KEEP IT DOWN

Yesterday I was sitting in the waiting room of a local auto dealership quietly contemplating the timing of the maintenance for my car, as well as the forthcoming, no doubt immense invoice. I was in my own little world of thought when another customer came into the lounge. Within 5 minutes after arriving, the young lady began to make a series of calls to her assorted contacts. For the next 45 minutes of cacophonous exchanges, I was subjected to numerous bits of not so confidential information about this person�s activities. For example, in an apparent call to an insurance agent, she confessed to being careless while driving and causing a serious motor vehicle accident. In this ensuing conversation she not only identified herself by name, address, home phone and policy number, but described the details of the supposed crash and subsequent injury to her and the other driver. The next two calls (also loudly spoken) were supposedly to health care providers, where she described, in more detail, her injuries and the resultant emotional turmoil she suffered. The young lady did not appear to be intentionally trying to attract an audience, or to arouse sympathy, but seemed oblivious to my presence and that of several other folks in the waiting area.

The point here is that with so many people clamoring for privacy, someone like this young lady all but often gives away their personal histories. Have you ever stood on line waiting for an airplane ticket, or at an event, or restaurant, and heard the incessant ramblings of someone using their cell phones. I am not against cell phones. They are a modern day convenience that truly enhances one�s ability to communicate. Yet, who wants to hear ad nauseum about little baby Becky�s loose tooth, or some business deal that has soured.

There is word that the airlines in this country are considering allowing the use of cell phones during flight. Some overseas carriers have already allowed this. The prospect of sitting in close proximity to one or more babbling fellow passengers is stressful at best, frightening at worst. Try to take an in flight nap with some apathetic yokel giving a discourse on his/her irregularity problem!

It would certainly be a positive (and well appreciated) step for sanity if the airlines continue their prohibition on the use of cell phones during flights. The use of Text Messaging might be a viable and more satisfying way to communicate than ongoing bantering. I predict that there will be much discord, agony, and possibly both verbal and/or physical altercations if the airlines poke a hole in the concepts of peace and privacy by allowing the use of cell phones during flights. Preventing this potential conflict is easier than mitigating irate passenger acting out their frustrations.

              - The Clutterman

Click here to contact me.