Cellphones As A Modern Irritant
I'm quoted in a New York Times Science section piece by Douglas Quenqua, briefly referencing points I draw out in detail (referencing scientific data) in I See Rude People:
"When you are overhearing some stranger's inane cellphone conversation, your brain has to work a lot harder at what you're doing, and it interferes with your ability to focus on other things," said Amy Alkon, a syndicated columnist who wrote a book about manners called "I See Rude People." "It gives you what I call a 'neural itching.' "Though surveys have repeatedly placed public cellphone conversations at the top of Americans' pet peeves, there are indications that the problem is easing -- or, perhaps, that people are starting to accept that all this yakking is the new reality. In 2006, 82 percent of Americans said they were at least occasionally annoyed by cellphone conversations in public. In 2012, that number dropped to 74 percent.
Ms. Alkon attributes the drop to a rising rejection of the behavior. "People are starting to recognize that it's really rude to force other people to listen to your conversation," she said, "especially in places where you're trapped, like a train or a doctor's office."
or, perhaps, that people are starting to accept that all this yakking is the new reality. In 2006, 82 percent of Americans said they were at least occasionally annoyed by cellphone conversations in public. In 2012, that number dropped to 74 percent.
Or is it because people are foregoing talking for texting?
jerry at March 14, 2013 12:06 AM
I've always worked in noisy offices or sites, and I'm really not bothered by extraneous noise. To the point where I listen in with half an ear while still working (who said guys can't multitask?). If I'm really concentrating, it just gets blocked out, to the point where people have to tap me on the shoulder to get my attention. Simply doesn't bother me. If it's on public transport, I'm probably entertained enough to be filing the conversation away as Facebook material!
Someone stopping a conversation to reply to a text, on the other hand, pisses me off. Instead of two things to do, I've got nothing to do, except sit there as the third wheel in a conversation I can't see or hear.
Ltw at March 14, 2013 2:12 AM
Ms. Alkon attributes the drop to a rising rejection of the behavior.
That doesn't make much sense? Less people are saying they're annoyed. That doesn't mean it's happening less, possibly people have just got used to it. Also what jerry said.
Ltw at March 14, 2013 2:21 AM
I have always enjoyed this skit, about someone talking on a bluetooth in a restaurant. The unfortunate thing is the talker never gets the clue, about how annoying he is.
Steve at March 14, 2013 3:42 AM
I have always enjoyed this skit, about someone talking on a bluetooth in a restaurant. The unfortunate thing is the talker never gets the clue, about how annoying he is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0uTi2qkgf0
Steve at March 14, 2013 3:43 AM
I'm usually not too bothered by cell phone conversations, but one on Tuesday left my unnerved. While we were driving in from out of town, my husband received a phone call. The were several OMGs. Which hospital? Do they think he"s going to make it? After several minutes, I could contain myself no longer. To my husband's fury, I began to interupt and ask, "Who?" When he didn't answer, I asked him to at least tell me that it's not our teenage son. He did.
After he hung up, I made him agree that he would take a couple of seconds to clue me in if we ever got another terrifying phone call.
Jen at March 14, 2013 5:00 AM
FYI, I wasn't commenting on the number, which I either didn't hear or didn't understand -- I was commenting that people seem to understand that it's rude to shout into your cellphone in public.
Amy Alkon at March 14, 2013 5:09 AM
I remember commenting to a friend awhile back that, in downtown Minneapolis, you can't tell anymore who the lunatics are and who's just using Bluetooth.
Grey Ghost at March 14, 2013 7:40 AM
And if you are driving and talking get a Bluetooth and use your cruise control on the highway.
Both yesterday and today, I had jokers talking on their cell phones that I passed, and then they passed me three times before I finally got away from them.
We were moving in the 75 MPH range. That is freaking dangerous.
Lead or follow, I don't care, just don't do it near me.
Jim P. at March 14, 2013 10:07 AM
Jerry is right. It's just that they are texting now. And they have no idea how stupid they look doing it.
Pirate Jo at March 14, 2013 12:38 PM
I like the fools who text in public using the speech-to-text feature. (Really loudly: "Hey Johnny, after the proctologist, I'm going to be at the titty-bar." "Send!")
Justin at March 14, 2013 1:32 PM
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