Silencing Cell Phones
May 26, 2010 by Kathy McManus
A rude person yammers loudly on a cell phone in a crowded public place. The problem is familiar, but one man’s solution is up for debate.
The Wall Street Journal columnist Ralph Gardner Jr. writes about his “civilized and heroic” friend Philip, whom he refers to as “The Manners Enforcer.” Philip’s pet peeve is “people’s obliviousness when they’re on their cell phones.” So for the last three years he has used an illegal electronic phone jammer to silence those who annoy him. First, he asks “the miscreant to modulate his or her voice.” If that fails, he reaches for the jammer hidden in his pocket, pushes a button, and surreptitiously sends a signal that ends the call mid-sentence.
“The first time he did so,” Gardner reports, “was with a lady standing over him on a crowded bus. ‘She spoke quite loudly and at terrific length,’ Phillip remembers. ‘I put my finger on the button and she went, Hello? Hello?’”
The Manners Enforcer: Irresponsible vigilante, or a breath of fresh air?
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32 Comments
What do you think? Leave a comment
May 27, 2010 by Ann
The man is a hero. Does everyone need to talk to someone at every hour of the day and night? Do they have to be so loud? There was a girl on my train this morning who got on the phone at 5:50am, and never stopped talking til we pulled into the station at 7:30, and all of us were held hostage by her behavior, I have heard people talking about things I wouldn't even tell my close friends - ie SS numbers when ordering things, medical issues, legal issues, personal information about themselves and others. Trust me, if I could afford a jammer, I'd have one.
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May 27, 2010 by Rob
A M E N ! ! !
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May 28, 2010 by judy R
Love it, love it, love it. I know one of these days I will end up being arrested for taking someones phone. It is so anoying, I don't care to hear peoples conversation. One time a man was talking on the phone in the movies, I walked over to him and said hang up the phone NOW!!!. Guess I frightened him because he hung up the phone and said ok. I'd love to have one of those jammers. I will look into that.
June 1, 2010 by Deeana
Have we all forgotten that IT'S A FREE COUNTRY? If I want to scream at the top of my lungs into my cell phone, I have every right to do so. And if you don't like it, then don't be out on the street, be a hermit and stay home where you can control the volume of anything and everything you like. A hero is someone who saves people's lives. This man is a ridiculous person and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
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June 3, 2010 by Tricia
Apparently you're one of those inconsiderate people who have force us to go to these extremes. Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. People who talk like they're crazy on their cell phones should be shut down. It's called respect ... show some!
June 4, 2010 by Ann Perkins
There is such a thing as manners - and social conventions - so everyone can function in social situations - it seems that you, my friend, are just one of the rude and inconsiderate people. Surely your parents did not raise you to be so ill mannered.
June 14, 2010 by Sandy DeWitt
A hero is someone who stands up for what he believes. Sometimes it is saving lives -- sometimes it's just saying, "STOP infringing on my right to a peaceful day."
I know many people who are very busy with business, social, and political concerns. But most of them, not all but most, do not have to have a phone glued to their ears all the time. I think it is sad people cannot be alone with themselves for any time at all without having to network with someone else. What if the early Americans felt that way? We would all still be living on the East Coast because we couldn't stand to be alone.
October 5, 2010 by Rose
Yes Deanna it is a free country...that doesn't mean you are free to be a niucense to others. Excerice some phone ediquette.
December 3, 2011 by patty
You did get one thing right. It is a FREE COUNTRY, which means I should not have to sit in my home like a HERMIT, if I want to go outside in a peaceful, respectful, environment. By your ranting, you sound rather young. But if you have to "scream" on your cell phone, in public places--then you have alot more problems than your cell phone usage! Just show some respect. People have enough of their own issues going on in their everyday lives, without having to listen to yours.
December 14, 2011 by Heather
So, we should all stay in our homes so you can continue to be a rude, dis-respectful person. Did it ever occur to you that YELLING into your cell phone while on a crowded bus or public place is disrupting and rude????Yes, this is a free country that is quickly going to hell in a hand basket because of rude people such as yourself thinking that you have the right to do whatever you want when you want to do it. Speaking in a softer voice would just as easily solve the problem. If we could just learn to compromise the world we live in would be a much better place.
May 27, 2010 by Don Young
Persons who engaged too loudly in conversation while in a public place where around long before mobile phones existed. What makes those using a mobile phone too loudly now different, are people PO'd because they can't hear both sides of the conversation? Use of malicious interference is the coward's way out that does nothing to resolve the problem. While it may stop the"offense", but the "offender" remains clueless they where bothering anyone.. Grow a pair and politely ask the phone user to try to speak more quietly. In the event that approach fails, start trying to engage the offender in conversation while they are trying to use the phone, IF you are absolutely certain the call isn't one of an important nature. As I see it there is no defense in using malicious interference as that interference can affect the ongoing calls of others. In my opinion anyone who justifies the use of the jammers are the it all about them all the time personality types, who aren't any better than any other inconsiderate person.
