Opponents Of Cell Phones On Planes Getting Desperate
from the oh-come-on dept
For years, we've heard of constantly changing reasons why using mobile phones in-flight was bad, but saw very little evidence to support the reasons. First, there were claims that it interfered with airplane equipment and could put the planes (and passengers) in danger. While there's been some evidence to support occasional interference, the lack of any mobile phone-induced crash suggests that this threat was overhyped. The second issue were claims that mobile phones in the sky would connect to so many different cellular towers at once that it would overload phone networks. Again, the fact that many people already do use mobile phones on airplanes without stories of major problems for phone networks suggests this problem has been somewhat exaggerated. However, there are also ways to deal with it, such as installing "picocells" on airplanes, that are basically the plane's own cell tower, which can then direct calls safely to the ground. So, of course, it's been no surprise over the last few years to hear of plans to finally reduce restrictions on mobile phones on airplanes.Yesterday, the big news was Ryanair's decision to officially allow mobile phone use in planes, once they've installed equipment on planes, proven it's safe and received regulatory approval (quite a few steps). However, it didn't take long for more scare-factor scenarios to come out, with supposed "experts" warning just how dangerous this would be. Why so dangerous even if it's been shown to be safe? Well, apparently the equipment is only safe over 10,000 feet -- but by simply allowing mobile phone usage at all on planes, the nameless experts claim that it will encourage people to use phones below 10,000 feet. Of course, this is getting silly. For years, airlines have successfully kept people from using "approved electronic devices" below a certain altitude, and there's no reason why mobile phones are any different (whether or not they offer a real threat). Perhaps these so-called experts are really using this excuse as a way of supporting the real reason many people don't want mobile phones used on planes: the annoyance factor.
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CELLS ON A PLANE!!
/first
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Wild Animals
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Re: alfred
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Re:
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Re: yangyang
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Passenger using the cell phone
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The one percent
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oh sure
So to compare and contrast one culture over another is a folly.
And for all the grammer and spelling checkers out there, I'm posting from a cell and don't have tools for checking. I did reread my post but I can't spell to save my life so don't bother telling me what I spelled wrong.
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Koronoir has a good point
It is partly America's size that is to blame for our general lack of manners. There was, for a long time, enough room for us to stay away from one another. That's coming to an end now, of course, but the effect lingers on.
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Cell phones breed rudeness
I no longer have one, have no intention of having one and have gone back to the old fashion policy of if it's dinner time talk to the answering machine.
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Old Fashion Policy
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Registering...
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1624543,00.asp
Just my 2 cents...
BTW, Googles spell check works great!
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Dang...
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quite different.
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PEOPLE.
In general people are self-centered, inconsiderate, impolite assholes.
Flights are bad enough these days with all the security measures (hassles), add to that the occasional crying baby (can't be helped, but it does annoy), increasingly undisciplined kids (cue outraged parents), decreasing service (half a can of coke anyone?)...the LAST thing I want is to hear some idiot yammering at the top of his lungs about what he had for breakfast this morning, or the girl he'd like to pork, or how the client he's flying to see is a rich moron he can milk...
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However, I also agree with the problem of rudeness. On the ground, people being rude with cell phone can be asked to leave an area. That's kind of hard to do on planes, unless they come up with separate cell phone and non-cell phone seating (wouldn't that be a riot?). If they do allow cell phone usage, they had better make it clear that it's basically for emergency use only, and that they can confiscate your cell phone for the duration of the flight if you don't behave yourself.
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Re: Dang...
The most amazing thing? Anyone not being language-anal-retentive read your post without even noticing your typo. The ones that noticed it, just corrected it themselves.
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Cell Phones on Planes
Cell phone addicts are unconscious, disrespectful, discourteous and obnoxious. Public transportation and areas; doctors' offices; theaters; restaurants; checkout lines; just about everywhere. In their own dream world walking in the street, or "driving" their cars. Their business, everyone's business. Unable to bear silence or be by, or with, themselves for a moment. Totally oblivious to---and inconsiderate of---their neighbors.
