People annoyed by cell phones turn to jammers
A cafe customer fed up with cell phone chatter sits in a bubble of blissful silence as nearby patrons puzzle over dead handsets.
A man tries to take a secret snapshot with his camera phone, but gets only a blank screen.
A priest imbues his church with a new energy — the electromagnetic kind — to keep his sermons serene and free from beeps, chirps and rockin’ ring tones.
These are glimpses at a war of gadgets quietly playing out around the world.
This gadget would make Lori happier than a fox in a hen house AND it would help with her cell phone voodoo magic.
Personally, I’d have MAJOR issues with someone around me using a jammer. I use my cell phone a lot for work - and not just during work hours either. When I’m on call - it’s for a 24 hour period of time. If I go out to dinner - I have to have my cell with me. If I get paged — the expectation for my response time is within 5 to 10 minutes. Now, I’ll usually leave the table to make the call because of the privacy issues surrounding medical situations, when I take the information and ask questions - even if I’m not using names, I still feel uncomfortable taking and telling information within ear shot of others around me.
However, even if I leave the table - some of these jammers can reach up to hundreds of feet . . . which would render it impossible for me to make a call that could be of vital importance to a patient of mine. I know critics of cell phones feel that it’s selfish of cell phone users to make them ‘put up with’ our conversations in areas they deem inappropriate — however, conversely, I think it’s selfish of cell phone critics to use a device such as jammers - assuming that the phone calls we are participating in are trivial and of no importance at all.
It’s that double edge sword of technology — seems there’s a war going on: Tech. versus Tech.
1:10 pm on February 15th, 2004
Heh heh.
11:54 pm on February 15th, 2004
I see both sides. I’ve been in countless stores, the library (whatever happened to silence in the library?) and overheard these people’s conversations. They are simply trying to look cool. I’m not impressed.
But I do understand some people’s need for their work - or for their kids to get a hold of them.
But most of what I’ve witnessed is pure selfishness.
If they’re going to jam, there should be a sign, that way you know not to patronize that establishment and to voice your opinion.
1:28 am on February 16th, 2004
Problem is, GrumpyB, is that these jammers can be carried around by your average joe in his pocket.
You could go out and buy one and carry it around with you - and no one would know it.
Leaving people like me to figure out why I can’t get ahold of my answering service!
I know what you mean, though - there is a certain etiquette that some people just don’t get
2:10 am on February 16th, 2004
I’m a smoker. I respectfully do not blow smoke at people at the bar, or outside the door of the mall, but when people ten feet away from me complain loudly about how my smoking and that of others is “killing them,” they are doing the same selfish thing that personal celfone jammers are doing.
Celfone users are held to a high standard of ettiquette already. We step away into a private place, we keep our ringers down, etc. Then, they take away our celfones too?
First they did away with smoking in general areas… Then they did away with smoking areas. Then they will do away with cigarettes.
Perhaps this argument may be loopy since “cigarette smoke is bad for you,” but considering the aesthetic motivations behind jamming celfones, I’m hope any parallels can be seen.
4:50 pm on February 16th, 2004
I didn’t know they could be carried around. I just saw the one that Lo’s character used in Enough - I thought she plugged it into the wall. Didn’t know they were portable. Shows how much of a techie I am - NOT.
10:20 am on February 17th, 2004
This is a hair-triggered Hot Button for me. The best part of going out to eat is removing myself from the ringing phones of my office or home for an hour or so of blessed time off the “on call” status. I am happy to shell out good money for the insurance of uninterrupted down-time. That has all changed now that some people have decided to bring their work – or their home – with them to the restaurant.
Like Pavlov’s dogs, a ringing phone causes an ‘alert’ response in most anyone who hears it. I have watched in utter disbelief as people dig in purses and pockets to quell the incessant ringing….and then rudely ignore the ambiance other patrons have paid for to chat away or conduct business that belongs in their private office or home.
If you’re expecting a call, stay home. If you need to check with your answering service, go to a private place and use a phone. We did it for years before cells. We survived just fine. And when we met friends for an interlude of good food in low-stress surroundings, it was a reliable way to “take five.”
That sanctuary has now been desecrated by folks whose lack of manners and sense of self-importance have no consideration for the rest of us.
In short: it’s just plain bad manners. No one is so omnipotent that they need to be available to the whole world 24/7. I wouldn’t think of sitting next to you in a restaurant dictating a letter to my secretary into a recorder while you attempt to enjoy your meal. Or typing away on my laptop, sending faxes over my wireless connection.
It’s that simple. If you need to check in at work or home, leave the public area and find a private place to do your business.
News that there is a way to jam cell phones in public places is music to my ears! And don’t get me started about cells that ring during the symphony . . . . .!
6:03 pm on February 18th, 2004
So, would you carry around a muzzel to slap onto the loud talkers at the table next to you, too?