How Anti-Social Can You Get?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
January 13, 2012 11:03am CST
I cannot understand why someone would pay hundreds of dollars for a front row seat to see the NY Philharmonic Orchestra perform live..then answer his mobile phone in the middle of the performance.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/12/us/new-york-symphony-philharmonic-flap/?hpt=hp_c2
At first, I thought the culprit MUST be about 25 or so but no..he was "elderly" apparently and should know better.
Why the conductor didn't shove the mobile phone up his a** God only knows.
Can you cope without your mobile phone for a few hours? How many times a day do you bump into someone who's texting or playing a game on theirs and not looking where they're going? A recent news article here went on about a young woman who dropped her mobile phone onto railway tracks, then went ONTO the tracks to try to retrieve it and tragically got run over and killed by an express train. What a waste of a life.
I don't even have one and I'm not exactly suicidal about it. These things have become far more "important" than they should be and I was relieved when the Magnum gig I went to recently was relatively mobile phone free.
Makes a change!
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/12/us/new-york-symphony-philharmonic-flap/?hpt=hp_c2
At first, I thought the culprit MUST be about 25 or so but no..he was "elderly" apparently and should know better.
Why the conductor didn't shove the mobile phone up his a** God only knows.
Can you cope without your mobile phone for a few hours? How many times a day do you bump into someone who's texting or playing a game on theirs and not looking where they're going? A recent news article here went on about a young woman who dropped her mobile phone onto railway tracks, then went ONTO the tracks to try to retrieve it and tragically got run over and killed by an express train. What a waste of a life.
I don't even have one and I'm not exactly suicidal about it. These things have become far more "important" than they should be and I was relieved when the Magnum gig I went to recently was relatively mobile phone free.
Makes a change!7 people like this
28 responses
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
13 Jan 12
Well, that is the same mentality that I saw at a concert a while back where the kid behind me was drunk and passed out throughout most of the concert! My thought was, "Why would you pay that amount of money to be there just to miss the whole dam thing?" As for the mobile phones...I see way too much of it. I work in a store and I can't tell you how many customers come up to the counter chatting as they do their transactions. They hold up the line and are just plain rude and annoying AND they'd be pist if I were on my phone talking, I'm sure of it. I don't have a mobile phone either. I have a tracphone for emergencies and in case one of my daughters needs me for something when I'm not home. A friend gave me 120 mins last year for Christmas and they just ran out just before Christmas this year. I almost NEVER use it and only a few people have the #. I agree...it's over-rated and often times down right dangerous!
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Jan 12
How refreshing to see that someone else (other than me) doesn't possess a mobile phone. Hoorah!
I've actually seen people who are supposed to be working in shops take a sneeky look on their phones. I know they're not serving anyone at the time but it's still rude..and it's in work's time as well that they're getting paid for.
Sometimes I'm glad I'm not working as checking Facebook (which I'm not on by the way) and sending texts openly in front of others would drive me nuts.
I don't go into Town as much because I'm sick of bumping into people with their silly mobile phones. Wouldn't it be great if the signal went?
Haha!
I've actually seen people who are supposed to be working in shops take a sneeky look on their phones. I know they're not serving anyone at the time but it's still rude..and it's in work's time as well that they're getting paid for.
Sometimes I'm glad I'm not working as checking Facebook (which I'm not on by the way) and sending texts openly in front of others would drive me nuts.
I don't go into Town as much because I'm sick of bumping into people with their silly mobile phones. Wouldn't it be great if the signal went?
Haha!@sid556 (30959)
• United States
14 Jan 12
I was going to at first blame my lack of desire for one of those things on my age but I've seen people much older be all into them so I think it's not an age thing at all. I don't know what it is but I've never had any desire to own one. My girls pushed me to get one because I travel from work late at night and work out of town. it took me a while but I think this is a good compromise.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
13 Jan 12
I can only agree with you. Seems that if you have a cellphone you always need to answer it or have phonecalls where ever you go.
