# But the "no cell phone" rules don't apply to me. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 30, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588 "2017-01-30T14:42:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/41 "2017-01-31T14:31:46Z")
Those of us with grey hair tend to raise our voices on our cell phones because… there are no wires! Did anyone think this through? If there are no wires, how do the voices jump to my grandkids’ phones? They’re miles away. I’d better shout so the electrons can make it up to a satellite and back again… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/42 "2017-01-31T15:12:35Z")
The law says “no cell phone use while driving” yet people think nothing of distracting the bus driver by screaming into the device! When one such person was getting plain nasty and using extremely foul language, the driver pulled the bus over and told her to shut up or get off. When she refused, he threatened to call the police, so she hung up. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/43 "2017-01-31T15:21:15Z")
I saved money by replacing my cell phone with a shoehorn. My lungs used to be strong enough that the range of my shoehorn phone was nearly 200 ft., but that was before some jerk standing next to me decided to light up his cigarettes in the bus stop enclosure. Now I can’t even answer my calls without coughing up a lung. Jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/44 "2017-01-31T16:17:39Z")
> [@DoggyDunnit](#): > > May your selfish butt lose and get a good education from the judge on how civilized society works, including why it’s not okay to assault others with hazardous output. The penalty is a fine which would cost me less than one hour of my lawyer’s time, so I think you will probably be disappointed. > [@The\_Vorlon](#): > > **Crazy Canuck** , you can go for your slow motion suicide all you want, after you climb into a air tight bag. I’ll even zip you up. Keep your Haz-Mat to your self. Reported for wishing death on a poster, thanks for keeping it classy. > [@bobkitty](#): > > You’re not threatening physical harm; you’re causing actual physical harm. Unless you know the health history of everyone in your immediate vicinity, including who they’re going home to with your cigarette smell clinging to their clothes and hair, you have no way of knowing whether or not you’re in the clear to practice your civil disobedience stupidity and only negatively impact yourself. We obviously disagree on the standard of causing physical harm, and I doubt anything we say to each other will change the other’s mind. This sure didn’t change mine, though it did make me giggle a bit. > [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > You responded to **Amateur Barbarian’s** remark (obvious hyperbole) by calling him an internet tough guy yet your whole stance is that the rules don’t apply to you. You “won’t compromise or attempt to appease the non-smokers” and you’ll smoke wherever you want. Er, no you won’t. Actually, I will. Right now I’m smoking illegally, according to the local worker’s comp board. I swear it makes them taste better. Also, I am an Anarchist, and I firmly believe the rules only apply to me to the extent and likelihood that I can be punished for breaking them. This is not an internet image thing, this is my driving political philosophy. > [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > You won’t win the battle; you’ll just look like a jerk for trying. A fact of which I am well aware. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/45 "2017-01-31T17:31:18Z")
> [@The\_Vorlon](#): > > **Crazy Canuck** , you can go for your slow motion suicide all you want, after you climb into a air tight bag. I’ll even zip you up. Keep your Haz-Mat to your self. > > I’m watching my two year younger cousin die semi-slowly of two stage 4 cancers. You will get no sympathy from me when that atom of Potassium 40 splits and cleaves some of your DNA in a Darwinian way. [Moderating] **The Vorlon** , this post violates the board rules about wishing death on another poster. Please avoid using language like this again. No warning issued. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/46 "2017-01-31T20:08:32Z")
> [@DoggyDunnit](#): > > Sorry (not), but times have changed since the days that the news anchors on the teevee box would deliver the evening’s headlines with a lit cigar on the desk. Most of American, Canadian, **European,** and Oceanian society has, thankfully and rightfully, moved on from the leisurely consumption and spread of hazardous gases and solids, and have decided to use the force of law to forbid the assault of non-consenting noses and mouths with such. > > It’s a public health issue. Get with the program and govern yourself accordingly. Bolding mine. I don’t think we go to the same places in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/47 "2017-01-31T20:24:49Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > If there is a convenient place where smoking is allowed The management of the venue decides what is sufficiently “convenient”. You have no voice in the matter, other than by absenting yourself. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/48 "2017-01-31T20:26:31Z")
