# "HI--I'M ON THE TRAIN. NOTHIN' WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 5, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902 "2003-06-05T19:03:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/61 "2003-06-06T19:57:46Z")
This thread reminds me of the “Can you hear me now? Good.” guy on Verizon commercials. Now, _that’s_ annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/62 "2003-06-06T20:07:01Z")
It’s called a “joke,” **quietman1920**. But since you’re not **loudnoisyannoyingman1920** , I’ll let it go . . . ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/63 "2003-06-06T20:07:31Z")
I’m all about the text messages- I speak on my cell phone as little as possible, as I always have trouble hearing on it and figure I must be shouting. If Allan and I need to talk about dinner options, we send a few text messages (my phone just does a quick vibrate when I get one- no sound) and we’re all set. I can understand being bored on the bus or whatever, but damn- think about your fellow passengers? And is this a good place to bring up my “can we please ban all talking on airplanes” rant? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/64 "2003-06-06T20:43:14Z")
You have never been on a busier subway then downtown Tokyo in rush hour. You’ve also never been on a quieter one. You could hear a pin drop. Nobody talks, everyone’s quiet and polite. And cell phones are prohibited–a rule I never saw violated, even amongst kids. Amazing (and enviable). ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/65 "2003-06-06T23:47:35Z")
Friend of mine (a former 4th-grade teacher) will go up to the miscreant and scold them! “That’s very inappropriate! Do you know everyone else on this train just heard everything you said?” It takes them quite by surprise, and since she is a petite little lady, nobody punches her out. After doing this for some weeks, she noticed that whichever car she is in stays very quiet. She even noticed people about to enter the car telling each other not to go in there because of that strange person who won’t let you talk on the cell phone! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/66 "2003-06-07T00:32:09Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Kn_ckers \* > \*\*This thread reminds me of the “Can you hear me now? Good.” guy on Verizon commercials. > > Now, _that’s_ annoying. \*\* Is it antisocial to fantasize about running over that guy in a Zamboni, or impaling him a large whaling harpoon, and leaving a sign taped to the body that says “Can you hear me now?” ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/67 "2003-06-07T00:52:53Z")
All of these stories just reminded me of when I went to see _The Vagina Monolouges_ a few months back. Right in the middle of this actresses monolouge, someone’s phone went off. The whole audience groaned and she actually _stopped_ her monolouge and said it a sticky sweet voice, “I’ll wait” with a huge smile on her face. The audience roared and the culprit quickely shut off their phone. It was a thing of beauty. And that actress rocked. ---
**Author:** ![karomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/68 "2003-06-07T01:31:57Z")
I once sat next to a hoity-toity lady on the bus. As soon as I sat down, she whipped out her cell phone, ducked towards the wall, cupped her hand around her mouth, and proceeded to talk. It looked kind of suspicious, but I couldn’t hear a thing. So that’s what I do now. Although I get weird looks, at least I’m not being loud. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/69 "2003-06-07T04:34:21Z")
These people make me stoop to what I would have thought of as “passive-aggressive” behaviour – at least until Cecil redefined it for me. Anyway, my technique is to fake an incoming call. Cheesy, I know, but it’s all for a good cause: > [@](#): > > \*\*HELLO? > > OH, HI BOB. > > LISTEN, I’M ON PUBLIC TRANSIT RIGHT NOW-- I’LL CALL YOU BACK. > > IT’LL BE FIFTEEN MINUTES, TOPS. > > NO, SERIOUSLY, I DON’T WANT TO BE ANOTHER CLUELESS ASSHOLE IMPOSING A LOUD, TRIVIAL CONVERSATION ON THE PEOPLE THAT I’M SHARING AN ENCLOSED SPACE WITH. > > OKAY, FIFTEEN MINUTES, THEN.\*\* There has occasionally been some laughter after the penultimate line, but the offender has quieted down _every_ time. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/70 "2003-06-07T06:26:22Z")
IMHO, people start talking louder on the cell phone because they wish to demonstarte conspicuos status. In other words, look at me, I am important enough to have a cell phone AND someone thinks I am important enough to call me on it. I’ll never forget the girl in my class (college) who, while I was lecturing, got a cell phone call. Instead of the usual, “sorry” and a quick turn-off, or a nice jump up and get out of the room quick (I realize you may be waiting for an important call), she answers it and it goes something like this. “Hello?” “HEYYYY what’s up girl?” “Uh huh” “uh Huh” “Yeah I was like…” “Im in class” (By now I am staring at her) “Uh huh” “Yeah like I said the same thing” Me: Excuse me, but do you mind, we are in class (nasty look from girl) continuing on phone “yeah, uh huh.” Me: PLease stop talking on you cell phone Girl: “Hold On”… to me “What” Me: If you want to talk on the phone get out of my class. Girl: Hrmmphh, pout, bitchy little look “I gotta go”. end phone call, to me " that was important". Me: No, it was rude and if you want to persist in that manner you can just get out of my class. Girl: Hrummph, Storm out of class. Never saw her again. That was a best recollection by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/71 "2003-06-07T06:27:48Z")
That last post was by Mr. lissa, not Lissa. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/72 "2003-06-07T07:04:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > And, **Cicada2003** , as I said in my OP, no one objects to people having conversations in a normal tone of voice. This is about the all-too-prevalent _screamers._ Actually some people do object to that, and with some justification: it seems that noise intrudes more and more on the small parts of the day when one could enjoy some “quiet” time. 20 years ago when you took public transportation, people sitting by themselves would (mostly) be doing so quietly. Now a number of them will be having conversations on their cellular phones. The noise level of your commute has increased, and that will annoy some people. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/73 "2003-06-07T07:05:42Z")
Lissa, in case you missed my post in the other thread: Please tell your husband to get his own screen name. ---