I have one but mostly forget it. Only use it in case of need and because it's way cheaper as having a house-line-phone. I seldom make phonecalls, don't answer it when I am driving, talking to other people, are busy.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Jan 12
Because I don't have a mobile phone anymore I'm not sure of the tariffs. My feeling is is that it MUST be cheaper to access the internet, for example. At one time this was rare because it was too expensive to do so. Now the mobile phone providers are falling over themselves to give people the best deals, hence all this over-use. It's like they're justifying having a phone in the first place. Most calls I hear are just garbled messages that are unnecessary, which suggest to me they MUST have so many free calls. It's probably like that with the internet, Facebook, etc as well.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
13 Jan 12
Hiya Janey,
It is quite annoying when you are out somewhere and you hear a Fella behind you shouting practically down your ear his conversation on his mobile phone.
Not only do I not want to hear his life story but the shouting is totally out for me.
The Orchestra Conductor must have been annoyed as well and yes someone of that age should know how to behave better.
I have a mobile Phone but its not the latest and half the time I have to keep resetting the Date and the time and all that silly stuff.
Very tragic about that Lady indeed she must have needed that phone pretty badly.
Me I cope without it for weeks at a time although sometimes I find it a must if I am stuck somewhere.xxx
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Jan 12
Hiya Janey,
What a shame that he uses that so much to communicate with but then loads of them do it and they consider it normal now sort of not cool to talk to your Family only to your Friends on the mobile or whatever.
He´s probably got a couple of Girlfriends and all I can say is who can blame him?
Mine are always on Facebook and you can guarantee that I am not on their mutual Friends list lol.
Well they don´t want me in there and to tell the truth I don´t care much for them being on mine being nosey as to what I write or post or "like".
I never stick my nose in their Affairs on there but sometimes a Friend of theirs will comment on mine as they like to practice English lol.xxx
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Jan 12
Hiya Janey,
Oh yes I have used the mobile phone for that to get me around places lol. Not very often he will come to pick me up when I have been shopping more like you find yourself running after them.
Very handy for when the Buses get too full and the queues way too long and it seems you will never get home either.
Once I stood waiting for the 529 forty whole minutes and it was way below zero and my legs were so cold I could not feel them. So then I would have surely wished for a Mobile Phone lol.
Remember when you ended up walking home sick of waiting for the Buses especially when the Power Cuts were in full swing really awful. Wish Mobile Phones would have existed then.xxx
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Jan 12
Oh yes, for emergencies or getting hubby out to give me a lift back from Town with my shopping bags (which is what I used the phone for when I had it), it's brilliant..but the phones are used more than actually talking to people face-to-face. Whenever I see my husband's nephew he's ALWAYS tapping away on his phone. There is hardly any talking going on so, his nanna and granddad (who he lives with) haven't got a clue what he's doing or where he's going and what time he's coming back.
In other words, he's a secretive sod!
Haha!
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Jan 12
Have to agree with sid556 too I think that People of all ages abuse the mobile phone and especially when they are in the queues in the Grocery Shops.
When the poor Girl is trying to get the transaction of the Credit Card through and the Person is blabbering away on their Phones paying no attention at all to anyone else.
They hold up the queue a lot of the time as well because if their Credit Card needs topping up and the Girl is trying to tell them they are standing with their back to her or standing sideways and sometimes in such a conversation with someone on their mobile Phone that you don´t know if they arguing or talking.
All you know is that you can hear the whole life Story from start to end.
Most of the Kiddies are always busy texting away really I don´t hear them shout so much not usually.
If you have ever heard some of them the things that they come out with are really funny.xxx
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
19 Jan 12
Hiya Janey,
It makes this World does´nt it? Takes all sorts to make a World go round.
Well seeing as there are no Buses round here I can´t really know about that only imagine that it does go on of course it does.
Bus Drivers put up with an awful lot I think as well. Can imagine they have gone well past having Headaches.xxx
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jan 12
I've seen people get on buses (all ages) and they're more interested in talking on their phones than interacting with the bus-driver. No wonder public transport employees are (generally) miserable..the stuff they have to put up with on a daily basis. I bet they have a major headache by the time their shift is overwith!
