tree68 Ulrich: ... yank the cell phone out of her hands and hand it over to the crew for return to her when she gets off the train.. problem solved. Ah, but then she could claim (rightly) that her cell phone was stolen. Perhaps the better answer would have been to eschew the "quiet car" for a bit, gather around her (in seats) and hold loud, boisterous conversations. When she complained about the noise level, everyone could point to the "no cell phones" sign and continue their chatter. If she then complained to the train crew, they could inform her that she wasn't supposed to be on her phone and might be better off in another car....
Ulrich: ... yank the cell phone out of her hands and hand it over to the crew for return to her when she gets off the train.. problem solved.
Ah, but then she could claim (rightly) that her cell phone was stolen.
Perhaps the better answer would have been to eschew the "quiet car" for a bit, gather around her (in seats) and hold loud, boisterous conversations. When she complained about the noise level, everyone could point to the "no cell phones" sign and continue their chatter.
If she then complained to the train crew, they could inform her that she wasn't supposed to be on her phone and might be better off in another car....
This subject was discussed on the MyLargeScale forums and here is my answer there:
Just stand nearby and JOIN the conversation... of course you should constantly dissagree with anything that is said and change the subject frequently!
"Hey, what's the weather like where you are? Is it raining? Wow, we sure had some rain last night! But I had a new raincoat so I didn't mind. I got it mail order from that place, oh you know, the one that has the silly TV ads. Didja ever see the one iwth the cat that jumps through the mirror. Oh wait, that's a cat food commercial. Do you have a cat? I have a big dumb dog. Or well... I HAD one. He died when he bit a burgler. Got real sick. Threw up all over the place for days. Do you know how to clean that stuff out of a carpet? I had to rent a steam cleaner. You ever rent something like that? I rent movies sometimes. Didja ever see that movie that had the guy with the green eyes? Did you know that most green eyed people are redhaired? Sure seems that way..."
Well, you get the idea.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Cell phone = "instrument of the devil", IMHO. - PDN.
Paul_D_North_Jr Cell phone = "instrument of the devil", IMHO. - PDN.
Award for most close minded statement of the year?
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
Oh, perhaps so - but not in my world, though.
More realistically - like all tools, depends on the intentions, application, and skill of the user, for good or evil, etc. Unfortunately, I've seen way more detriments from the darn things than benefits. But that's just me - "Your experience may vary".
- Paul North.
coborn35 Paul_D_North_Jr: Cell phone = "instrument of the devil", IMHO. - PDN. Award for most close minded statement of the year?
Paul_D_North_Jr: Cell phone = "instrument of the devil", IMHO. - PDN.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
In some ways, cell phones - like GPS - seem to make people stupid. That observation is not original with me, either - I first heard it from a mid-30's Mennonite builder after he'd had a GPS for a while, and he not only runs his own small firm (4 guys), but is chief of the local fire company, and president of the local church-run school, etc., so he's no dope, either. (Interesting common factor there - Murphy will understand that . . . )
This may be one of those things that are not understood or missed until you've first had the ability or experience, and then it's gone, which would be a common enough thing for us older - er, more experienced - guys. Some of us are just fine with being out of touch with the rest of the world for hours or even days at a time, our ability to navigate from paper maps and the sun and stars, and even quiet - as in no iPods or other music - for long periods of time. Decrying the loss of those things may indeed seem close-minded, but as Thoreau observed, I think the modern devices often result in us being less self-reliant and more dependent on the gadgets - hence more vulnerable. Just my
I have mentioned this before, on another thread, but you cannot trust GPS or maps 100.000% (ask Joe Koh about underpasses). I use Microsoft Streets and Trips for road maps with directions; I also have AAA road maps that will give me a larger picture. Three years ago, when I visited my hometown, Streets and Trips indicated that I should turn left at a certain intersection. Had I followed the instruction, I would have found myself going up an alley that became a single two-rut track which took me either to another street or to a pasture, depending upon whether or not I turned. This was the same alley that a Greyhound bus driver started up, back in the late forties, after one of my brothers had cut the privet hedge at the corner down drastically. Of course, if he had been alert to the warning signs (right angle turn in the highway) and the flashing light, he would not have been embarrassed..