**Author:** ![Sapphire\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sapphire\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapphire_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/74 "2003-06-07T07:57:24Z")
Hee hee. The funniest thing I ever saw in regards to cell phone usage and public performances. I was at the Arizona Renaissance Festival, at the “Don Juan and Miguel Show” once (actually, I go every chance I get!) The actors had just started their show. A woman’s phone rang. She answered. Miguel jumped off the stage, ran right up to her, and took the cell phone. Now, mind you, he’s wearing a microphone so the whole audience (and even some passerby) can hear him. “Hello?” “I’m Miguel. Who are you?” “Oh, you’re Robert? Is it okay if I call you Roberto?” “Thanks! Who are you calling for?” “Tina? She’s a very lovely lady.” “Oh, yes, she’s very hot.” At this point, Don Juan takes the phone from him. “Hello, Roberto?” “This is…Don Juan.” “Yes, Tina is your…ladylove?” “She is very beautiful. She is going to have dinner with me tonight.” “Yes, she is at the Renaissance Festival right now.” “I’m Don Juan.” “That was Miguel you spoke to.” “Yes, she’s having dinner with me tonight. Do you want to join us? I’m sure Miguel is free.” After about ten minutes of just embarrassing the poor woman, they gave the phone back to her, and she ran about four stalls down to talk to her boyfriend. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/75 "2003-06-07T15:40:55Z")
Hee. That was a great story **SapphireWolf**. I don’t understand obessive cell phone users. I hate talking on my cell phone in public and only do it when there’s literally, an emergency. I’m a very private person and hate the idea of strangers listening in on my phone calls. I also hate drawing attention to myself. If my phone rings when I just entered a buildng I’ll walk back out and down a ways before talking. If i’m in the middle of the store, train or whatever, I’ll look at who’s calling and call them back when I’m out or off. It’s not that hard. And let me second the piece of advice to **Lissa’s** husband. Get your own screenname. If you’re entirely attached to the name **Lissa** , just create one as **Mr. Lissa** or something. It gets really confusing (especially in the nurse uniforn thread) and kind of annoying, considering it can be so easily fixed. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/76 "2003-06-07T16:19:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lezlers \* > \*\*Hee. That was a great story **SapphireWolf**. > > I don’t understand obessive cell phone users. I hate talking on my cell phone in public and only do it when there’s literally, an emergency. I’m a very private person and hate the idea of strangers listening in on my phone calls. I also hate drawing attention to myself. If my phone rings when I just entered a buildng I’ll walk back out and down a ways before talking. If i’m in the middle of the store, train or whatever, I’ll look at who’s calling and call them back when I’m out or off. It’s not that hard. > > And let me second the piece of advice to **Lissa’s** husband. Get your own screenname. If you’re entirely attached to the name **Lissa** , just create one as **Mr. Lissa** or something. It gets really confusing (especially in the nurse uniforn thread) and kind of annoying, considering it can be so easily fixed. \*\* He’s stopped posting. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/77 "2003-06-07T16:23:44Z")
You mean under that name, or permanently? ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/78 "2003-06-07T18:18:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lezlers \* > \*\*You mean under that name, or permanently? \*\* /Hijack/ Permanently. He really did not want to get another email address, hence the periodic posts with my user name. He knew the rules and thus was aware it is impossible to have two people on the same email account. After a while, he started to post a little more often and realized it was not popular when it was pointed out that some people were confused. Hence, he has “bowed” out. He told me that he enjoyed a lot of the debates and found the whole experience intriguing. However, he also saw this as a blessing in disguise, because he thought he was spending too much time on the boards anyways and felt he could focus on other things. /end hijack/ ---
**Author:** ![Keith\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@Keith\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith_Berry)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/79 "2003-06-07T18:55:12Z")
I posted this story in a thread awhile back, but I’ll rehash it because it’s so good (and quite germaine to the subject). When myself and my girlfriend went to go see “Hannibal” when it was in theatrical release, the audience was actually pretty quiet. UNTIL. Until some teenage punk came wandering into the theatre yakking on a cell phone. “What’s up? I’m just up in this muthafuckin movie, man, I’m up in this muthafuckin Hannibal.” He found a seat square in the middle of the theatre, sat down, and just went about his yakking. This was at a quiet point in the film, and you could hear him quite audibily no matter where you were sitting in the theatre. Suddenly, a fellow who was sitting in the row behind this guy stood up, politely made his way past people, and came up right behind this teenage nutbag. He stood there for a moment, then just GRABBED the cell phone out of the kid’s hand mid-conversation and THREW it across the theatre. I think it hit the wall and wound up somewhere near the bottom of the screen. Dead silence. The guy returned to his seat and put his arm around his s/o and went right on watching the movie. This teenage punk did NOTHING. He just sat there. Didn’t even say a word. I believe he was terrified. About 15 minutes before the end of the movie, he got up, went to the front of the theatre, found his cell phone, and left. That guy who tossed that phone is my hero. In my mind, I replay that awe-inspiring toss…the sweep of his arm, the poetry of that phone sailing through air like a sleek vessel…if I had it on tape, I’d rewatch it over and over, just like football fans will rewatch classic plays from the 60’s. ---
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/80 "2003-06-07T19:29:10Z")
Heeheehee! Great story, **Keith Berry**. Wish I’d been there to see it firsthand. I’ll bet that teen will think twice before yakking on his cell phone in a theatre. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902.md?page=5)