I can honestly say this: in the past year alone, I've had what I consider to truly be "close calls" while out driving. I'm talking t-bones, head-ons, people cutting across parking lots, running stop signs and pulling out in front of me from a side street.
I don't know what it was about 2003, but I've been in more near-misses in 12 months than I think I have in my entire life!
And yes...EVERY SINGLE MOTHER****ING LAST ONE OF THEM THE IDIOT WAS - YOU GUESSED IT - "DRIVING" WITH A DAMN CELL PHONE STUCK TO HIS HEAD.
I defy anyone to convince me there isn't a true danger and connection to this. All I have to do to know this is true is this: there have been times when I'm AT HOME talking on the phone, and I've gotten so carried away or involved in a conversation that I've burned dinner, let a bathtub overflow a bit ( ), nearly answered the door in my birthday suit, etc.
Now tell me that doesn't/can't/won't happen IN A CAR, while you're driving!!!
It's SO easy to get lost in conversation that everything else - including driving - just becomes an afterthought. I'm not saying everyone. But I'm saying A LOT. And I'm saying every single one of my near misses this year has shared that one component. It's insane to think that everyone is capable of driving well AND carrying on some bullcrap conversation about their significant other or the latest episode of "Average Joe".
I support any and all legislation banning the use of cell phones while driving. YOU'RE NOT THAT ****ING IMPORTANT, CHUCKLEHEAD. Either pull off the road or wait 5-10 minutes. Calling from a 2mph traffic jam is one thing. Fine. But doing 80, a bagel in one hand, cell phone in the other and lost in conversation, screwing with the radio, etc. isn't. The one time I nearly got clobbered hardest wasn't even a freeway/high speed situation: I was going through a grocery store parking lot and your Soccer Mom from Central Casting is driving SIDEWAYS through the lot, across the lines, and just comes barreling out of my peripheral vision, big honkin' SUV and all. I had to stand on my brake, lay on my horn, etc. and then she looks at me and does the famous "shoulder shrug/eyeroll/'what's your problem?" gesture...as if it's MY fault we nearly collided.
She had her cell phone to her ear and wasn't even looking or making an attempt to do anything right.
I really, really hate these little bastard devices.
They've created a society of dangerously oblivious, ill-mannered shitheads who cause WAY too much trouble in life.
That's it. Case closed. End of discussion.
I really, really hope I live a nice long life and see and do lots of wonderful things. All I really ask is this: if I have to die young, PLEASE don't have it be from a) a 13-year-old punk with a gun or b) a yuppie prick or soccer mom T-boning me while talking on a cell phone.
Bad enough I have to hear a stranger's phone conversation in Barnes & Noble, Target, restaurant, etc. Do I have to listen to a stupid ass deedle-blop blip, bloop, bleep rendition of "God Bless the USA" or some Creed song beforehand?
Spare me. Please.
I hate cell phones. I really, really do.
Actually, let me rephrase that: I don't hate the phones at all. I just hate the ill-mannered, loud-mouthed, "look at me and my important life" peckerheads who use them inappropriately. I nearly strangled a guy in a movie theater once. He actually TOOK THE CALL and carried on a conversation, right in the middle of the movie. Full voice...no whisper or attempt to keep quiet!
I had a Sipowicz moment and let him know what a complete inconsiderate asshole he was. He seemed genuinely stunned, as if it never crossed his mind he SHOULDN'T be doing this.
That scared the hell out of me.
COMPLETELY agree. I could deal with a ringer purposely set on a low ringtone. Or if someone made a quick call, or a call where it doesn't bother their surroundings, but DEFINITELY never in a movie theater! They better remember to put that phone on silent BEFORE the movie!
My cell phone is set to the old style rotary phone ringer. Whenever it goes out in public, I often hear, "Wow, a cell phone that has a NORMAL ringer. That's cool." -- Because they're so few and far between anymore.
do you have a T610/616? I have that same exact ringer and I get the same "oooo ahhh's"
Another cell phone irritation...I work in a bakery, I do mostly production, but I make it to the retail part every once in a while. People come in, on their cell phones, start pointing to stuff, than get extremely frustrated when I don't have a clue what they want. It's hard to carry on two conversations at once so I propose a very simple solution: CALL THEM BACK!!!