Cell phones will be as ubiquitous in airplanes as they are in places where we are all held captive. These (ab)users ought to be relegated to their own soundproof cabin, compelled to suffer one another's inanities. For the entire flight.
I, and hopefully those who share these feelings, will give our business to the airlines that have the sense to ban them.
Emanuel Molho, New York, NY
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so, either that's true or false. if it's false, how can you expect complete truth in the rest of their show?
if it's true, then there is fact that cell phones can be dangerous.
now, the science is sketchy on how cells affect planes. however you must also weigh in other factors such as the social factor before makin a true decision. it is often overlooked, in face of the "major" concerns...safety and money. so there...
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Fact is, there is still scientific evidence that electronic signals "could" cause an accident. In fact, Carnegie Mellon (OK, if I spelled that wrong who cares, if you do, you probably wish you could post in red) even stated "its not a matter of if, its a matter of when"
With this out there, do we really want to risk killing people so that people can talk on the phone?
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Cell Phones
peace
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Roger Beep
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Why Airlines are against this.
One, they cannot figure out a way to make money off of it.
Two, it would really upset the people in first class. Having flown in first class many times I can tell you they get a lot more perks than the passengers in coach. Meals, their own bathroom. and never being told not to use electronics at certain times. This includes cell phones. I have used my cell phone in first class, hell my step-mom spent half the damn flight on the phone. Not only did the flight attendant not say anything, but she will practically dial the number for you.
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I agree, keep banning cells on planes
I fucking hate cell phones. I only have one for emergency use. When I go in to a store or a publiic place, the phone stays in my car. I don't carry it with me like some damn baby with a pacifier. It is sick of so many people "feel naked without their cell phone." Like they need it to fuicking survive. And good heavens if you're at the grocery store and someone can't get ahold of you on your damn cell phone.
We didn't need cell phones 25 years ago. We don't need them now. NOTHING is so important that you have to bother someone (and everyone near them) on a damn cell phone. Call their landline, leave a message, they'll get back to you when they're able to.
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Re:
They did not use the POS circa 1987 Boeing 737 that makes up an all too large percentage of aircraft. I love the show, but absolutely hate that episode.
They were not allowed to use a common carrier aircraft, or even a private aircraft in flight, so that episode and test are meaningless.
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Wait a minute...
So a downed plane caused by a cell is the only thing that justifies banning them? Proof by body count, I guess.
Just one more reason why Arnold Schwarzenegger movies were a bad idea.
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Re: Why Airlines are against this.
Totally untrue. I fly business class regularly and although the service is better, they don't "actively ignore" the rules as much as you say. The worst thing I've seen is a woman being allowed a bag that wouldn't fit under the seat in front of her. We're told when we're allowed electronic devices, and we're told not to use cell phones. You're citing an isolated case, but to say this is the way things work is totally untrue.
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Before there were rules...
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Re: The one percent
Sweet Moses, you guys are too much up into other people's business. Who cares if there is someone on the phone next to you? Another person's conversation will, most likely, not cause you any real standing emotional or physical harm. I hardly doubt that some many people are such 'Sallys' as to require absolute silence during a flight (unless you treat that time as you one chance to attain nirvana by deep meditation). You guys are too strung out if you are stressing this much about someone talking in your presence.
Frankly someone talking on the phone is no worse than a baby crying through a flight... also, it is a needless way to disrupt commerce (lord knows it would be so much easier if you could check your v-mail, blackberry, and get some work done online via your cell during those long flights). Worst case scenario... ear plugs, two asprin, and two glasses of Jack... good night.
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i'm glad my sister had a cell phone last year when an old lady almost totaled her car. she was able to call home as soon as it happened, allowing my parents to get to the scene.
i'm glad i had mine last night, when i was grocery shopping for my mother. she was able to call me and ask me to pick up some extra groceries we needed. saved us both an extra trip to the grocery store.
however, we didn't talk on the fone for 10 hours. she said what she needed, i asked a few details, and bam 5 minutes we were on our ways.
so its all a definiton of need. that argument is flawed. just because you don't need to talk to somoene at a moment's notice, doesn't mean everyone else doesn't as well.
so with that being said, if ONE cell phone caused ONE crash, i would support banning it. air travel (although the "safest" mode of transportation) is still risky. and if something goes wrong, end of story. there aren't too many plane crashes that people walk away from. so if banning a cell phone will take an unnecessary risk away, i'm all for that.
