I Saw CB On TV

[Oswego John]

I saw Carter Brey on TV tonight. For an unbelievable reason.

While the NY Philharmonic was in concert, some clod didn't turn his cell phone off and it began ringing in the middle of a classical piece.

I may have this wrong, but I think that the newscaster mentioned that the conductor stopped the music and asked the clod "Are you finished so that we can continue?"

Like I said, unbelievable.
O J

[Joe Myerson]

The NYT found and interviewed the guy, who wouldn't give his name (they called him "Patron X").

Seems that his company had just replaced his Blackberry with an iPhone that morning, and he didn't know how to turn off the alarm.

I feel much better about not having one of them smart-phone thingies!

--Joe

[Steve Laume]

Well, duh, how about the off button?

It seems like the company should not have been spending any money to buy this clown a phone if he can't even figure out how to turn it off.

I am considering a phones off policy for guests aboard Raven. Yes folks, we are here to enjoy the day and each others company, not to play with a little screen or talk to people who are not present at the moment.

I used to do a lot of backpacking and at one time I did a trip with a group. This was in the early days of cell phones and some guy took out his phone on the summit of one of the White Mountains. I told him that he should put it away and enjoy the present or something to that effect. He claimed he just wanted to see if it could pick up a signal. My reply was that if that thing rang I would be tossing it over the edge and he would be attempting to pick up the pieces of the phone!

It always amazes me that people can be in a very beautiful place and still feel the need to connect with the mundane world lost in their little electronic device, Steve.

[Gary H]

Two of my posessions that I value most are my Cape Dory and my iphone - obviously for different reasons (one helps me connect with people and the other helps me connect with nature). I try to use them both in ways that are intelligent and considerate of others. Sometimes I make mistakes in operating both of them - this doesn't mean that I would advocate for getting rid of either.

A full read of the NYT article shows that the offender is a very sensitive, considerate, and apologetic person who made a mistake.
In the end, the widespread publicity of his mistake will probably result in more people being more careful with their phones in the future.

The article can be read at:
http://nyti.ms/zkn6d1

[Zeida]

How many hundreds of instances the simple fact of having a cell phone has been accounted for saving the lifes of people either lost, injured, abducted, etc. etc.

Those of us, especially us sailors, hikers, trekkers, mountaneers, and just plain simple people should always carry our cell phones...BUT know how to use it adequately. You never know when you will need it and it may save your life.

[Joe Myerson]

Hey Gary and Zieda,

These comments (at least mine) aren't meant to say that mobile telephones ("smart" or otherwise) are not important pieces of equipment. My comment was more of a quip than a statement of philosophy; no, I'm not entirely a Luddite.

I bring my now old-fashioned ("dumb?") phone with me when I'm sailing, and when I'm skiing--assuming it ever snows again. But I rarely have them on, unless I'm expecting a call.

And, according to the NYTimes, poor "Patron X," has been losing sleep over his gaffe--and he apologized personally to the conductor of the Philharmonic. That doesn't mean he shouldn't have had that piece of technology in his pocket in the first place as he sat in his reserved seat in the front row at Carnegie Hall.

Like Steve, I think I'll ask my sailing passengers to turn theirs off when they step aboard Creme Brulee. There's a time and a place for technology, and there's some technology that doesn't, IMHO, make our lives any more pleasant.

--Joe

[Gary H]

Joe,
My apologies if my post sounded like I was calling you a luddite.
that was not my intention.

I just wanted to point out that when you read the full article, the guy doesn't really sound like a clod - although he did make a mistake (a big one at that!).

One thing I have learned in the few years that I have been sailing is that I am capable of making a lot of mistakes.
Gary

[Bob B]

Sorry, but I guess that I am a luddite.

We don't have a cell phone. We got one of those pay as you go phones a few years back but everywhere we went on the water, it didn't work anyway. We do have a VHF for communicating with bridges, marinas and other watercraft. I have used cell phones for contacting our office when I worked on the water but it was only in port.

There are a lot of people who get themselves in trouble because they rely on someone to get them out by calling them on a cell phone or such. Self reliance, preparation, knowing your abilities, practice in good weather, and knowing when to stay home rather than on the water should prevail. Sure, we make mistakes. Dealing with them and working your way out of "challenges" is part of what makes sailing great.

I'm not advocating throwing your cell phones away but I do like it, when the engine goes off, the sails go up and there is quiet. Only the gurgle of the water against the hull. At this time, I just can't immagine a cell phone going off. Kinda like in the middle of a symphony.

Bob B.
CD Typhoon Liberty
Lancaster, SC

[Steve Laume]

From Wikipedia: "In modern usage, "Luddite" is a term describing those opposed to industrialisation, automation, computerisation or new technologies in general".

Just the fact that we are all on this board gets us some points. I do like my computer. I do run it rather than letting it run things for me so I suppose that still makes me a "skilled" operator. I do have a cell phone. It is rubber armored and water resistant. I only ever use it as a phone, don't freely distribute the number and rarely carry the thing. There is and auto pilot on Raven but I usually use the wind vane. No computer aboard but I sure do like my chart plotter and there is no sextant.

Maybe that makes me a Semi-Luddy, Steve.

[Warren Kaplan]

CB told me he was more upset with how the audience reacted to the poor guy. Kind of vicious. Its one of those "there but for the grace of god go I." As an illustration of that he said that one time an orchestra member's phone went off during a performance!!!

Its also happened to me even though at that time I knew for SURE I had turned the phone off. Some of these phones will turn on if you have it in your pocket and something rubs against it. I now remove the battery from my phone and place it in a different pocket when I absolutely must be sure the phone stays off!! I can do that with my phone. You can't with Apple products.

[Gary H]

Interestingly, I have always found land lines to be more objectional and intrusive than cell phones. It is much more offensive to me to have my dinner or family conversation interrupted by the land line phone than to hear someone's cell phone ring outdoors.

Who knows why but I guess we are all sensitive to different things. I have learned, from the younger generation, to appreciate texting. It is unobtrusive and there is no expectation that you will drop whatever you are doing to respond that moment.

At any rate, I'd rather be sailing than have time for discussing telephones.

[Neil Gordon]

Anyone taking bets that the pilot of the Italian cruise ship was distracted by texting or the like?

[Joe Myerson]

n/m

[Steve Laume]

n/m

Showing the first mate and the navigator the cool new Apps he got in the last port.

Literally his last port, Steve.