> [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](#): > > I saved money by replacing my cell phone with a shoehorn. My lungs used to be strong enough that the range of my shoehorn phone was nearly 200 ft., but that was before some jerk standing next to me decided to light up his cigarettes in the bus stop enclosure. Now I can’t even answer my calls without coughing up a lung. > > Jerk. How about a [shoe phone](http://img2-2.timeinc.net/people/i/2005/news/051010/dadams2.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/49 "2017-01-31T20:50:33Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > The management of the venue decides what is sufficiently “convenient”. You have no voice in the matter, other than by absenting yourself. Horseshit. I can still choose to light up in that venue. If I do so, I will certainly be asked to leave, I will probably be banned from that venue in the future, and I could even get arrested if I was obnoxious enough about it. None of that changes the fact that I I still have the choice to comply or not, informed by the knowledge there are consequences if I defy social expectations or break local laws. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/50 "2017-01-31T20:55:44Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > Horseshit. I can still choose to light up in that venue. If I do so, I will certainly be asked to leave, I will probably be banned from that venue in the future, and I could even get arrested if I was obnoxious enough about it. None of that changes the fact that I I still have the choice to comply or not, informed by the knowledge there are consequences if I defy social expectations or break local laws. Then what’s the point? And I’m asking this with a minimum of snark and a maximum of sincere interest. Maybe this particular law isn’t stringently enforced where you are (?) I know here, the anti smoking brigade (manager, security guard, actual cop, whatever) would be on your ass in an instant. It hardly seems worth all the fuss to get literally one drag off a cigarette. Or is it strictly just to make a point? ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/51 "2017-01-31T21:53:45Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Then what’s the point? And I’m asking this with a minimum of snark and a maximum of sincere interest. Maybe this particular law isn’t stringently enforced where you are (?) I know here, the anti smoking brigade (manager, security guard, actual cop, whatever) would be on your ass in an instant. It hardly seems worth all the fuss to get literally one drag off a cigarette. Or is it strictly just to make a point? Fair enough. It’s a bit of column A (I’m in a rural part of northern Canada) and a bit of column B. The best way I can state it is comparing it to baby elephants. The old chestnut (I’m only using it for figurative truth, not literal truth) is that when elephants are babies, they are tied to trees with strong ropes. They try and escape, but they can’t. The ropes are too strong, the tree is too strong. They are trapped. As time goes on, they stop fighting and get used to it. As soon as someone puts a rope over their head, they know it’s futile, so they accept it and stop fighting. Now go forward many years. These elephants are now tied by a thin rope to a plastic chair. They could easily break free if they wanted to, but they don’t. They can’t. They are trapped completely by their own minds. Mental chains are stronger than steel. Anyhow, at some point my life took a weird turn. In circumstances that almost broke me, I ended up breaking the rope that I thought was unbreakable. And now I realize I could have been free the entire time, but I was a prisoner in my own mind. Society couldn’t chain me, but it sure could make me chain myself. So now when anyone tries to put a rope over my head, I fight and kick. Even when it’s over something stupid like smoking. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/52 "2017-01-31T21:55:46Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > So now when anyone tries to put a rope over my head, I fight and kick. Even when it’s over something stupid like smoking. But what if smoking _is_ the rope over your head? ---
**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:** [January 31, 2017, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/53 "2017-01-31T23:45:22Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > Fair enough. It’s a bit of column A (I’m in a rural part of northern Canada) and a bit of column B. > > The best way I can state it is comparing it to baby elephants. The old chestnut (I’m only using it for figurative truth, not literal truth) is that when elephants are babies, they are tied to trees with strong ropes. They try and escape, but they can’t. The ropes are too strong, the tree is too strong. They are trapped. As time goes on, they stop fighting and get used to it. As soon as someone puts a rope over their head, they know it’s futile, so they accept it and stop fighting. > > Now go forward many years. These elephants are now tied by a thin rope to a plastic chair. They could easily break free if they wanted to, but they don’t. They can’t. They are trapped completely by their own minds. Mental chains are stronger than steel. > > Anyhow, at some point my life took a weird turn. In circumstances that almost broke me, I ended up breaking the rope that I thought was unbreakable. And now I realize I could have been free the entire time, but I was a prisoner in my own mind. Society couldn’t chain me, but it sure could make me chain myself. > > So now when anyone tries to put a rope over my head, I fight and kick. Even when it’s over something stupid like smoking. I appreciate the explanation (ya crazy bastid 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/54 "2017-02-01T00:41:13Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > Everybody has to have their cell phone everywhere, now. You see people that can’t even do things without looking at their cell phone, like walking. When I tell people that I leave mine off unless I want to call out, they look at me like I’m some sort of maniac or war criminal. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/55 "2017-02-01T02:24:33Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > Now go forward many years. These elephants are now tied by a thin rope to a plastic chair. They could easily break free if they wanted to, but they don’t. They can’t. They are trapped completely by their own minds. Mental chains are stronger than steel. > > Anyhow, at some point my life took a weird turn. In circumstances that almost broke me, I ended up breaking the rope that I thought was unbreakable. And now I realize I could have been free the entire time, but I was a prisoner in my own mind. Society couldn’t chain me, but it sure could make me chain myself. > > So now when anyone tries to put a rope over my head, I fight and kick. Even when it’s over something stupid like smoking. I grew up in an extremely abusive home and have fought against invisible chains my whole live so I can relate. I’ve got PTSD and get anxiety attacks at various invisible chains. However, if you instinctively “fight and kick” against any restriction, have you really gained anything in life? Doesn’t this still make you a mental prisoner, only in role of fighting rather than complying? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/56 "2017-02-01T03:37:31Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > But . . . I’m _not_ smoking, I’m _vaping_. > > 😉 “I don’t care if you _Burn_…” - Ralph Kramden, 1956 ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/57 "2017-02-01T17:15:00Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > But what if smoking _is_ the rope over your head? In a way it is, but it is one I put there myself, and one that I get both enjoyment and satisfaction from. > [@TokyoBayer](#): > > However, if you instinctively “fight and kick” against any restriction, have you really gained anything in life? Doesn’t this still make you a mental prisoner, only in role of fighting rather than complying? Sometimes when I fight I win. I know I won’t win about smoking, but in other areas of my life it has worked wonders. If I comply, I’ve already lost. Also, because of my attitude, I’m always free in my own head. Even when I don’t fight the restriction, sometimes it’s enough to know that I can but I choose not to do so. ---
**Author:** ![DoggyDunnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@DoggyDunnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoggyDunnit)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/58 "2017-02-01T19:50:06Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > The penalty is a fine which would cost me less than one hour of my lawyer’s time, so I think you will probably be disappointed. > > \ > > Actually, I will. Right now I’m smoking illegally, according to the local worker’s comp board. I swear it makes them taste better. > > Also, **I am an Anarchist** , and I firmly believe the rules only apply to me to the extent and likelihood that I can be punished for breaking them. This is not an internet image thing, this is my driving political philosophy. Bolding mine. That definitely explains your entitled, selfish attitude, and failure to see/hostility towards reason. Selfishness and a disdain for the concepts of civilization and community are hallmarks of all forms of libertarianism, with anarchism being the worst of the lot. Political philosophy for “rebels without a cause” who think having three hairs under each armpit makes them men. 😛 You’ve got a lot of adult principles to get in tune with, and may that happen soon. > [@August\_West](#): > > Bolding mine. > > I don’t think we go to the same places in Europe. Was mainly thinking of Western, Central, and Northern Europe when I posted. ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/59 "2017-02-01T21:40:40Z")
> [@DoggyDunnit](#): > > That definitely explains your entitled, selfish attitude, and failure to see/hostility towards reason. I’ll own the first two descriptions. I’ll argue the third, as I am perfectly capable of seeing reason. We just disagree on what seeing reason means. > [@DoggyDunnit](#): > > You’ve got a lot of adult principles to get in tune with, and may that happen soon. This sounds like a lot like the phrase “man up,” where someone uses it to shame you right before they tell you to do something against your own best interest. I’ll decline. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588/60 "2017-02-01T22:05:36Z")
I’m sorry, but I was on talking my Bluetooth. Would you folks kindly repeat the first 59 posts? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-the-no-cell-phone-rules-dont-apply-to-me/778588.md?page=4)