Dickileaks
That's my new name for information that's intended to be confidential, but is dispensed by cellphone rudesters heehawing in public places:
@DougCoupland Noisy guy in Phoenix Airport lounge is broadcasting astonishingly detailed BC Government secrets via his cell phone. Names. Numbers.
As I wrote in I SEE RUDE PEOPLE, when people are shouting their personal business (and their phone number) in public, I have to assume they're doing it because they're lonely and want people to call them. I like to help them -- by posting their phone number and other information on my blog.
At the very least, the posting should serve as a warning to other cellphone shouters who like to privatize public space as their own. These cellphone shouters aren't likely to transform into more considerate human beings, but seeing other loudsters get theirs on the Web might make them somewhat quieter assholes.
'heehawing', very fitting choice of words!That made me laugh. Their behavior is far from funny though.
crella at January 23, 2011 12:11 AM
Thanks, crella. And the behavior is really annoying.
Amy Alkon at January 23, 2011 12:21 AM
If that guy was actually discussing classified information on a cell phone, in a public place, I would have a duty to report him.
Cousin Dave at January 23, 2011 7:10 AM
on a lunch break during jury duty i sat in the garden at Our Lady of the Angels enjoying the quiet when a man shouting "2!" into his phone over and over broke the peace. after retrieving his message he placed a call and started a loud conversation punctuated by long pauses - he was conducting a counseling/therapy session over the phone, and all the people around him were in on the session.
my staring at him didn't phase him. a church worker went by and they nodded hello, so he's likely on the church's payroll. my sympathy for the woman being counseled by this unprofessional jerk was short-lived when, in going over her strained finances and how was she ever going to make it through, his best advice was to hold off on buying that yacht this year.
i didn't want to add to the disruption by talking to the guy, but still regret not doing something.
rosalind at January 23, 2011 11:19 AM
Why do you "have" to assume they're lonely? Could there be something else happening, or is someone forcing into this?
Sam at January 23, 2011 12:44 PM
Sam, Amy does not really think they are lonely. She's just saying that to be funny. She thinks they're jerks. I do too. (if you have to explain it...)
ken in sc at January 23, 2011 2:39 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/01/23/dickileaks.html#comment-1828422">comment from ken in scSigh. Thank you, Ken.
Amy Alkon at January 23, 2011 2:54 PM
"i didn't want to add to the disruption by talking to the guy, but still regret not doing something."
Oh man, you missed an opportunity to put your two cents worth in the counseling session! If you had shouted a suggestion, perhaps the person on the other end of the phone would have realized her personal business was being discussed in public.
gharkness at January 23, 2011 4:51 PM
Ah, I see. Editorial license for humor's sake. Sigh.
Sam at January 23, 2011 8:12 PM
It's actually very easy to forget about your surroundings when on the phone. The lack of a visible counterpart in the conversation triggers compensatory behaviour in your brain. That's why it doesn't make much difference whether you talk on a cell via the phone itself or on hands free when you're driving, and why it makes a huge difference from talking to a passenger in the car. It's not the hand off the wheel that's the problem, it's the lack of a physical person to glance at with all the attendant non-verbal communication that goes with it. People space out when they're talking to someone they can't see - to the point of mental blindness, you're no longer aware of your surroundings.
Of course, this is why I prefer not to take calls on public transport, find a quiet corner to take calls in offices or in public. I'm just pointing out that that guy yelling into his phone at Starbucks probably isn't even aware that he's doing it. It's still rude, but it's very likely he has no idea.
Ltw at January 23, 2011 9:26 PM
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