For years, airlines have prohibited passengers from talking on cell phones during flights because, they say, cell phone signals interfere with the plane’s electronic equipment.
However, studies have not accurately determined if there is any actual interference from cell phones.
With airplanes starting to offer Internet access, it is possible for passengers to use Internet phone services like Vonage or Skype to chat during flights.
But airlines are attempting to use software to block passengers from using these phone services because they don’t want to deal with the problems of people who gab on cell phones during long flights annoying other passengers.
If airlines are wanting to ban phone use on planes because they may be annoying, what other annoying things could they ban?
Can they ban people who sit next to you on a flight and won’t quit talking? What about kids who cry and scream on flights — can they be banned also?
Phones in airplanes are not new. Ten years ago, most airlines had phones installed on the backs of headrests and they did not create any major disruptions.
Banning something simply because it is an annoyance certainly will not hold up over time, and chances are it is only a matter of time before you will have the option of chatting away on your next round-trip flight.
If you don’t enjoy listening to other peoples’ phone conversations, you might want to invest in some good earplugs.
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
Maybe we could send Sauder and Walters to ban second hand sound from airlines and private business.
September 17, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
We are becoming a society that is intolerant of anyone not exactly like us in our habits and practices. We want to ban anything that is a slight annoyance. To do so ignores the lessons that history provides. We tried all this once - it was called Prohibition. We found out that attempting to regulate others' habits and practices only created new, and much bigger, problems. In Emporia, if the "Clean Air Committee" has its way, we may soon have "Speak Easys" where people can hide from the Police in order to have a cigarette and a hamburger.
September 17, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Good one, Outsider J. After all, they're the Air Queens; they must be capable of flight. Got brooms?
September 17, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USNretired (anonymous) says...
Flying is a privilege, not a right. BUT, You don't have to patronize any business you don't want to. Vote with your wallet by flying a different airline. I prefer peace and quiet on commercial flights.
September 17, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LifeGoesOn (anonymous) says...
I agree with hawker on this one when they say "We are becoming a society that is intolerant of anyone not exactly like us in our habits and practices." Good thing they dont ban all the annoying people on this web site! Myself as well as others might not get to have our say!
The airlines want to ban cell phone use? How tragic that would have been during 911, at least some families had a chance to speak with thier loved ones one last time before the planes went down.
September 17, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Emporiafan (anonymous) says...
I don't think its all intollerance of annoyances of other people but also that people don't have the manners they used to. It is rude to talk loudly in public on your phone....most people don't want to hear your private conversations...
September 17, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gazette_reader (anonymous) says...
The difference between cell phones and those phones in the backs of headrests is that the headrest phones cost something like $18 a minute to use. Most people didn't talk on them for five straight hours.
September 17, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
I think Mr. Walker is poking fun at the clean air folks myself.
September 17, 2008 at 9:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
I don't think that there is any doubt, neighbor. I was encouraged by the editorial. Knowing the Gazette's usual editorial bent, I was surprised by this one.
September 17, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
Neighbor & Jayhawker: Be careful poking fun at the clean air vigilantes. They have broomsticks and will poke back.
September 17, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Let them, bet my broom is bigger.
September 18, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )