# Another "what were they thinking?" commercial thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983 "2012-12-14T01:28:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/201 "2012-12-28T00:21:28Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I am continually astounded at the ability of people to be offended by how another person chooses to use technology. I hate to further hijack my own damned thread, but, what the hey . . . I don’t think “offended” is the correct word here and I’m not really speaking to how people use technology, per se. It’s more of an observation that people (IMO) didn’t seem to be showing a lot of respect for what I saw as a pretty momentous occasion. And since it was being photographed / filmed by untold numbers of media sources I don’t really get the cause of the behavior. Kind of the same way I’d feel if I was at a wedding and the bride and groom marched down the aisle with a camera at their eye. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/202 "2012-12-28T00:35:11Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I hate to further hijack my own damned thread, but, what the hey . . . > > I don’t think “offended” is the correct word here and I’m not really speaking to how people use technology, per se. It’s more of an observation that people (IMO) didn’t seem to be showing a lot of respect for what I saw as a pretty momentous occasion. And since it was being photographed / filmed by untold numbers of media sources I don’t really get the cause of the behavior. Kind of the same way I’d feel if I was at a wedding and the bride and groom marched down the aisle with a camera at their eye. Weirdest wedding ever! Conjoined twins sharing one common giant eye walking up the aisle with a video camera. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/203 "2012-12-28T01:09:52Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Weirdest wedding ever! Conjoined twins sharing one common giant eye walking up the aisle with a video camera. Yeah, and what of it? I can’t believe how some people are so offended by the way a cyclops chooses to use technology. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/204 "2012-12-28T01:50:26Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Yeah, and what of it? I can’t believe how some people are so offended by the way a cyclops chooses to use technology. You’re right. Take the camera out of the mix and nobody would give it a second glance. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/205 "2012-12-28T02:08:06Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > You’re right. Take the camera out of the mix and nobody would give it a second glance. Well, the cyclops \*couldn’t \*. . . Eye love the humorous thing we got goin’ here 😛 No really; it’s time to put a lid on it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/206 "2012-12-28T02:45:51Z")
Maybe patch it over. I can’t see any other way, but I’ve been turning a blind eye on this situation too long. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/207 "2012-12-28T02:56:46Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Maybe patch it over. > > I can’t see any other way, but I’ve been turning a blind eye on this situation too long. Twenty lashes for you, me **Boyo**. I can see clearly now that you’re a lost cause ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/208 "2012-12-28T03:02:25Z")
Eye lashes? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/209 "2012-12-28T03:21:13Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Eye lashes? Shyeah; what, were you born in a stye? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/210 "2012-12-28T03:42:36Z")
We just don’t see eye to eye. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/211 "2012-12-28T13:42:04Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > You respond with this weird, literal interpretation of my post and \*I \*can’t be serious? I responded with a weird literal interpretation because I couldn’t make sense out of what your argument was supposed to be. If only some of the people were doing what you describe (and again, I doubt even a majority were doing it) then how could you be making a point about how people, in general, are these days? But you did seem to be trying to make a point that general. So all I could think to do was emphasize how your statements are, in fact, exaggerations–precisely to draw attention to how irrational your reaction to the actual unexaggerated facts appears to be. > [@](#): > > Do you really not get the gist of what I was trying to convey or are you just feeling argumentative / offended? It appears to me that you are arguing that people these days can’t simply authentically be anywhere because they have to have a filtered experience. Is that not what you’re arguing? If it _is_ then literally nothing you’ve said justifies the claim. If it’s not then I don’t know what you’re saying. Your summary in your latest post appears to be compatible with mine–you’re talking in terms of “peoples’ inability…” which appears to me to be intended to be a very general point about people in general. How general are you trying to be here? Of course I know you don’t mean every individual–you don’t include yourself for example. But by talking about “people” you seem to be trying to