# Your chirpy phone must die for the good of mankind! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 15, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760 "2006-06-15T02:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/21 "2006-06-15T16:46:34Z")
So who’s closest to bringing an EMP rifle to the market, anyway? I want to pre-order one so as to be the first person in town with the ability to fry annoying noisemaking electronics at will. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/22 "2006-06-15T17:23:38Z")
> [@slaphead](#): > > So who’s closest to bringing an EMP rifle to the market, anyway? I want to pre-order one so as to be the first person in town with the ability to fry annoying noisemaking electronics at will. Don’t know about that, but maybe you could make a flexible Faraday cage that could be fired out of a shotgun? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/23 "2006-06-15T18:01:05Z")
(claps for **tdn** ) I don’t have a cell phone, so it won’t be me that you’re bitching at, but when I was a kid, I was fascinated by the communicators on the original Star Trek series. Maybe it’s an attempt to tap into that instinct. Sort of a 21st Century “Talk to the Hand” syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/24 "2006-06-16T05:44:09Z")
On the train yesterday were all graced with the presence of someone who I think felt it his duty to slyly (and by slyly, I mean practically shouting at the top of his lungs) inform the train that he was, of course, flying to Korea soon, and he just met with the people from New York (that’s New York _City_, you know — the locals just call it ‘New York’ to save time), and yes, it’s probably because they really need him, and oh, maybe it’s because he speaks _Korean_, and I bet they don’t have anyone else who does, and yes, did he mention he’s flying out _very_ soon? While not a chirpy Nextel phone, the volume was turned up so high you could practically hear the voice on the other end. The man next to me yelled at him to turn it down, but obviously he was much too busy to respond, what with the upcoming trip to Korea and all. At one point, he said, “Yes, I’m getting off the train here at 28th,” prompting the rest of the passengers to look around to see if perhaps the train was about to tilt over and dump us all on the street, since he certainly didn’t seem to be making any motion that would lead to a normal exit. I had to hold myself back from shouting, “No you’re not! You’re still on the train! You are not getting off!” \<_grabs phone_\> “He’s lying to you! He’s not getting off the train! How can you be sure he’s even going to Korea?!” I also don’t understand why getting _off_ the train should signal the end of a conversation (and I’ve seen other lackwits end their phone calls this way). Unless your entire purpose for the conversation was actually for our benefit (and trust me, it was not), why wouldn’t you talk more freely once you’re off the train. I suppose it stems from the inability to handle the skills of locomotion in conjunction with speech. Maybe they should install treadmills inside the trains to shut them up. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/25 "2006-06-16T06:15:47Z")
OK, Bob I’ll pick you up. **WHAT?** What train did you get on? **WHAT?** Which station? **WHAT?** Fuck, get your own ride, or call me on a landline. **WHAT?** ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/26 "2006-06-16T07:05:31Z")
Someone once commented that it seemed 99% of all cellphone conversations consisted solely of people informing other people of their whereabouts and if they were going to be on time for their appointment. **Eve** had a great request of someone who was jabbering at high volume on a cellphone, “If you can’t be quiet, can you at least be _interesting?_” 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/27 "2006-06-16T07:57:22Z")
> [@zagloba](#): > > I figure since they want me to hear both sides of the conversation, they must want me to join in, too. Haven’t been gutsy enough to try it yet, though. I have. When I catch my students sending text messages during class, I confiscate the phone so quickly they can’t turn it off. Then when their girlfriend or whoever it is responds, I make sure they don’t miss the message. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/28 "2006-06-16T08:11:35Z")
[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8380544653971017211&q=trigger+happy+phone](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8380544653971017211&q=trigger+happy+phone) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/29 "2006-06-16T08:20:15Z")
[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3035446120658160922&q=trigger+happy+mobile](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3035446120658160922&q=trigger+happy+mobile) ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/30 "2006-06-16T08:32:37Z")
> [@zagloba](#): > > I figure since they want me to hear both sides of the conversation, they must want me to join in, too. Haven’t been gutsy enough to try it yet, though. Are you kidding? I do it all the time. It’s great. > [@panamajack](#): > > I suppose it stems from the inability to handle the skills of locomotion in conjunction with speech. Maybe they should install treadmills inside the trains to shut them up. Brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/31 "2006-06-16T13:10:18Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I have. When I catch my students sending text messages during class, I confiscate the phone so quickly they can’t turn it off. Then when their girlfriend or whoever it is responds, I make sure they don’t miss the message. 😃 Hee…evil. I like. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/32 "2006-06-16T14:00:54Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > “Yeah, I’m on the…” > … > “Yeah, I’m on…” > … The **Family Guy** movie had a scene like that, except it was in an elevator. It ended with Stewie exiting a blood-splattered elevator…with still-twitching legs visible. 🙂 -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/33 "2006-06-16T14:10:07Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I have. When I catch my students sending text messages during class, I confiscate the phone so quickly they can’t turn it off. Then when their girlfriend or whoever it is responds, I make sure they don’t miss the message. 😃 I hope it is High School or younger kinds you do this too. 😉 As a disclaimer, I don’t use my phone or text message in classes, but if I did… and the Professor tried to take my phone away, his hand would probably get broken. MY phone, bad teacher. (Now if it was one of those cheapie throw away phones I wouldn’t care, but teacher tries to touch my $100+ electronic gizmo… I tend to get protective) ---
