I’ve carried one for years, but there are places where I put it on silent and others where it just gets shut off. Churches, movies, restaurants, concerts-places where people have a right to concentrate on a religious service, or enjoy the entertainment/meal they’ve paid for without some cretin blabbing about shit that could have waited an hour or more.
Now I can only pray for speedy FCC approval of these devices in the US.
I have no cite to offer in support of this, but I do recall reading several years ago that such countermeasures are illegal to use in the United States. There is nothing either new, or particularly Israeli about the technology.
I do have one of these. Not all that impressed. To get guaranteed results I have to be close enough to the cellphone-weilding cretin to see their pores. Moderately reliable results at 10 feet. At 20 feet, unless we’re indoors and I’m between the cellphone user and any windows in the joint, I might more effectively cross my eyes at the offender and mutter “Oogy Boogy”.
I don’t care if places of business uses them or churches or theaters or what not but when they do, they better post an obvious sign that they are doing so.
My mom was in a coma and ICU for 28 days. I did not turn my phone off for nobody, silent ring yeah, but not off.
If I had to go someplace that I knew my phone would not work I made other arraignments to receive info but if some fool of an individual or place cuts off an accepted means of communication without notification, then their ass is mine.
I know about blind spots and metal roofs etc. That is not a deliberate circumstance, it is the nature of the technology. Jammer’s are used with intent and their use really really should be posted so as a choice to go in there or not can be made.
I am not part of the 99% that is rude with cell phones but I do take my communication seriously and when it is important I want it there and not be at the mercy of every asshole who can afford a jammer.
As much amusement as they might provide, I think Gus has the right idea. Too much depends on cellular communications in this day and age to let any run down schmuck with a 80 dollar piece of technology interfere.
Besides, hurling them on the floor and repeatedly jumping up and down on them while screaming, “Die, foul engine of Satan! Die!” is much more fun. Cheaper, too.
I hope that people who are on the edge of their seat waiting for a life or death phone call don’t then go seek entertainment in the same movie theater in which I’m watching a movie.
How about doctors, then? Or volunteer firefighters? Is your petty annoyance at rude cellphone users important enough to keep legitimate cellphone users (who normally HAVE their phones on silent ring anyway) from receiving legitimate emergency calls?
I have a cell phone for one reason and one reason only: So my son’s caretakers can reach me in case of an emergency. If I go out, it defeats the purpose of having the phone if I turn it off or leave it home.
That said, I keep the phone on “vibrate” and check the number of the caller before answering it. If it’s the daycare or Gramma, I leave the room to answer it. If it’s not, it goes to voice mail so I can deal with it at my leisure.
I realize that not everyone is as considerate. These people are twits.
Hear, hear, MsRobyn! I also only keep my phone on (and silent) for child care and hospital work. Why the heck (oh, wait, we’re in the Pit) Why the fuck can’t people grasp this neato silent feature AND remember that it takes four rings to go to voicemail - plenty of time to make it to another room?! (And yes, if there might be an emergency, I sit on the aisle at the movie theater so I don’t have to trip over feet while I’m leaving.)
Cellphones don’t incur mind-numbing wrath in people, people incur mind-numbing wrath in people.
Surprisingly, the armageddon did not come before the advent of cell phones, even though there were emergencies. A good emergency plan for doctors and volunteer firemen has a checkdown list, in case the fireman or doctor is in the subway, or is otherwise immediately unavailable.
What did people do in the days before cellphones? Did emergencies go unattended? Of course not, we had different ways of contacting people, like calling the restaurant or theater directly. The primary difference here is that nobody would try to call you unless it were a true emergency.
OTOH, if some crank wants to jam everyone’s phone in his vicinity, that ain’t right. Reserve this sort of thing for theaters, restaurants, churches, or similar places that desire a quiet atmosphere (and don’t have it), and make sure you have signs up.