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
15 Jan 12
He was an old fool. I heard on the news that he forgot to shut is alarm off on the phone. What a dummy. He should have just shut the entire phone off. Or if you leave it on it should be on vibrate. And yes, those tickets are worth a fortune. He interrupted the whole thing not just for himself, but for everyone else in the place.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Jan 12
Do you know if there were any rules concerning mobiles in that place? Usually - in our case at least - if mobiles are banned it will say so on the ticket..or gives advice on switching the phones off..all common-sense really.
It seems this guy didn't possess any.
1 person likes this
@Bamboee (645)
• United Arab Emirates
13 Jan 12
Well ya if people can die over facebook, mobile phones came long time ago!
Yes they are getting updated every now and then with new apps and new features..
Mobile phones were created to reach out to your loved ones.. it was not about who has the most latest cell phone in town or about who tweets faster!!
I think its just become competition now, the moment someone receives a text on Blackberry, they have to reply it instantly even if they are in the middle of the an operation!! lol
seriously, people have just lost it!!
I am not a mobile freak, I think its important for me to have cell phone to be in contact with my husband, to know when he is coming home, and the fact he is doing okay. To talk to my brother abroad and check up on him...
That is all my mobile means to me,...
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Jan 12
None of my family (apart from my husband) are into mobile phones. My nephew has them but keeps losing them, his Dad doesn't have one, my parents don't have one..I used to but can't afford to have one..and I don't MISS having one. Mum will ring me during the day as it's free calls on her landline and I will call her at night as it's free calls on our landline. If landlines become obsolete I won't be a happy bunny!
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
8 Feb 12
some people are rude no matter their age-especially with those damn things.
i saw a bus driver put somebody off an overnight bus because she wouldn't stop talking loudly even tho a "no cell phone usage" sign was at the head of the bus.
i don't have one either.last thing i want is somebody bugging me all day.
@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
13 Jan 12
Hello Janey.
I must say that in a way I as a youngster of 24 feel somehow offended because you automatically assumed the person who would do this would be a young person. I have great respect for elders but there are quite a lot that make many more mistakes then us youngsters :)
Anyway on the topic at hand, I believe the conductor of the play should have halted the show until that person STOPPED this anti social behaviour.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Jan 12
I actually think it's the older generation that abuse their mobile phones the most. If that didn't come across very well I'm sorry.
2 people like this
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
17 Jan 12
Admittedly, I've grown attached to my celphone. I've often found myself reaching for my pocket to where my phone is, and constantly checking if there are updates, emails, or notices that I should be looking at. But, I have an excuse: I use my celphone for my online business, and I have to be aware when customers are contacting.
Anyway...
But I definitely know when to let go of it. There are settings when I absolutely don't have to reach for it. With family, church, and a couple of times when I watched my kid's concert at school.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jan 12
Well, you're using your mobile for what's important in your life and have learned to switch it off where necessary.
Quite sensible if you ask me..and you've got a lot of self-control.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16785)
• China
14 Jan 12
There must be some regulations there in which answering mobile phone is prohibited or the mobile phone must be turned off.What the guy have done did dampen other audiences' spirits.He spent so much on that,but he wasn't absorbed in listening to that.I guess he hasn't much feeling for music.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Jan 12
You would think so wouldn't you my friend? I guess, with it being such a polite environment (I'm guessing) the conductor gave him the benefit of the doubt although I should imagine he was extremely angry on the inside.
@Lannielui (83)
• United States
16 Jan 12
I agree that there are many people selfishly absorbed in their mobile phones. They are consumed with the activity and are not thinking of others around them and sometimes even their own safety. However, with that said, we are not walking in other people's shoes. We have no idea why this man took the phone call. Perhaps a dying relative or another important reason. We simply do not know what is going on in other people's lives.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Jan 12
Well, if that had been me I would've not gone into the concert hall at all and tried getting a refund..maybe let someone else take the ticket who really wanted to be there?