As to cell phone usage, I have little occasion except when I must call someone, such as Enterprise (to come get me) or when I need to tell my wife something while I am away from home. I will leave it on if I am expecting a call from someone some as Carl Shaver, so we will know when he and Pat are coming up to our hotel room.
Johnny
Nah, something much worse - Instrument of TPC...
The reference would be pretty obscure to anyone who hasn't seen James Coburn in The President's Analyst - the device featured in the last few minutes had a functionality that was scarily like that of cell phones.
- Erik
Are we even sure the thing was turned ON?
I really have yet to see any cellphone with a 8 hour run time even...let alone 16!!!!
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
erikem Paul_D_North_Jr: Cell phone = "instrument of the devil", IMHO. - PDN. Nah, something much worse - Instrument of TPC... The reference would be pretty obscure to anyone who hasn't seen James Coburn in The President's Analyst - the device featured in the last few minutes had a functionality that was scarily like that of cell phones. - Erik
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062153/quotes?qt=qt0240218
Dr. Sidney Schaefer: You know, one thing I learned from my patients... they all hate the phone company. It's interesting; even the stock holders of the phone company hate the phone company!
V.I. Kydor Kropotkin: I know. Bedouins hate the phone company. Matter of fact, I've never been in a country where everybody didn't hate the phone company.
blownout cylinder I really have yet to see any cellphone with a 8 hour run time even...let alone 16!!!!
I believe one story pointed out that she was using an Amtrak-supplied charging station...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Why do they have charging stations in the QUIET cars?
Reality TV is to reality, what Professional Wrestling is to Professional Brain Surgery.
Because the CAR doesn't know if it is going to be used as a Quiet Car or Talking car, and even in a Quiet car someone may want to charge their devices.
ButchKnouse Why do they have charging stations in the QUIET cars?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
garyla Excellent post, Paul. Your points about bad behavior in public transportation and high-density housing help illustrate why the social-engineer types at various levels of government are having such a tough time selling their agenda.
Excellent post, Paul. Your points about bad behavior in public transportation and high-density housing help illustrate why the social-engineer types at various levels of government are having such a tough time selling their agenda.
Perhaps the problem has more to do with years of an over emphasis on individual's "rights" to do whatever they want everywhere (restaurants, stores, trains, schools, etc.) at the expense of society, than housing densities.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
schlimm Perhaps the problem has more to do with years of an over emphasis on individual's "rights" to do whatever they want everywhere (restaurants, stores, trains, schools, etc.) at the expense of society, than housing densities.
Unfortunately there's too many idiots that don't know how to behave in public, much less a crowded public.
You can have 500 super-awesome neighbors, but it only takes that 501st to ruin the whole area. No wonder people want to live in the middle of nowhere.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
I find it sort of amazing that there are people in this world that will go to work in the morning and slid in at the very last minute, then leave at the stroke of the minute their day is up (will plenty of break time in that day).
They will answer their cell phone on the first ring and have a private conversation, in public, speaking into said phone as if they were talking over the jet engine in a fighter plane on full military power. They will answer that phone immediately, without looking to see if the number is one in their directory or one that they recognize.
I can't count the number of times in a store I have observed someone talking on the phone from the time they arrived in the parking lot til they were out the door. The phone is a tool and a convenience for the owner, it rings without regard to location or availability of the owner.
Society, by in large, treats it as if it were the master of the owner.and an imposition on the time of the owner of the phone. PET Peave!
The woman who talked, and talked, and talked on the AMTRAK Train; just needs to get a life, or buy a phone booth.
Being on call, it comes in handy having one. But other than work and talking to family, I could get along without it. Just something else to spend money on.
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