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May 31, 2010 by trouble maker
you know a well as I do most of the people talking that loud on the phone do know they are loud and could care less about who they offend, in fact they get a rush out if be obnoxious.
This being the case, politely asking them to quit down would not end the the problem in most situations.
Anyway, its has been stated the the guy DOES in fact ask the person to quite down first and then he uses the jammer device because they blow him off.
I'm just saying
Having said that. I will say that I would use a jammer either because it might cut someone's call too. (and it illegal, I think)
But I'm just saying.
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May 27, 2010 by GUS ALIBERTI
Im asking all, drivers to help stop useing your cellphones while texing or talking on your cellphones while driveing, to seriously help prevent any accidents or death. driveing today is a safety issue. and we must pay 100% on are driveing. please understand, what this means to you, your family, your good friends. !!!! doing the rightful thing, doing the rightful steps by not useing your cellphone while driveing. I care about your safety and everyone els safety. please, please, please, help me help save a life. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
your good friend, GUS ALIBERTI. THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010 11:22 P.M. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR GREATEST HELP, AND YOUR SUPPORT WITHIN THIS STRONGEST ISSUE.
I CARE OF ALL SAFETY, TO ALL.
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May 30, 2010 by Timothy Whitson
I hate em too. However, this particular ruse would land him a $25,000 fine and up to 10 years in jail. Causing willful interference to any telecommunications is investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted in federal court. He'd actually serve less time by just either forcibly taking the phone or punching the person in the nose.
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May 31, 2010 by olle
...where do you buy them?...jammers that is
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June 1, 2010 by Bartleby
Being rude is far less wrong than being a felon. The rude person may annoy you, but as annoying as it is, you have absolutely no right to halt their conversation at will simply because they're annoying you.
Do they have the right to turn off your television because they don't like the light flickering in your windows? No more so do you have the right to disconnect their telephone because you don't like their having a conversation where you do not find it to be appropriate.
-Bartleby
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June 7, 2010 by jujubean
Well, it got a laugh out of me. But then as I got over the "funny" of it, I thought, "now what if I was on an emergency call to my son or work?" I get the feeling of annoyance wholeheartedly as I have never been one that is attached to my phone at the hip, but we do need to respect others. A public place is a public place. I get annoyed by certain things often, but it never gives me the right to infringe on anothers' rights at all. The only time I think it is appropriate to really come down hard on cell users is while driving. Oh wait! And in class. THAT is annoying!! Thanks to "that girl" I could not hear my professor and missed an assignment. How rude! Another add, is that one time I was in a store and a I was stuck in an aisle with a girl blabbing quite loudly on her cell phone. I needed the toothpaste on the top shelf (I like good quality paste) and she would not move. I tried to grab her attention. When I said for the third time "Excuse me." She turned and said "Do you mind? This call is none of your business." I smiled sweetly and pointed at the toothpaste and said to her "Your in the way, I need toothpaste." She rolled her eyes and acted like I asked her to cut off her arm and give it to medical science. She still didn't move, so I did what I hate being forced to do (I had a schedule to keep and I meant business) so I stepped right in front of her (it was a very close squeeze) and grabbed my toothpaste quickly. She called me a name as I was leaving and I turned and said "That's 'Ms.' (insert profanity word here) to you." Ahhh.. cell phones, its become one of those necessary evils of today. I say use them, be respectful and let the girl behind you get her toothpaste!!
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June 11, 2010 by Christian Louboutin
Thanks for good information that comes out to
read.
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June 13, 2010 by Jay
I personally hate being around people talking loudly in public places on there cell phones. I hate when I am at the cinema and there are people whispering into there cell phones, or texting on there cell phones; The annoying lights flashing every 2 minutes taking my attention away from the big screen.
As much as I can find all of this annoying and as quickly as I want to jump on the band wagon to do the same as everyone else here is wanting to do, I have to disagree with this practice.
Freedom of speech, as annoying as it may seem at times, is something many Americans have spilled blood trying to protect. I agree that there should be some limitations, like the school zones!! Maybe they should consider creating sections in trains for people that want to have cell phones available and another section where they do not?
I do not know, but I do know that this is a form of freedom and rights that we are given. Some guy coming along and jamming my cell phone just because he does not like it? That would be like me reaching into that guys pocket to turn off his jammer, because it bothers me that he has one. Whats the difference really?
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June 25, 2010 by Ann
I don't know about other train lines, but in Chicago they will not consider having seperate cars - they say they are too hard to police. So every day those of us who would like a little piece and quiet and some basic consideration need to put up with those people who have a sense of entitlement holding us all hostage. What happened to manners, consideration for others, and personal responsibility?
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June 16, 2010 by Louboutin shoes
Was an interesting article, thank you..
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April 17, 2011 by Jimber
And if you don't like it, then don't be out on the street, be a hermit and stay home where you can control the volume of anything and everything you like.
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August 3, 2011 by Bill
Here's an idea: move closer to them and pretend to listen intently. If that doesn't work take out a notepad or your own cellphone and pretend to record the conversation.
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