I think we need to be honest and not to continue to pretend a hazard to the flight control electronics first then honestly tackle the question of if it appropriate to use cell phones in that situation and what effect it would have on the crew and passengers.
When the ban was in place cell phones meant voice, with smartphones this is no longer the case, voice is just a secondary function. Will it be a large problem in flight like it would have been back then? I’m not so sure.
I have seen some successful uses of cell phone etiquette such as ‘quite cars’ on train and have seen the conductor come over to a person who was talking too loudly even in normal cars and have them either quite down or move to the vestibule. I think in a plane cabin quite calls might be even more enforceable.
I think we were interpreting the ban as being on talking. I’m fine with some texting on a phine in flight, and if the plane has wifi you can WhatsApp or tweet. Doing that doesn’t bother anyone.
In most places you can get up and move away from a jerk, but not on a plane. So quiet zones wouldn’t work.
Of course in some states it appears that some people think you can shoot those who use their phone in an annoying way, but that would put nasty holes through the fuselage, so I don’t think that works here.
Non voice functions of smart phones are currently permitted in “airplane mode” or via wifi connections during flights. The current debate among legislatures and regulators is the voice call function.
Do really need the government to govern where people can talk or not talk? Shouldn’t that be left to the airline to decide what they will or will not permit on their flights?
if the airlines are given control over this, and if reception could somehow be restricted to a small area; would you have to pay first class to get cell service or to block it?
You’re right. Murder is much less serious in many cases.
“Nanny state” I find an ignorant term, one that usually seems to be thrown around by people who are put out because they can’t be allowed to annoy people like they’d like.
I’ve never seen it used that way, or else I wouldn’t dislike the term so much. It’s always used for something worse than being annoying. The idea that the government needs to step in to prevent you from being annoyed is rather nannyish. Being annoyed at times is a fact of life, not something you need the law to protect you from.
How in the world can any legal system exist where simply being annoying is enough to make something illegal? You find the words “nanny state” annoying by your own admission. Should using them be illegal?
It really is surprising that a majority of people would vote yes. All it takes is a second’s thought to see how it would be a problem. The only thing that makes sense to me is that a lot of people are voting yes because the question is too stupid for a serious answer.
So long as they restrict usage to “not during takeoff or landing,” I’m ok with it. People found to be using their phones during takeoff & landing should be required to get off the plane last during an emergency. Wouldn’t want to interfere with their important phone call, after all.