The bathroom stall phone call
Like it or not, cell phones at work have become a fact of life. But just because your little portable pal is ringing, doesn’t mean you need to answer.
Like it or not, cell phones at work have become a fact of life. But just because your little portable pal is ringing, doesn’t mean you need to answer.
This week, according to the CTIA Wireless Association, cell phone penetration hit 82% in the US. Presumably we in Canada can’t be far behind.
With so many people carrying phones with them, it shouldn’t be a surprise that we use them literally everywhere we go. The question is, where do we (or should we) draw the line?
When Marc Saltzman recently asked the question Do You Drive and Talk? we heard from a lot of folks who feel that talking and driving is unnacceptable. Seems almost everyone has a story about a bad driver who suddenly veered into another lane because they were too busy talking on the phone to do a proper shoulder check.
It also appears that people are getting fed up with cell phone conversations or random ringtones spoiling their dinners while at restaurants or in movie theatres. Manufacturers are ‘answering the call’ for privacy with >personal cell phone jammers that can supposedly block all calls to and from mobile phones within a 40 foot radius. Think that’s a great idea? Think again: they are >definitely not legal in Canada.
But perhaps the most socially questionable use of mobile technology is in the bathroom, especially public ones. Stuart Jeffries from the Guardian has mused on the ability some men have shown in being able to >urinate and conduct a phone call simultaneously. Yes, it seems >women do this too.
Why do we feel the need to be in touch no matter where we are or what we are in the middle of doing? Recently a colleague of mine called me and asked, "I just tried calling you on your cell – you didn’t pick up." "I know, I was in the bathroom," I replied. Pause. "Oh," he said. Hmm, maybe bodily functions are no longer an excuse for missing a call.
Then there’s the whole question of hygiene. You wash your hands after doing your business (don’t you?) – maybe we should be wiping off our handsets too. It’s been well documented that our >computer keyboards can be filthier than toilet seats. I wonder what the germ count on a typical Blackberry is.
So where do you stand (or sit) on the question of cell phones in the bathroom? Is it ok to place or take a call while on the toilet? Are there other places or times when using a phone or PDA is simply not okay?
Demand and take no excuse for ignorance. I demand all cell phones and other phones OFF when in my house. back to the Time is valuable issue, Little time is spend with each other. If you are with me, near or in my presence, then be with me! OFF!!! It has taken a little to get this through but my children and friends all know driving, eating and just generally hanging out OFF! It doesn't seem to bother them it actually bothers them when they know they forgot to OFF their cell phone and it rings EVERY time we sit to eat as a family. I do get the apologies as does everyone aat the table- Maybe I'm old fashiioned but it does work! Back to driving and all the rest… If more demand it and show by leadiing then the followers apreciate it and FOLLLOW… OFF gives time and brings back the normal face to face conversations and time well spent without interferance. Yes, some calls aare important but to kids all calls are important-
I 100% agree with Christina. It may be disgusting, but I have yet to hear of any injuries caused by someone using the phone in the washroom.
I recently had dinner with my daughters at a nice restaurant and after the first call I made one of them turn off her phone It turned out to be a nice phone free dinner.And as far as the bathroom is concerned well is nothing private any more?
Everything is Illegal in Canada. So what is Legal
Peolpe need ono when to use cell phones and movie theaters wonder why they lose buisness…its because of cell phones. There's a time and place for everything
As a senior citizen I might be missing some-thing here, but my cell phone has a ringer I can turn down when I don't want to be interupted at an inopportune moment ( I leave 'vibtrate' on ). My phone tells me when I have had a 'Missed Call' and displays the number that I can call back at the press of a button. Isn't it more a case of common sense than technology? And to me the woman standing right next to me in the store talking loudly into her cell phone is not 'rude', she's Crass! There is a good reason public telephones used to be placed in phone 'booths' or 'box's'.
I find it ironic that in these days of instant/anywhere communication, there's actually very little true communication taking place.
Sure, we talk, text, e, facebook, myspace, livechat, whatever ad nauseum, but the bulk of those conversations run along the lines of, "So, where are you now? Oh yeah? Do they still have that cool cinnamon latte thingy? Really? Could you get one for me? No, I can't leave this meeting. Uh huh – talking about downsizing. Totally depressing. How can they downsize? We're all so swamped. There's just no time for us to do EVERYthing."