I used to work at burger king and people would actually come up and tell me to hold on because they where on their cell phone..
I swear I wanted to come across that counter so many times...
Well, pscates, I don't know what I could add to what you've said It's nice to know there are still some people out there who feel the way I do about those damn things. Welcome to "The Last Bastion." A couple of my friends and I who refuse to own cell phones and curse most people who use them (just the idiots...there are a few people who actually understand how to practice some common courtesy despite owning a cell phone) have adopted this moniker for ourselves.
I have to second the complaints about people talking on their cellphones while at a sales counter. I had it happen to me more than once last summer when I was working at a local photo lab. One woman was in the middle of doing business with me when the phone rang. I couldn't believe she picked it up. Then...she just waslked out of the store. Didn't even finish what she was doing. I was dumbfounded. It's the same reason I hate freaking call waiting. DAMNIT PEOPLE, LEARN SOME RESPECT FOR YOUR PEERS!
Hey, maybe these new camera phones could manage to give back some peace of mind that cellphones have taken away? If someone on a cellphone crosses your path in their car, you simply whip out your camera phone, pull around behind them, and snap off a pic of their license plate. Then speed dial to local traffic patrol and fire off that pic! (I'm just thinking out loud, really. I know there would be some peripheral issues that could make this procedure impractical. It's just an idea, though.)
I was actually hit by a guy talking on his cell phone a few years ago. It was a T intersection, he was sitting at a stop sign, and I was coming down the road, turning left in front of him (I didn't have any traffic signs).
He pans back and forth a couple of times, so I think "ok, dumbass on the cell sees me". I turn left, almost get past him, and he guns it. Puts his front bumper into my left rear wheel.
I was right in front of him and he drive RIGHT INTO ME. No freakin' way he would have done that if he wasn't on a phone.
My best friend was with me, and I got out of the car so fast, screaming so loud, that he didn't even get out of the car with me. I think I scared him. I wanted to kill the bastard.
See? That's EXACTLY the kind of nonsense I'm talking about: stupid, stupid carelessness and mistakes. NO WAY murbot gets tatered if the guy isn't on the phone. No way.
Think how lost you can get in a phone conversation while at home...now move that scenario to a 70mph hunk of 2-ton metal and tell me that isn't insane and dangerous. You can't.
I'll never be convinced otherwise...
Driving is serious business. And it sure as hell isn't a "right".
Feel like I spend most of my time on the road watching out for idiot drivers doing idiot things while talking on their idiot phones.
I don't know what the laws there over in the US, but here in Australia it is illegal to use a mobile phone whilst driving. The cops will pull you over for it. You've got to have a hands-free if you want to use your mobile in a car.
What annoys me though, is that sooo many people still use mobiles when driving. I mean how is that possible when driving a manual ? you just have to have your right hand on the wheel and left hand on the stick.
And these camera phones and 3G phones are just shit. The camera ones are potentially an invasion of privacy, (like when your schoolkid takes one to school and sneaks in the changerooms or something), and the 3G phones don't even work properly, period. m.
What annoys me though, is that sooo many people still use mobiles when driving. I mean how is that possible when driving a manual ? you just have to have your right hand on the wheel and left hand on the stick.
No wonder it's so hard, you've all got it backwards
I think the issues that has been raised it that talking on the phone is distracting. I have a bluetooth headset so legally I can drive and talk in NYS, but I don't because I know I'm going to be distracted. It's not so much only having one hand on the wheel, but not paying attention to anything but the conversation.
do you have a T610/616? I have that same exact ringer and I get the same "oooo ahhh's"
I have the T610 (a wonderful phone overall, BTW). The ringer is called "Old Phone". Sounds just like a rotary...it's a wonderful dichotomy of the old and the new.