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Technology moves on, but not the rules...
Back then a cell phone was an analog device, and each phone took up one channel. The system was set up to minimize cell sizes, so that the same channels could be reused in relatively close proximity. If a cell had 16 channels, not unusual at the time, all it would take is a relative handful of phones at 35,000 feet to blanket every channel in the cell.
Nowadays all new cell phones are digital, and the few remaining analog phones are being phased out. These digital phones use various techniques to use the available spectrum, and the problem of using up all available channels simply no longer exists.
The interference question needs research - GPS signals are very faint, and while a single cell phone might not pose a threat, if the rule is rescinded it would not be unreasonable to see lots of phones on at once. I would be very very careful about the possible effects on the airplane's avionics if 100+ people all start using radio transmitters inside the aircraft. I can envision the captain announcing a delay in arrival, and all of a sudden half of the passengers on a 747 whip out phones to tell Mom they'll be late.
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Yes it is an overabundance of caution, a response to the small possibility of a problem. But personally i prefer to err on the side of staying alive over making a cell phone call in flight.
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Re: The one percent
> I work in Japan now...
Well good for you. I lived there for quite some time myself. Yes, the Japanese have sheep-like behavior down to a science. Their culture is a thousand-year history of following the herd. Samurai during the medieval period had absolute power over the regular populace, they could remove a head for any reason whatsoever. This creates a culture that makes it non-optional to not stand out.
Americans, on the other hand, come from a pioneer culture. You had to do for yourself or you'd die. Direct opposite of the Japanese history. Its no mystery why 90% of the world's innovation comes from America. There are few people here to tell you you have do it a certain way.
Sure, "execs and politicians" feel Americans are too stupid, we just don't get the "fact" that execs and politicians know what's best for us.
Thank god.
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Re: Re: The one percent
Preventing these sorts of idiotic phone calls will interrupt commerce, my ass!!! Seems to me that commerce works just fine with the current rules of no cell phones on planes. Or are you trying to tell us that the global economy is severely hampered by the inability of business people to make calls on airplanes? Puh-lease!
Yes, we can try to ignore that utter inanity going on next to us, but its exactly the same as if you're trying to sleep but the neighbor's damn dog won't stop barking. Yep, you can plug your ears, or spend gobs of money to soundproof your home, but why the heck should everyone in the neighborhood spend extra money to get peace and quiet because one idiot can't be bothered to train his dog!
I have an easier time dealing with a wailing infant, because I know the infant doesn't know better. The infant is just dealing with the discomfort of flying the only way they know how. The self-important jabberhead who's now invaded my space does know better.
You libertarians think anything goes and nuts to the rest of us. Politeness is just for stupid idiots, eh?
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What's so objectionable about a guy on a cell versus two guys conversing? It's that you can't hear the other side of the conversation.
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It's not that serious.
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Re:
Personally, I would like to see the airlines concentrate on offering some sort of internet service first. I like the fact that no-one can reach me for 8 hours on a New York to L.A. flight. Once they have cell phone service, I'm screwed, there's goes my only relaxation time :-).
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Honor
Meanwhile they lie like fucking dogs and eat our whales...god damn..whales..
ever watch them kill a great whale? it takes a long time for them to die and the butchering begins before they are dead.
let them eat koreans. they arent endangered and it would make the world safer.
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Exactly
As for being available 24/7, just cause you have a cell phone doesn't mean you have to be available all the time. You can ignore a cell phone just as easy as a landline. In most causes, easier, because unlike a landline you can see who it is, an the push a button if you want to ignore the call.
I have never used a cell phone on a plane, mostly because i haven't ever flown anywhere, but if i did, i wouldn't see the problem with talking with someone for the whole 2-5 hour flight, esp. if i was traveling by myself. Helps pass the time to be able to have conversation.
