# armed and ready for action **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 18, 2000, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020 "2000-07-18T20:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/21 "2000-07-19T12:44:38Z")
Marcie has a long commute, to and from work. She carries a cell phone for emergency use. It is kept switched off unless or until it is needed. I often see people using cell phones in grocery stores. Often enough they are holding some item in one hand and the cell phone in the other. One presumes they are discussing the merits of the item with someone else. It baffles me. If a person cannot take a decision concerning a canned goods item without a consultation with another person, God (Goddess/IPU/Architect of the Universe)help them. Maybe the other party is in another grocery store and they are comparing prices? Wouldn’t the cost of the call more than negate any conceivable price difference between items in two separate stores? Maybe the item is something they dearly would love to have but lack permission to buy? Maybe they are wheedling someone for permission to make the purchase? If the person needing the consultation is driving, how the hell will he/she/it get home? Will the party on the other end of the call give directions? How do such people dress themselves? Short of a life-threatening situation, what can possibly be of such importance as to merit a phone call while grocery shopping? But I am easily baffled and no doubt it will all be made clear to me someday. Someone will provide me with a clear and logical explanation of how and why a cell phone has become a necessity of life. Maybe not, though, because I do not own a cell phone or a pager so the person with the explanation will be unable to contact me. ---
**Author:** ![ponch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@ponch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ponch)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/22 "2000-07-19T12:46:06Z")
I have a cell phone…it’s always off. I keep it on during the day, clients have to reach me, it came with a handy clip for my belt, it stays in my bag or in my pocket. It’s the size of a thimball, I don’t need the world to see how important I am by clipping it to my belt. It rings while I’m driving I won’t pick up, I get where I’m going, I park, check my voice mail, my call log…then I call folks back. Weekends, after 6:00, the thing goes off, you need to talk to me, meet me at a bar, or I’ll call you. glock? mmmhhh, ok, yeah man, looks great, you the man, no plroblem…never seen anybody that looks cooler, 'K? ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/23 "2000-07-19T21:02:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DarkHeart \* > \*\* As far as driving and talking I will admit that it can be dangerous, but it has to be done sometimes. As far as being safe and pulling over, It can be more dangerous to try to get over to someplace safe. Besides some of us know how to drive or in todays world Multitask. \*\* Well, sure, it’s hard to endorse the practice of doing a wild three-lane sweep and then screeching to a stop on the gravel-strewn shoulder so you can answer the ringing car phone and chat while people whizz by just inches from your parked car at 70 mph. What you do is answer the phone. Tell them you aren’t able to talk right now, and request that you call them back. End the phone call. Then you _safely_ find a place to stop and return the call. I suppose there are some people who are better at this than others, but most of the research I’ve seen suggests you’re a better driver when you’re NOT talking on the phone. And that’s still true if you use a hands-free headset or speaker or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/24 "2000-07-19T23:44:26Z")
I can definately understand everyone’s gripe- especially those freaks who wear their phones on their belts. What’s up with that? Fucking geeks! However, I do not see how there is much difference between driving and talking on a hands-free kit at the same time, and drivng while talking to your passengers is any different as far as safety goes. Why would one be less safe then the other? The “experts” are now telling people that it is the talking that is unsafe, not the holding a phone in one hand while driving. I cannot understand this. Why is talking with a handsfree kit more dangerous then talking with the person in the seat next to you? BTW, I have a cell. I never use my house phone. In fact, I only have a house phone because my roomates need it. I did not know my house phone number for like three months. Whenever anyone wants to call me, they call my cell. It is not uncommon for me to be talking on my cell phone in my own house. That is my phone, and I do not see a problem with it. I do not try to look cool with it or talk during movies. I keep my phone in my pocket and it is always set to vibrate in movies. I do not anser it though. I let the voice mail pick up. I do not turn the phone off, though, because a lot of people do not leave messages. At least I can know who called me by looking at the caller ID. Anyway, just thought I’d share with all you fine people. Not everyone with a cell phone is an attention craving tech-Nazi. -Bear ---