Talking on the phone is fine. Slow down to the legal limit, forget the radio and the bagel, and just focus on the road. I do it all the time, it's not a biggie. Of course I don't really have conversations when I'm driving, more like "Yeah, I'll be there in X," or, "Sure, I'll pick that up." That sorta thing. I don't pow wow about last night or anything like that. I've have seen people so absorbed in talking on the phone that they pull boneheaded manouvers, but I've seen people eating burgers and putting ketchup on fries while driving, I regularly saw a woman taking rollers out of her hair while on the way to work, even people READING!!!
The number one distraction is dialing, but once you set up the voice dial, I don't think hands free is too much of an advantage.
Comments
I don't know what it was about 2003, but I've been in more near-misses in 12 months than I think I have in my entire life!
And yes...EVERY SINGLE MOTHER****ING LAST ONE OF THEM THE IDIOT WAS - YOU GUESSED IT - "DRIVING" WITH A DAMN CELL PHONE STUCK TO HIS HEAD.
I defy anyone to convince me there isn't a true danger and connection to this. All I have to do to know this is true is this: there have been times when I'm AT HOME talking on the phone, and I've gotten so carried away or involved in a conversation that I've burned dinner, let a bathtub overflow a bit (
Now tell me that doesn't/can't/won't happen IN A CAR, while you're driving!!!
It's SO easy to get lost in conversation that everything else - including driving - just becomes an afterthought. I'm not saying everyone. But I'm saying A LOT. And I'm saying every single one of my near misses this year has shared that one component. It's insane to think that everyone is capable of driving well AND carrying on some bullcrap conversation about their significant other or the latest episode of "Average Joe".
I support any and all legislation banning the use of cell phones while driving. YOU'RE NOT THAT ****ING IMPORTANT, CHUCKLEHEAD. Either pull off the road or wait 5-10 minutes. Calling from a 2mph traffic jam is one thing. Fine. But doing 80, a bagel in one hand, cell phone in the other and lost in conversation, screwing with the radio, etc. isn't. The one time I nearly got clobbered hardest wasn't even a freeway/high speed situation: I was going through a grocery store parking lot and your Soccer Mom from Central Casting is driving SIDEWAYS through the lot, across the lines, and just comes barreling out of my peripheral vision, big honkin' SUV and all. I had to stand on my brake, lay on my horn, etc. and then she looks at me and does the famous "shoulder shrug/eyeroll/'what's your problem?" gesture...as if it's MY fault we nearly collided.
She had her cell phone to her ear and wasn't even looking or making an attempt to do anything right.
I really, really hate these little bastard devices.
They've created a society of dangerously oblivious, ill-mannered shitheads who cause WAY too much trouble in life.
That's it. Case closed. End of discussion.
I really, really hope I live a nice long life and see and do lots of wonderful things. All I really ask is this: if I have to die young, PLEASE don't have it be from a) a 13-year-old punk with a gun or b) a yuppie prick or soccer mom T-boning me while talking on a cell phone.
Why does it have to so loud? And it says 'SMS' twice, as if you didn't hear it the first time...!!! m.
Originally posted by pscates
Most annoying ringtone? How about ALL OF THEM!!!
Bad enough I have to hear a stranger's phone conversation in Barnes & Noble, Target, restaurant, etc. Do I have to listen to a stupid ass deedle-blop blip, bloop, bleep rendition of "God Bless the USA" or some Creed song beforehand?
Spare me. Please.
I hate cell phones. I really, really do.
Actually, let me rephrase that: I don't hate the phones at all. I just hate the ill-mannered, loud-mouthed, "look at me and my important life" peckerheads who use them inappropriately. I nearly strangled a guy in a movie theater once. He actually TOOK THE CALL and carried on a conversation, right in the middle of the movie. Full voice...no whisper or attempt to keep quiet!
I had a Sipowicz moment and let him know what a complete inconsiderate asshole he was. He seemed genuinely stunned, as if it never crossed his mind he SHOULDN'T be doing this.
