[LINK] phone jammers

[Ivan Trundle]

On 14/11/2007, at 3:17 PM, anthony hornby wrote:

> Using jamming devices like this is irresponsible as well as illegal  -
> mobile phones have many legitimate uses and the jammer is
> indiscriminate within its range.

Alas, an old argument - cue: 'doctors must have access to their mobile  
phones at all times...' - what a tired and pathetic excuse that is,  
but then I remember the days before mobile phones (BMP), when people  
were still able to be 'on call' and could still find out if the  
babysitter had set fire to the cat.

'Legitimate' use is not an excuse for poor social behaviour.

It should be noted that the French government (and possibly others)  
made exceptions to permit the use of jammers in certain locations,  
namely theatres and the like.

And most airlines enforce this for the benefit of the majority who  
travel (thankfully). We survive.

> If you are unhappy with a behaviour go and tell the offending person  
> why.

Not always possible in the middle of watching a movie or play in a  
theatre. Not all of us are in a position to do this, and some are  
easily intimidated by others, especially those others with  
underdeveloped social skills or antennae. Jammers might be  
indiscriminate, but they don't have to be on all of the time.

> Most people don't deliberately set out to annoy you each day (said
> while carefully placing tinfoil hat on head) and will tone it down.

'Most' is an irrelevant qualification here. Some people are completely  
unaware that they have no social skills, and yet still persist in  
being obnoxious.

> As to the rest, accept that society includes all types including a
> small percentage of anti-social wankers and move on.

That's fine if there is room and space to move on - in train  
carriages, movie theatres, restaurants, etc - there is not always that  
option.

<rant>
What bothers me is the underlying social disease that is spreading:  
being social animals, we are moving away from direct contact with  
people, and relying more and more on being distant/remote from others  
in our social interaction (Link is an example of this). I don't see  
mobile phones as evil, per se, but I see in them a displacement of  
some key communication attributes: such as a shared experience, shared  
views, shared emotions, and a distinct lack of feedback cues that we  
would otherwise rely on to negotiate with each other to higher planes,  
and for better relationships. All this is too existential, too 'me'  
orientated... (with or without 3G phones).
</rant>

iT