Really, cell phone use is a matter of common sense. If you're talking on the phone in the grocery store, when you get to the cashier, put the phone down and give them you antention when you are paying for your stuff. If your phone rings in the resturant when you out to dinner with someone, if you MUST take the call, excuse yourself and take the call. Don't shout into the phone, don't put it in walkie-talkie mode, just quietly talk to them, just like if they were sitting next to you
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Re:
Get a life and stop trying to take our rights and freedoms away. Stop whining. You will DIE someday, so learn to enjoy the freedom you now have to live and live it well.. and not screw all of the rest of us by your insesant pursuit of the eternal secure life..... I wanna be safe from this.. wah. wah.. wah... wah..
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Are you CRAZY?
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Re:
Gee I dont like old farts who fart on elevators. I think I will ban anyone from getting on an elevator who has not exited a bathroom AND CHEESED ONE.
Your logic is stupid, selfish and adds to the fact that we love to strip others of thier rights.. We have created a police state in America because of idiots like you who think that it serves a good purpose to control others. Wake up and look around you. Your rights are stripped due to others thinking like you.
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Re: Re:
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Re: Are you CRAZY?
Babies cry on the plane. Babies cry on the street, on the bus, at restaurants. People talk, phones ring. Trucks vrooom by. Planes fly over. Police sirens blare by. Intelligent urban youths pass with their subwoofers liquifying their brains. Look, theres a parade on main street. Some nutcase is handing out pamphlets on the corner. Your taxi driver's radio is beeping and saying roger that charlie.
Your airplane serves PEPSI and your ears are popping. The bathroom is occupied and the guy sitting next to you is seriously fat. You wanted pretzels, not peanuts, but nobody asked you.
And youre worried about a CELL PHONE? This world is full of noise and disruptions. You learn to cope with it.. and if youre smart, you learn to like it.
Whoever said an airplane was supposed to be your oasis of peace and serenity? I'm flying to take care of business and get from point A to point B. If you want @*($ing serenity, go rent a sensory deprivation tank and shed your tears there.
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Re: Cell Phones on Planes
You are condoning the abolishment of yet another freedom that we enjoy or could enjoy. Just because it irritates you, you think it is OK to abolish it.
That logic justifies the inquisition. That logic justifies the control of all others for the common good. You are left with no freedoms and no ability to choose even the most simple things in your life.
For instance - I dont like McDonalds food. I think I will abolish them from existance. Same as anybody who drives over 55mph. Same as anyone who looks like they had a bad hair day. Lets stop being so overcontrolling in the United states and let others have some freedoms instead of killing off every freedom left. We are already a police state.
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Lose your Cell Phone - police state thinking
We also are thinking selfishly and negatively about how anything is so dangerous to what ever activity we are doing. Our Rights are inpuned. How awful.
As a result we have made a police state in America, full of laws and regulations and full of bullshit rules so complex we cant shit forwards unless it is on a proper toilet. .. and we outlaw anybody doing anything that can harm or irritate us in any way shape or form. Ban cell phones from aircraft. Simple example of our continued loss of liberty and freedom. We will soon be droids. Controlled sheep. Baaaaaaaaa & wah..
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Re: Re: Re:
To ban a cell phone for 1) irritation 2) safety reasons are both illogical reasons. Cell phones can be used quietly with the advent of bluetooth and other technology. Also they are safe and provide people with the only freedom left in a plane... to talk.
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Re: Re: Cell Phones on Planes
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Lets push to keep Cell phones on Southwest.
Most people are respectful on aircraft. It is not a greyhound bus and generally folks are cognizant of bothering others on aircraft. If they are rude then yell back at them.
Lets keep our freedoms.. what few we have left.
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Yes Charlie... You are correct about the kids.
Lets abolish any screaming kid . Lets just kill them.
Lets just throw them off the plane when their ears pop . Throw that fat young mother off also.
Cell phones should stay on air flights and people should enjoy the freedom of having one and using it.