It seems to me we are in a society that doe's things because we can.
We dont stop to ask ourselves if we should.
Of course chatting on your cellphone while defecating is fine. Heaven forbid you have to actually shut your mouth for three entire minutes. You might miss out on your friend's description of how boring his/her current activity is, or how they saw whats-his-face with whats-her-face doing whatever.
Cellphones have off buttons for a reason. I know that for some people it's a foreign and scary idea, but you might want to try using that off-button once in a while. I mean, what's next? Chatting with a friend at someone's funeral?
Disconnect, people, be liberated!
The world won't end if you miss a phone call while you're taking a dump…. and that's a promise…
Just becasue it rings (preferably vibrates in a public place) doesn't mean you have to answer right away. Perhaps it would be better to call them back when you are alone in a secured place. As for driving and talking on the phone – driving is a priviledge not a right and anything you do to violate that priviledge/others wellbeing is unacceptable. Talking on the phone while driving leads to a lack of attention and therefore endangers yourself and others – unacceptable. There is also another safety issue that no one talks about- I wonder if people understand that by discussing every detail of their life, and where they are going, etc in earshot of others could potentially set you in harms way. Other people listen – even if they don't want to…
i love talking on the phone while im sittin on the tioilet..quite entertaining i must say
As someone who has been administrating business cellphones for more than 10 years, I can tell you first hand that cellphones in washrooms are hazardous. If you are discussing a potential client/deal or idea you don't know who is in the next stall…they may steal your new client, deal or idea! Also, I have had salesmen hand me cellphones that have gone for a "swim" (YUCK!) Electronics don't swim and I don't want to touch it if it has!
Courtesy, safety and discretion should always be kept in mind when using your cellphone. Your safety may be at risk if you discuss where you are going on vacation next week while you are in line at the grocery store. An unscrupulous person may follow you home, note your address and return while you are away.
Wow, I can't believe I just wasted a couple of minutes of my life reading all of these. Thanks for the wonderful reactions so far though. Was quite entertaining.
To those who think using a cell phone a bathroom is no big deal. Let me tell you it's no great thrill hearing anyone's bodily fuctions issuing forth in a bathroom, but I am even less enthused hearing about your latest acquistion, conflict, arguiment… I don't give a damn about it and don't want to be stuck listening to it because nature calls. News flash, you're not that important. Turn the phone off, do your business, get out, and then go back to being a self centered, shallow twit when you're out of my earshot.
Invent a phone that dispenses toilet paper and you've got a new multi-billion dollar business plan.
It gives a whole new meaning to "downloadable content".
We, as a society, existed for hundreds of years without cellular technology, yet now we have it, the reliance on it is unbelievable!!! I find it difficult to fathom that ANYONE is that important they can't shut their bloody phone off long enough to eat dinner, watch a movie, or answer nature's call!! Anybody who has allowed their work (or whatever other outside entity) to penetrate their lives so completely they can't eat or poop in peace, has a lot more major issues than just the moral problem of when or when not to answer their cell phone!
I would never dream of using my cell phone in the washroom, especially a public one! I get really offended when other people use their cell phone in a public washroom. It's not sound of the conversation…it's the fact that MY sounds are now being broadcast elsewhere.
What's wrong with granting other people a few moments of privacy?
I feel sorry for those people … i'd guess the majority … that can find any excuse to justify using the cell phone for anything other than an emergency. And a few random thoughts re: cell usage … if you're in a line to pay and you're cell conversation is holding me up, then you're going to hear from me. And I'm certain that there is a segment of society that would be real interested in knowing you're not going to be home for a few hours also.
Well, after reading through all that, (procrastinating from work, of course), I would have to say that its your personal choice to talk in a public bathroom. Jasmine and Christina have got it! I understand that cell phones have cameras, and thats the only reason why they should be banned from the washroom. But as for just a conversation in the next stall? who cares if your "sounds" are being broadcasted?! The cellphone allows our society to get more things done in the day. And if that means making arrangements for later while on the toilet, so be it! Life is short; I might as well get things done, that need to be done, at the same time!
Personally I feel uncomfortable talking on my phone in a public washroom, and am uncomfortable when others talk on theirs.
I also find it hard to take someone's point of view seriously when their post is fraught with typos, like many of these are.