Cell Phones......worth The Aggravation?

[Fishing Rhino]

I understand perfectly that there are jobs which require round the clock availability, and that if you aren't willing to accept that as part of your job description, there are others that are waiting to take your place. But, that's part of my point. Before these things existed, there were no such demands/expectations placed upon employees. You put in your time, or overtime or, extra unpaid hours if you were a salaried worker. Once you left the place of employment, you were free. and that's a part of the curse of these gadgets.

There are times when the person is to blame for a lack of courtesy, or the person is to blame for texting while driving, but the other side of the picture is the demands placed upon administrative employees. It's why plumbers, electricians, etc., by and large don't publish their personal phone numbers. Most of their calls go through an answering service of some type.

These things have their benefit in the case of emergencies, and being able to stay in touch with family and friends when away from a land line. Come across an accident, and contact the police instantly, no searching for a pay phone or having to knock on someone's door.

But, they also have their dark side. They have changed our culture, for better or worse, and that's the question. Overall, are they a boon to society, or a boondoggle.

I envision the Indians, oops, Native Americans lamenting the creation of smoke signals, and debating its merits.

[bilgerat]

As a member of the service industry, I'll put in my $.02...

There are 8 of us mechanics on our road crew. We rotate in 8 week intervals for 1 week of "On Call" in which we have to be available to go where necessary at any time. My phone stays on 24/7/365, but that doesn't mean I'll answer it.

I'll talk to one of my fellow techs at 3 am if need be, even if I'm not on call. He may not be familiar with something and I am. It works both ways. I will also talk to certain customers, mostly chief tugboat engineers and other guys like that whose safety depends on the equipment they're on. They remember things like that when I come on board to work. They'll hump heavy parts and make sure I get fed (Some of the best food I've eaten was on large tugs. Those guys don't play !) Caller ID is a beautiful thing.

Another thing you may not be aware of, dialing *67 before you dial the number blocks your number from showing up on their phone.

As a matter of fact, my phone rang today and it was the answering service looking for a callout. It's not my week so I ignored it. Simple as that.

It's completely up to you whether or not you let a phone run your life.

As for the rudeness factor, people were rude before cell phones and they'll find ways to be rude when the next technology comes along.

[Fishing Rhino]

As a member of the service industry, I'll put in my $.02...

There are 8 of us mechanics on our road crew. We rotate in 8 week intervals for 1 week of "On Call" in which we have to be available to go where necessary at any time. My phone stays on 24/7/365, but that doesn't mean I'll answer it.

I'll talk to one of my fellow techs at 3 am if need be, even if I'm not on call. He may not be familiar with something and I am. It works both ways. I will also talk to certain customers, mostly chief tugboat engineers and other guys like that whose safety depends on the equipment they're on. They remember things like that when I come on board to work. They'll hump heavy parts and make sure I get fed (Some of the best food I've eaten was on large tugs. Those guys don't play !) Caller ID is a beautiful thing.

Another thing you may not be aware of, dialing *67 before you dial the number blocks your number from showing up on their phone.

As a matter of fact, my phone rang today and it was the answering service looking for a callout. It's not my week so I ignored it. Simple as that.

It's completely up to you whether or not you let a phone run your life.

As for the rudeness factor, people were rude before cell phones and they'll find ways to be rude when the next technology comes along.

Ahhhh, but you have only one week out of eight that demands your 24 hour availability. That you make yourself available to your fellow mechanics, and they to you is an option, not an expectation placed on you by your employer. I understand that's the way it is.

How did we ever survive before we had all these "puppet strings" attached to us?

Ahhh the joys of having been a commercial fisherman, at the mercy of the weather, and other factors beyond my control, but in the end, no one told me when to go, when to return and to whom I would sell my catch.

[tyrius.]

Before these things existed, there were no such demands/expectations placed upon employees. You put in your time, or overtime or, extra unpaid hours if you were a salaried worker. Once you left the place of employment, you were free. and that's a part of the curse of these gadgets.

My parents were called numerous times at home for some work related issue or other. I know you've lived through this time so I'm thinking you may be looking back with rose colored glasses. The only difference now is the ease with which you can be contacted. People were definitely contacted prior to the advent of cell phones.

[tyrius.]

Cell phones are only as intrusive as you allow them to be. You're in control, not the device.

Yep. I view the ringing phone as a request that someone wants to talk to me. Many times I simply ignore the call. If I'm fishing and anyone calls I simply ignore it. If they leave a voicemail, I'll check it to see if it was an emergency. I never answer the phone while out to eat. Simply rude. But this has nothing to do with the device and everything to do with the person holding it. If your friend went out to eat with you and spent all of his time talking on the phone then the problem lies with your friend and not the phone.

[Locked]

My favorite thing to do when I go fishing is "accidentally" leave my phone in the car. It makes the fishing trip a lot more enjoyable. It's kind of sad to see how panicked people are when they can't instantly get a hold of you.

[bass or bass ?]

I have a cell phone. You can make a phone call with it. My wife has the number, almost no one else. I don't want to be disturbed by the d**n thing ringing all the time. It is for emergency use primarily, like my sidearm. Fortunately, they are useless on nearly all of our lakes here in Arizona, no signal.I have VHF on my boat for emergency communication, or to communicate with my buds on their boats.