June 2, 2005
Annoyance is no basis for legislation
Cell phones are the guilty pleasure of the modern world. We all hate watching other people use them, whether it be in a store, a restaurant, etc. But when our own phones ring, suddenly our calls are exempt from such scrutiny.
I carry a cell phone, and use it for most of my communication. Unlike most of my contemporaries, however, I don’t accept every incoming call. When I’m eating dinner with my wife and the phone rings, you can leave a message. If I’m in the car and I’m too busy driving to answer my phone, you can leave a message. But I’m in the minority on this. So many people will drop everything they’re doing, even interacting with people right in front of them, to make sure they don’t miss the incoming call. Maybe that’s a Southern California thing, as I don’t have much basis outside of that, but it’s certainly what I’m used to.
And now they want to allow cell phones on airplanes:
Before anything happens, the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates telecommunications, and the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees civil airline safety and performance, would each have to lift bans on using personal electronic devices on commercial aircraft.
Consideration to doing just that is being given now. The FCC is taking public comment through May 27, for example, about the possibility of rescinding its ban. It extended the comment period from April 11, due to intense interest from the traveling public.
“The FCC can go ahead and lift the ban. We would consider lifting ours,” said FAA spokesman Don Walker. Even so, “The airlines would still be free to prohibit it on their own,” he said. Or each airline could decide for itself in which circumstances the phones could be used.
Part of me is screaming inside. I have to travel often enough that I could easily have to deal with this several times a year. I can see it now. I’m a big guy, so cramming into an airline seat is hard enough. Add that to the idea that some egotistical jerk-off might be yammering to his egotistical jerk-off friend for the duration of a four hour flight, and I’ll be ready to snap. And I’m not alone.
“P-L-E-A-S-E no cell phone use on airlines!” implored Karen Chambliss of Petaluma in an e-mail to The Chronicle. “Travel can be stressful enough, and there is no way to enforce rules unless they put phone booths on the aircraft. ”
Charles Fleischer of Corte Madera was also leery of allowing cell phones at 37,000 feet.
”I do not believe that there is any requirement for passengers to use cell phones on airlines unless there is an emergency like 9/11,” he observed.
“I can see having high-speed Internet connections, so passengers can continue to work through e-mail. This would not require voice traffic. There is enough noise on planes now. Cell phones on planes would make me strive harder not to fly.”
David Perkinson of San Francisco said he doesn’t want cell chatter in the air, period: “I’ve already envisioned the nightmare scenario of being stuck in the middle seat on a transcontinental flight and hearing all of the fascinating reasons the girl next to me is, like, soooo mad at her boyfriend. I think I would rather drive.”
Now, if this is the case, I think it’s simply a matter of government regulation to force something that people already want. In essence, it’s just another tyranny of the majority. The fact that I’m in the majority doesn’t change that one bit. The one theme you see above is how many of these people seem to think they know when cell phones are “needed” or not, and that’s just plain arrogance.
If people are so upset at the idea of cell phones on flights, wouldn’t this problem sort itself out if left to the market? After all, I’m already willing to pay more for a flight if it’s direct, or if it’s to a closer airport where I’m going than a major international airport, and fly American Airlines when possible for their added legroom. If I had a choice between an airline which does and which does not allow cell phones, I would voluntarily choose the one which does not. And if there are enough customers like me (which it seems there are), airlines will cater to that. Especially no-frills airlines like Southwest, who understand that for many people, air travel is a point-A to point-B affair, and are more interested in getting somewhere fast and cheap than being able to squawk on a cell phone.
I say as long as there are no safety or technical issues, lift the ban. Let the market work this out. Each airline can come up with their own rulese for whether or not cell phones are allowed and what the rules of use are. The rules may not be exactly what I want, but until I own my own jet, it’s not necessarily my decision to make. As much as I hate the idea of sharing a seat row with idiots on cell phones, I don’t see any legitimate reason why I can make it illegal.
Travel Blog linked with Annoyance No Basis For Legislation
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Well Brad, I don’t think you have to worry about me, my cell phone won’t work at that altitude. I think you might have to hide Bonnie’s cell phone. Actually she sleeps from the minute the plane takes off till the person next to her wakes her up to deplane.
Wow. A market solution. Who woulda thunk it.
Of course, that should be the rule for smoking in resturants and bars, too. But just try to keep the government out of it.
Every business is supposed to cater to “your” preferences. And if they don’t? Pass a law.
I’ve got it! Put a soundproof wall about 2/3 back in the cabin and market everything behind it as the cell-phone section, charging an appropriate premium, of course.
Annoyance No Basis For Legislation
Why do I get the feeling legislation on using cell phones in planes will get more press than social security and stem cell legislation combined….
Quincy,
As long as we can stick annoying, wailing babies behind that partition, I’m all for it. I’ll sit up front, reading quietly, and be all the happier for it.
But that’s just my point. Left to the market, airlines might just pick a solution like that.
Toss the annoying babies back there, and the teenagers.