@emilytd18 (114)
• Philippines
14 Jan 12
As far as I can see it, I think there are just some people who are more addicted to texting that they just can't get over with what they have to do without their mobile phones. For me, cell phones are just a necessity when it is needed. I mean, I can definitely get through a day without it. There are just some things that we have to prioritize and try to do things one at a time.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Jan 12
Yes, I think you're probably right about being addicted to texting..no doubt some boffin will call it something..like addictedtotextingitis..not very good but the best I could do off the top of my head!
@emilytd18 (114)
• Philippines
20 Jan 12
hahaha... That's a funny label!!..hahaha.. But that's clever of you!!..haha :-)) ;-)
@myzhian (584)
• Philippines
16 Jan 12
Nowadays wherein technology is dominating in society and playing a great importance for communication, is really affecting all the personal aspects of an individual, particularly on his social being! People are so obsessed with mobile phones and other gadgets, that sometime they are being influenced and over powered with this electronic units that they even end up their countless lives. People should learn the true function of cell phones and should use it for more responsible purposes!
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
14 Jan 12
This is the reason why our mobile phones have a "silent mode" option. It's when you're in a meeting, concert or even on a date, the ringing of your phone will not disturb you or the people you're with. Apparently since the owner of the ringing phone was an elderly person, he might have forgotten to place his phone on silent mode. When I read the article, I had to laugh when the elderly man tried to ignore the phone and kind of hoped that the orchestra would do the same. He was probably embarrassed to own the ringing phone that's why the phone rang for four minutes straight. I wouldn't also dive down the train tracks to save my phone. I am not addicted to my mobile phone unlike other people I know who seem to hardly let go of their phones.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Jan 12
Whoever wanted him wanted him BADLY! Four minutes..my..40 seconds would be enough for me!
@andy77e (5156)
• United States
14 Jan 12
I rarely take my mobile phone with me anywhere. It stays at home except on special occasions. Even when I do take it, normally it stays in the car.
The problem isn't anti-social. If they were anti-social, they wouldn't go to a concert. I'm anti-social and I never go to anything.
The problem is lack of standards. Our society has learned that the most important thing in life is.... us. The world revolves around 'me'.
Remember? We were all so worried about self esteem? We had to each our kids how important they are, how wonderful they are, how great they are.
Well now those kids are grown up (at least age wise), and they have learned exactly what we taught them.
The most important thing in their lives is them, and if they want to answer a phone in the front row of a packed concert and discuss Kim Kardashian's new bra, why that's what they want to do, and they are going to do it. Because we're entitled to do what we want, because we're great!!!
I want to move to Japan myself. They have very good manners I hear. Very polite. Respectful.
@163Mandolingirl (1052)
•
15 Jan 12
How rude and insensitive of him! Even when I go to my folk club every week our MC makes a point of telling all members to turn off their phones. None of us who are listening or performing would appreciate any disturbance. So I can imagine how the conductor, orchestra and audience viewed this man's behaviour!
@Defluxe (14)
• Lithuania
14 Jan 12
Good day/night!
Nowadays there are many people who can't live without their mobile phones, social networks or other stuff which really sometimes gets us anti-social. I posses a mobile phone, but I use it rarely: answer friends text messages, calling for someone. I don't use it for playing games, but sometimes it is good when I want to read some e-book with mobile e-boook reader.
I think that this man should have shut off his phone when he entered to the concert or right after it started ringing, but I am here not to judge him.
Have a nice time!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Jan 12
Neither am I - but it is happening a lot isn't it? Mind you, when the world runs out of its resources mobile phones will be the first things to be ditched. I can't wait!
@AngryBobblehead (38)
• United States
15 Jan 12
I feel the same way sometimes. People are pretty stupid when it comes to cell phones. I can see how cell phones can be useful; emergency contact, and all of that stuff. These people take it over the line, though. Nice to know I'm not alone here.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Jan 12
Love your name, it's great! Yes, it is nice to know we're not alone isn't it lol.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Jan 12
Some good may come out of it you mean? I do hope so.