say something about the standard, the norm, what is typical, for at least a generation of people if not more. But nothing you’ve said would support any claims about any group so wide. Is that not how wide the group is? Then how wide is it? Just exactly and only those who use cell phones at the Olympics? You _still_ haven’t supported your point, because as I said, the fact that someone is using a phone to view an event at the Olympics has _shit all_ to do with the question of whether they can have unfiltered experience. It has shit all to do with the question of whether they’re having unfiltered experience _even while using that phone in the manner you describe_. Yeah, I guess “offended” is apt here–though I in fact don’t use phones in the manner you’re talking about, so “offended on their behalf” is the way to put it. You’re making huge and significant judgments on the value of people’s experience based, AFAICT, on complete ignorance about what they’re doing. You’re _old_, aren’t you? I keep finding myself having a complete and unfortunate lack of respect for the judgments of elders, and you’re sounding like _one of them_. I guess I get this way around the holidays… for reasons that may be guessed at… > [@](#): > > Let me rephrase: > > I concur with **Boyo Jim’s** comments regarding peoples’ inability to experience the world around them without the aid of electronic devices and this opinion was greatly strengthened by my observation of a great( though admittedly unspecific) amount of the participants in the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics engaging the use of said devices as they traversed the stadium. I have no way of knowing the duration of the use of said devices as I was not present and could only form my opinions based on what I saw on my TV. It was obvious to me that the purpose of this behavior was to produce pictures and videos. > > To sum up: I found it weird and more than a little inappropriate. I cannot fathom this. You’re just… wrong. I know you probably think it’s a matter of opinion what’s “weird” and “inappropriate” but it’s not. It’s not a matter of opinion whether it would have been inappropriate for someone to streak my wedding, and it’s not a matter of opinion whether it’s inappropriate to record events at the Olympics from the stands. Streaking at my wedding would have been objectively inappropriate. Recording the olympics, objectively, is not. Someone who streaked at my wedding would have been making a mistake and would have deserved correction. Someone who judges Olympics recorders is making a mistake and deserves correction. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/212 "2012-12-28T13:59:33Z")
Frylock, people who are old use camera phones, too. The people who stumble around reading and texting in crowds are oblivious to those they are bumping into and oblivious to the people who are trying to pass them in the sidewalk and in the aisles. Walking into parked cars, bumping older people, mowing down little kids. Cell phone texters and social media addicts will park just about anywhere in public spaces to read and respond, unaware and unconcerned with blocking doorways, paths, and items other shoppers are attempting to reach. Someone who whips out a cell to take a picture steps back to set up a shot (of toothpaste, of a car, of any number of mundane objects) and expects busy strangers to wait or go around. Sitting five rows back at a concert I’m treated to fifteen or so extended arms, constant flashes, and no choice but to watch the band through fifteen tiny viewfinders. Paying more attention to pocket technology turns people into incredibly rude and inconsiderate zombies. I don’t know if their experience is lessened by recording it, but my experience surely suffers. Is there a solution? Nope. This is where we are right now. But it’s rude, it’s distracting, and it’s a nuisance to those around you. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/213 "2012-12-28T14:57:36Z")
Why is the cell phone user the zombie for not getting out of your way? Instead, why aren’t you the zombie for not noticing them and going around them? You say they’re not noticing the people around them and adjusting accordingly. Yet, it takes two to have a collision. You see a cell phone raising, you steer clear. How is that hard? You would demand that they not raise a cell phone? Then they demand you steer clear. Who is right? I literally _never_ have the navigational problems some people describe in dealing with those using cell phones. If you find yourself having these run-ins alot, perhaps it would be good to remember the adage about what the common factor is in all the problems an individual keeps having… ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/214 "2012-12-28T15:09:56Z")
So in your world it’s acceptable to block doorways, clog up aisles, back into strangers, walk in an unpredictable zigzag fashion making it difficult to pass your text-crawling pace, prevent others from reaching objects you’ve parked yourself in front of, yell personal, private information to everyone forced to overhear your conversations, force cashiers to repeat totals and questions to you, hold up the line while you juggle a conversation, cell phone, and your wallet, interrupt movies with bright screens and ringtones, and generally operate as if you are the only person in the store/at the show/in line? At best, it’s selfish and impolite. At worst it’s antisocial and dangerous. Doubt me? Check out some insurance statistics. Some people are capable of being considerate while obsessing over a cell phone in public spaces. Most aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/215 "2012-12-28T15:24:54Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > So in your world it’s acceptable to block doorways, clog up aisles, back into strangers, walk in an unpredictable zigzag fashion making it difficult to pass your text-crawling pace, prevent others from reaching objects you’ve parked yourself in front of, yell personal, private information to everyone forced to overhear your conversations, force cashiers to repeat totals and questions to you, hold up the line while you juggle a conversation, cell phone, and your wallet, interrupt movies with bright screens and ringtones, and generally operate as if you are the only person in the store/at the show/in line? At best, it’s selfish and impolite. At worst it’s antisocial and dangerous. Doubt me? Check out some insurance statistics. Some people are capable of being considerate while obsessing over a cell phone in public spaces. Most aren’t. No, those things don’t sound okay to me in my world. I am simply not convinced cell phones are the problem. People are inconsiderate with or without them. I don’t know what you’re saying about insurance statistics. And all of this has little to do with whether it’s “weird and inappropriate” to record the Olympics from the stands. And again I don’t have encounters of the type you’re describing. What difference between you and I can account for this? ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/216 "2012-12-28T15:31:30Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > And all of this has little to do with whether it’s “weird and inappropriate” to record the Olympics from the stands. And again I don’t have encounters of the type you’re describing. What difference between you and I can account for this? You are oblivious to the people around you because you spend all your time staring at your phone. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/217 "2012-12-28T15:34:18Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > You are oblivious to the people around you because you spend all your time staring at your phone. My phone doesn’t have a camera. I already alluded to this above. I basivcally never use it. It’s for emergency communication. When I do text, I try to be either sitting, or against a wall out of the way, or in a wide open space. You are presumptuous. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/218 "2012-12-28T15:42:07Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > My phone doesn’t have a camera. I already alluded to this above. > > I basivcally never use it. It’s for emergency communication. When I do text, I try to be either sitting, or against a wall out of the way, or in a wide open space. > > You are presumptuous. Working with what you gave me. Public spaces are for the _public_ to share and utilize. Distracted people staggering about, bumping into things, stopping abrubtly in the the middle of a crowd, obstructing others’ view with extended arms, camera flash, and brightly lit screens are rude, inconsiderate, and antisocial. We have no choice but to learn to live with this behavior and learn to navigate around it, but it doesn’t make it any less of a pisser. Doesn’t matter how you choose to use your phone in your own space. Video the television you are watching (happens all the time, check YouTube). Run up and down your driveway while texting (but don’t drift into my lane). Photograph your grilled cheese and post on FB (don’t photograph your popcorn in the dark theater). It really isn’t that hard to run errands or enjoy a movie without the cell phone tit held to your face. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/219 "2012-12-28T15:45:00Z")
Sorry for hijacking your commercial thread, **WOOKINPANUB.** Hey, **Frylock** , if you are still pissed at me, Pit me. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983/220 "2012-12-28T15:50:19Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Working with what you gave me. That’s not correct. > [@](#): > > Public spaces are for the _public_ to share and utilize. Distracted people staggering about, bumping into things, stopping abrubtly in the the middle of a crowd, obstructing others’ view with extended arms, camera flash, and brightly lit screens are rude, inconsiderate, and antisocial. And has always happened, even in the absence of cell phones. People in grocery stores, for example, ofteen seem incapable of knowing that they are blocking an aisle. Cell phones need not be present for this. (Indeed I don’t remember even a single phone-related instance, though I remember many instances.) Say “excuse me,” or wait patiently and think about something interesting. These are my responses, and they seem to work for me. (BTW why would you find it noteworthy that one record what one is watching for youtube? It seems reasonable to me.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-were-they-thinking-commercial-thread/643983.md?page=12)