That scared the hell out of me.
COMPLETELY agree. I could deal with a ringer purposely set on a low ringtone. Or if someone made a quick call, or a call where it doesn't bother their surroundings, but DEFINITELY never in a movie theater! They better remember to put that phone on silent BEFORE the movie!
Originally posted by CosmoNut
My cell phone is set to the old style rotary phone ringer. Whenever it goes out in public, I often hear, "Wow, a cell phone that has a NORMAL ringer. That's cool." -- Because they're so few and far between anymore.
do you have a T610/616? I have that same exact ringer and I get the same "oooo ahhh's"
Originally posted by applenut
I have Immigrant Song as my ringer and love it
Sade, yes?
Another cell phone irritation...I work in a bakery, I do mostly production, but I make it to the retail part every once in a while. People come in, on their cell phones, start pointing to stuff, than get extremely frustrated when I don't have a clue what they want. It's hard to carry on two conversations at once so I propose a very simple solution: CALL THEM BACK!!!
I used to work at burger king and people would actually come up and tell me to hold on because they where on their cell phone..
I swear I wanted to come across that counter so many times...
Originally posted by Defiant
Sade, yes?
Probably Zeppelin, I'd think.
I have to second the complaints about people talking on their cellphones while at a sales counter. I had it happen to me more than once last summer when I was working at a local photo lab. One woman was in the middle of doing business with me when the phone rang. I couldn't believe she picked it up. Then...she just waslked out of the store. Didn't even finish what she was doing. I was dumbfounded. It's the same reason I hate freaking call waiting. DAMNIT PEOPLE, LEARN SOME RESPECT FOR YOUR PEERS!
Originally posted by scottiB
Probably Zeppelin, I'd think.
Correct.
He pans back and forth a couple of times, so I think "ok, dumbass on the cell sees me". I turn left, almost get past him, and he guns it. Puts his front bumper into my left rear wheel.
I was right in front of him and he drive RIGHT INTO ME. No freakin' way he would have done that if he wasn't on a phone.
My best friend was with me, and I got out of the car so fast, screaming so loud, that he didn't even get out of the car with me. I think I scared him. I wanted to kill the bastard.
See? That's EXACTLY the kind of nonsense I'm talking about: stupid, stupid carelessness and mistakes. NO WAY murbot gets tatered if the guy isn't on the phone. No way.
Think how lost you can get in a phone conversation while at home...now move that scenario to a 70mph hunk of 2-ton metal and tell me that isn't insane and dangerous. You can't.
I'll never be convinced otherwise...
Driving is serious business. And it sure as hell isn't a "right".
Feel like I spend most of my time on the road watching out for idiot drivers doing idiot things while talking on their idiot phones.
What annoys me though, is that sooo many people still use mobiles when driving. I mean how is that possible when driving a manual ? you just have to have your right hand on the wheel and left hand on the stick.
And these camera phones and 3G phones are just shit. The camera ones are potentially an invasion of privacy, (like when your schoolkid takes one to school and sneaks in the changerooms or something), and the 3G phones don't even work properly, period. m.
Originally posted by Merovingian
What annoys me though, is that sooo many people still use mobiles when driving. I mean how is that possible when driving a manual ? you just have to have your right hand on the wheel and left hand on the stick.
No wonder it's so hard, you've all got it backwards
I think the issues that has been raised it that talking on the phone is distracting. I have a bluetooth headset so legally I can drive and talk in NYS, but I don't because I know I'm going to be distracted. It's not so much only having one hand on the wheel, but not paying attention to anything but the conversation.
Originally posted by badtz
do you have a T610/616? I have that same exact ringer and I get the same "oooo ahhh's"
I have the T610 (a wonderful phone overall, BTW). The ringer is called "Old Phone". Sounds just like a rotary...it's a wonderful dichotomy of the old and the new.
The number one distraction is dialing, but once you set up the voice dial, I don't think hands free is too much of an advantage.