Does this mean that using mobiles on board an aircraft is OK?

No! It means that people are STUPID JERKS.

Comments

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

Oh gah. I wish people would just learn to be polite and considerate in their mobile use, dammit. It's ANNOYING.

*hugs* for you.

[perceval.livejournal.com]

You on Y!M sometime soon? Just so we can talk Edinburgh. You need to give me your ID, though - I've friends protected my Y!M account.

percival

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

I am! I'm rocks_like_bob. :)

[robertstheology.livejournal.com]

I heartily dislike mobile phones myself.

[jennlee2.livejournal.com]

You're so right about people using mobile phones rudely. I do think some standards of behavior are changing even to accomodate them using them in that fashion, which is sort of sad. I try to use mine politely - e.g. not while in the company of others, not while in restaurants, etc. I have, however, used it while shopping and stuff, which in the past I would have thought was rude, but now I sort of think is OK.

I was on a flight once and someone's phone was ringing or beeping or something just before the flight took off (the attendant said you could use mobile phones until they closed the plane doors and then they HAD to be shut off). She said if it didn't stop, the pilot would have to return to the gate until the person with the phone owned up and shut it off.

We did take off, though, and later I saw the woman with the phone - not talking on it, and I was so mad that she hadn't turned it off because it could have delayed the flight.

I've heard that airlines are overly strict on the electronics ban just to be sure they won't interfere, and that most electronics are actually just fine - tape players, CDs, laptops. I don't know about phones, though. They are definitely sending radio-style signals.

Didn't mean to write so much - feeling wordy today, I guess.