Cell phones

[sarahswan]

I was going to post this as a response to Trav's response to my dad's entry about finally getting cell phones (way to go on getting those, by the way!), but I decided to post it right out in the open. I'm thinking that maybe if we all share our experiences with cell phones, maybe we can reform the way they are (mis)used in society. So, here are

Comments

[philmjmills]

I'm about 90% in agreement with you, but I think 1a needs a little modification.
Someday, Sarah, you and Travis will have a kid (or a dog, at least) and you'll be out on a date night with tot or pup in the care of a babysitter. I'm sure that you'll leave your phone on vibrate in the theater just in case anything happened. Would you A) never go out sans child or chihuahua again, or B) go out with no way to contact you for 2 or 3 hours? I didn't think so.
Leave the vibrate on, I say, but be aware of your phone's backlight and do as much shielding as you can. But don't start talking on it while you're still in the theater.
Related: check the Caller-ID if you need to, but please don't start up the conversation when you're only half-way down the aisle leaving the theater/auditorium/sanctuary. Wait 'till you're out in the hall/lobby/whatever.

date night

[sarahswan]

My parents went out without me and my sister all the time. And that was before cell phones. There are usually other emergency numbers if it's an emergency. If it's not an emergency, then the babysitter should not need me. That's what he/she gets paid for! So in answer to your question, I choose option B. I'm on a date with my husband and the babysitter will just have to deal until we return. I stay with my original "rule". Interesting point though.

Re: date night

[la_dolcezza]

Ok, first of all we did not go out allllllll the time. Sheesh! You are right about the other things though. I get bugged when the youth guy's vibrating phone goes off during our prayer group. Then he gets up and effectively puts "Awesome God" on hold. Good grief, I say shut the monster off.

Re: date night

[sarahswan]

I didn't mean that you went out all the time. I meant that every time you went out it was without a cell phone (all the time without cell phones, not, they went out all the time). See the distinction? Yeah...prayer time...def a phones off situation. Someone should have a talk with those people about who/what rules their lives. How sad to live under the rule of cell phones.

[t_rav]

What about people who send text messages with their phone while driving?

*COjUeGnH*

Um...

[panda_whoopin]

Yeah, so I have started doing this more and more lately.

I'm bad.

I know.

~L

In defense....

[jenflint]

I would like to say that i have significantly quit doing that lately...

I would add 3a

[shaneshack]

Sarah, amend rule 3 with section a: Don't even take your phone with you to church. I find it to be highly disrespectful. Even if it is off, the temptation to use it remains. There are FEW jobs that require 24/7 availability. Those that have one get a pass, but only those people.