**Author:** ![Warlord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ac91a4/32.png) [@Warlord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Warlord)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/25 "2000-07-19T23:53:38Z")
I would just like to quote my favorite bumper sticker. “So would you drive any better with that phone shoved up your ass?” ---
**Author:** ![Tracie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@Tracie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracie)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/26 "2000-07-20T00:40:52Z")
> [@](#): > > This guy I know - a friend of a friend - walks around with a cellphone, a beeper, a fancy knife-pliers thing, a sunglass case and a Baretta 92, all clipped to his belt. What the heck is a **Baretta 92**? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/27 "2000-07-20T01:07:48Z")
Tracie, it is a handgun. Same with the Glock 30 and all the other references people made. ---
**Author:** ![Tracie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@Tracie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracie)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/28 "2000-07-20T03:20:23Z")
Thanks, Bear\_Nenno… I’m not gun saavy 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/29 "2000-07-20T04:49:33Z")
\ Okay, first of all, it’s Beretta. And there is no model 92. There is 92 _series_, which inclludes such models as the 92 D, the 92 Compact L, the 92 compact L type, and the 92 FS. [Cite to back me up.](http://www.beretta.com/pistole/series92.htm) There are apparently a lot of folks who aren’t gun savvy. But that’s okay. There **is** however a Glock 30. It’s a Subcompact, .45 caliber handgun ideal for civilian concealed carry. If I got my girlfriend a gun, that’s what I would get her. My personal favorite, the H&K USP .45, is in my opinion the best overall handgun in the world. \ ---
**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/30 "2000-07-20T05:12:08Z")
Okay, for whatever reason, the coding got all hosed… What I meant was this: First of all, it’s Beretta. And second of all, there is no model 92. There is a 92 Series. It includes models like the 92 FS, the 92 Compact L, and the 92 D, among others. Then the link for the cite to back this up. It got all messed up, I don’t know how. I checked it like 3 times. _sigh_ Sorry for any confusion. ~Santi ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/31 "2000-07-20T05:21:43Z")
The other day a guy had the nerve to punch his fucking horn after he almost ran into me because he was talking on his cell phone. He deserved a good ass kicking. A leatherman is a cool tool. If you carry more than one I think you might be a bit of a dick but mine is one of those things I don’t leave the house without. It’s on my belt because I can’t stand having too many things in my pockets. ---
**Author:** ![cool\_chic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@cool\_chic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cool_chic)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/32 "2000-07-20T06:24:58Z")
Would have to agree with the annoying ringing of a cell phone during the movies, or in the restaurant, ect. I pay $30/month for cell service - it sits in my purse, turned off ALL the time, used only for emergencies. Since I travel quite a bit it is reassuring that in this day and age I can get help without having to open my car door. As sad as it sounds. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/33 "2000-07-20T06:30:50Z")
To you people who carry phones just for emergencies: There is no reason to pay a monthly fee. Just buy a cell phone. You do not need to pay for service. 911 is always free no matter what!! Also, when you need to call a tow truck or relative or something, just dial the number, a recording will come on asking for a credit card number. The call may cost like 10 bucks or some ridiculous amount, but it will not cost you as much as 30 dollars a month. This option works well for people who never use their phones anyway. ---
**Author:** ![cool\_chic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@cool\_chic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cool_chic)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/34 "2000-07-20T06:36:46Z")
Thankyou Bear\_Neeno, I wasn’t aware of that…Was also thinking of changing to the “pay as you go”…just waiting to get out of a contract! ---
**Author:** ![Tracie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@Tracie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracie)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/35 "2000-07-20T16:21:01Z")
Thank you for the lesson in guns, Lexicon! 🙂 ~Tracie ---