**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:** [June 16, 2006, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/34 "2006-06-16T14:15:50Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > I also don’t understand why getting _off_ the train should signal the end of a conversation (and I’ve seen other lackwits end their phone calls this way). Unless your entire purpose for the conversation was actually for our benefit (and trust me, it was not), why wouldn’t you talk more freely once you’re off the train. I suppose it stems from the inability to handle the skills of locomotion in conjunction with speech. Maybe they should install treadmills inside the trains to shut them up. I often take the bus from NJ to NYC, and I cannot tell you how many dumb shits stand in the aisle talking on their cell phone when the bus gets to the Port Authority. Here there are a bus load of people trying to get off and get on with their life, and these shitheads will inevitably stand up, get in the aisle, stop, and continue with their conversation while holding up the line. I’ve had to scream “Will you please fucking move it?” on several occasions. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/35 "2006-06-16T14:21:25Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > I hope it is High School or younger kinds you do this too. 😉 > > As a disclaimer, I don’t use my phone or text message in classes, but if I did… and the Professor tried to take my phone away, his hand would probably get broken. MY phone, bad teacher. (Now if it was one of those cheapie throw away phones I wouldn’t care, but teacher tries to touch my $100+ electronic gizmo… I tend to get protective) I know this is hyperbole but I always have trouble with people who claim they will do physical injury over a material object when they are already in the wrong. I have no problem with professors taking people’s cell phones away. Don’t use them in class\*. I paid big bucks for this class, too, and I’d like to see it not interrupted. I’d really like to see profs taking people’s cell phones away - after they use it! - and beating them over the head with it. But I suppose that’s not happening. \*Sure, if you’re expecting an emergency phone call or something. But have the courtesy to sit in the back and get up and leave when the call comes. ---
**Author:** ![Firebringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@Firebringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Firebringer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/36 "2006-06-16T15:14:16Z")
> [@Who\_me?](#): > > I’m sorry that it bothered you, but I’m of the opinion that you ought to get over it. If you told me to turn down my phone, while I was outside, I’d probably tell you to fuck off too. I think that people just enjoy getting upset over stupid shit. Then you would just be confirming to anyone not already aware that you were obviously a moron, a complete and utter moron, unable to conduct yourself in a civilised manner and unfit to be put in with the monkeys in a cage at the zoo. Why does a moron need a mobile phone in the first place. Isn’t flinging poo and swearing a more appropriate form of communication for such a person. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/37 "2006-06-16T15:55:48Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > A-freakin-men to that. I am always just dumbstruck an the inanity of the conversations that these people are holding as well. They’re not really even conversations, they’re just random monosylibic synapse firings conducted at the volume of a Metallica concert. Nextel is the tool of the devil. Ohhh, I don’t know about you, but listening to a woman and her husband (who is someplace else) have a domestic over what to get for dinner is a great source of glee for me. However, when I had the displeasure of listening to my wishywashy neighbor who had a flat tire in a parking lot talk to her dippy husband about “What should I do?” and " Who is our insurance carrier?" and " Do we have road service?" How can you not know who your car insurance is thru and whether or not you have road service? Do you just randomly pay out hundreds ( if not thousands) of dollars a year ( they have three vehicles: one being a work truck.) and not pay attention to whom you actually write the check out too? I wanted to shove the phone down her throat for being so farking stupid. I did take great pleasure in leaving her in the school parking lot with a flat waiting for road service. ( It wasn’t like she was in da hood and stranded, m’kay.) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/38 "2006-06-16T16:33:45Z")
I’m confused…I understand the person was probably using the walkie-talkie feature, but what is the chirping all about? It intermittently chirps during the conversation? What for? And I think it is a little more excusable if they are out in loud city air rather than on the train, bus, elevator, etc. ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/39 "2006-06-16T17:18:29Z")
Well, a few months ago I had a late-night train ride home with a dude visiting from California, who wanted to make sure we all knew about his girlfriend’s yeast infection. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760/40 "2006-06-16T17:47:02Z")
> [@Firebringer](#): > > Then you would just be confirming to anyone not already aware that you were obviously a moron, a complete and utter moron, unable to conduct yourself in a civilised manner and unfit to be put in with the monkeys in a cage at the zoo. > > Why does a moron need a mobile phone in the first place. Isn’t flinging poo and swearing a more appropriate form of communication for such a person. Since your opinion of me is of no consequence, I guess I’ll light a cigarette and blow smoke in your face too. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-chirpy-phone-must-die-for-the-good-of-mankind/360760.md?page=3)