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cars are like cell phones: the medium of freedom
So what if some people misuse their cars? Take their cars away from them. I don't misuse mine and no force on earth will take mine away from me.
I am coming to think of cellphones the same way.
Cars give me the freedom to go anywhere.
Cellphones give me the freedom to be anywhere.
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Why?
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I think you may be over estimating the amount of cellular coverage that exists in uninhabited areas of the west. Wyoming, Nevada, Nebraska and the like have coverage over the highways, but not so much over uninhahited areas, airplanes don't follow the highways.
The cellular system is not designed to switch cells for 100 handsets on a plane moving at 500 mph. It could be, but it is not now.
Finally, it's not that the phones interfere with the electronics. It's that there is no certification that they don't interfere with the electronics. Without certification (for each kind of handset) the airlines insurance companies are unlikely to insure them.
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Re: Why?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do you need to talk all the dang time anyway? What in tarnation did you people ever do before cell phones were invented? What sort of phone yabber is so important it can't wait? You know, business did happen before these phones were invented--and relationaships stayed together--and poeple sat on planes and made it through just fne.---------------------------------------------------
THANK YOU!!! This is exactly the point I was trying to make. But no, everyone whines and crys about how yet another "freedom" is being taken away. Give me a break. You don't NEED to talk on your damn cell phones during a 1 hour flight, do you? What is so fucking important that can't wait an hour? Seriously. Yes, planes are already noisy from screaming kids and such, but idiots on cell phones just adds more to the annoyance factor during my flight. I can tune out crying kids. Anyone who is a parent knows easily how to ignore a child having a tantrum... But it gets hard to ignore every other moron on a plane shouting into their cell phones and talking about shit that DOESN'T need to be talked about until they are somewhere private.
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Also...
So... again I ask. What is so damn important that you MUST talk on your damn cell phone on a plane.. you'd rather have your "freedom" to talk on a cell phone and compromise your safety and/or your LIFE? How sad. You will still get that "business deal" if you wait an hour to call the client when you're on land. Nothing is so damn important that you must whip out the fucking cell phone everywhere you go.
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if you'll allow me to do that, i'll be more than happy to let you talk on the plane
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Cells on planes
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Ha!! Right on, I am so with you on this one, dude!
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Re: Re: Why?
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Part 15
to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any lnterference re-
ceived, including interference that may cause undesired operation."
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remember kids..
this is a sign of dangerous thinking.. "yes, we know that concerns over X is false, but the real concern is TERRORISTS!!! might could maybe possibly consider one day doing Y with X! gasp! scream!"
if we want to be sure we never do anything or have anything or think anything a terrorist could use or think or do.. then it worked.
we have been Terrorised into limiting what we do or have or think by extremists who want exactly that.
consider politness, consider cell tower palcement not reaching airplan overfly areas.. even the Remote Tiny risk of system interference etc.. but dont try to pull out the Terrorist Trump Card.
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Bring back the comfort zone in flying
I don't care if people talk on phones on planes as long as I can't hear them. Put the phoners in the back with some soundproofing or create phone booths. Remember them?
Currently though, air travel is a maddening business that enrages the customers and inconveniences everyone. Why pay more for less each year?
We need to demand better treatment for our high-cost travel money. This is ridiculous.
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Re: Re: The one percent
I doubt it.
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Re: I agree, keep banning cells on planes
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Sick of these mother-phoning cell phones on the mo
I think any excuse they can come up with to keep fat ass big business tards from yaking away the entire six hour flight until I get a massive migrane is not only fair but justified. Whatever works, just stop it. Please.
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Win-Win Situatioin
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Cell Phones on Airplanes
I do not want to sit beside a person who is going to talk for a great length of time nor do I want to listen to a conversation from a person 2-3 rows from me. A lot of us are already irritated with cellphnoe use on the streets, stores, offices, and elevators. Just imagine 20 loud conversations of questionable content in a confined space as a plane for hours on end.
Banning the use of cellphones is just a issue of courtesy among flyers. If the ban is lifted, restrict the calls to the restrooms.
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