**Author:** ![RussellM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed8c4c/32.png) [@RussellM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RussellM)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/36 "2000-07-20T16:32:38Z")
**Bear\_Nenno** > [@](#): > > However, I do not see how there is much difference between driving and talking on a hands-free kit at the same time, and drivng while talking to your passengers is any different as far as safety goes. Why would one be less safe then the other? Have you **ever** seen someone driving hunched up holding the phone with their shoulder, wandering all over the road, and thought ‘That looks stupid’ or ‘That looks dangerous’? I bet you have. If you don’t answer your phone in movies, why don’t you just switch it off? Do you like feeling it vibrate? Do you need to know immediately if someone has left you a message? Russell ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/37 "2000-07-20T18:46:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bear\_Nenno \* > \*\*To you people who carry phones just for emergencies: > > There is no reason to pay a monthly fee. Just buy a cell phone. You do not need to pay for service. 911 is always free no matter what!! Also, when you need to call a tow truck or relative or something, just dial the number, a recording will come on asking for a credit card number. The call may cost like 10 bucks or some ridiculous amount, but it will not cost you as much as 30 dollars a month. This option works well for people who never use their phones anyway. \*\* Thanks, I didn’t know this. Good info. ---
**Author:** ![ponch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@ponch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ponch)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/38 "2000-07-20T19:28:02Z")
my bosses must be lurking about, but in a ironic twist of fate I was given the only item more annoying than a cell phone…a cell phone witht he two way radio. it even comes with this handy belt clip. Now most of my co-workers are walking around with little phones clipped to their belts. I accepted the item, the whole team gets 'em. Now we can all talk to each other, no matter where we are out in the filed…but… after not taking it with me to lunch one day, I was told to make sure to always keep it with me during the work day. They tried and tried to reach me for a meeting, and just couldn’t find me. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/39 "2000-07-21T00:00:16Z")
RussellM, I will answer your questions and I will try to talk slowly since you missed a few points last time… > [@](#): > > Have you ever seen someone driving hunched up holding the phone with their shoulder, wandering all over the road, and thought ‘That looks stupid’ or ‘That looks dangerous’? I bet you have. Hell yeah I have!!! Fucking morons!!! They need to go out and buy a decent **hands-free** kit LIKE ME! What I said was that I do not see the difference between talking to a passenger and talking on a **hands-free** kit. That is the thing I use in my car so that I do not have to hunch over with the phone in my ear. I always have two hands on my steering wheel, unless I am shifting at the time, and I am always watching the road. That is what those kits are for. I have a tiny microphone on my sunvisor and a loud speaker near my middle consoul. How is sitting up straight, watching the road and talking into the air, any different then talking to a passenger. I think it is safer, since I sometimes look over at the passenger when I am talking to him or her. There is no one to look at when I am on a cell phone. And for those who would like to jump in with “you have to look down to answer your phone”, I say, fuck you guys!!! get some technology!!! My phone automatically answers itself at three rings. I hear it ring, I turn down the radio and say, “Hello” > [@](#): > > If you don’t answer your phone in movies, why don’t you just switch it off? Do you like feeling it vibrate? Do you need to know immediately if someone has left you a message Like I said before… I leave it on because the caller ID will not work if the phone is off. Since 50% of the people who call do not leave a message, I want to see who called me. I could just turn the ringer off AND not have it vibrate, but that takes an extra step and the vibration isnt going to bother anyone. Satisfied? ---
**Author:** ![tubagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@tubagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tubagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020/40 "2000-07-21T01:01:03Z")
I have to admit I am a tech junkie. BUT NOT BY CHOICE! I have a palm VII in my purse at all times because it is in “some relation to my job” (mystery) I have a cell phone because I am virtually never home. I work weird hours and am unreachable otherwise. I have a beeper because I don’t ahve a direct inbound phone line at work. I need to get in contact with my fiance when he is getting out of class and such. I just called him on his cell to pick me up dinner. Now the tricky part is chwecking my email on my palm, while smoking a cigerette, while talking to my mom on the cell. I’m not allowed to use the electronics in the car anymore, says my fiance. Don’t yell to loud:) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armed-and-ready-for-action/26020.md?page=3)