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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCrusade Against In-Flight Phone Calls
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) is making progress in his campaign against cell phone calls on commercial airline flights.
The Tennessee Republican has been touting the inclusion of language in the Senate version of legislation to fund the Department of Transportation that would direct Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao to finalize a ban on voice calls during flights, as regulations and technology change regarding cell phone use.
Alexander has been complaining about the issue for at least five years, often teaming with California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a fellow senior member of the Appropriations Committee.
I would suggest that any senator who opposes banning cell phone conversations on flights be sentenced to sit next to a loud businessman talking to his girlfriend on a six-hour flight between New York and California, Alexander said in a statement following last Thursdays full committee markup. Keeping phone conversations off commercial flights may not be enshrined in the Constitution, but surely it is enshrined in common sense.
Full story at:
https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/senator-makes-progress-crusade-flight-phone-calls
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)Demsrule86
(68,869 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)Demsrule86
(68,869 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)May I suggest texting?
BannonsLiver
(16,549 posts)Ill take it 7 days a week and twice on Sunday.
Demsrule86
(68,869 posts)I have noticed lately that everyone gets mad at everything. Ameria seethes just waiting for a reason to get angry. No slight is to small...not saying you. This is a general observation... a little live and let live would do us all some good. A person talking on the phone doesn't bother me but I take my headphones anyway.
BannonsLiver
(16,549 posts)Of 200-500 people enclosed in an aluminum tube all talking at the same time as fundamentally stupid and annoying.
Demsrule86
(68,869 posts)see another reason to persecute folks on airplanes by the shitty airlines...and when I was flying home not that long ago, my niece was gravely ill...it helped to know I could stay in touch. I am tired of all behavior being regulated in someway. I just think that a rule or law is not needed-this is a minor annoyance at best and can be dealt with by the individual...and of course a GOP came up with the idea...I oppose all of their ideas on principle. Have a great day.
BannonsLiver
(16,549 posts)In such a small space would be unpleasant. Or maybe you cant? Im getting that impression, quite frankly. Also getting the impression you dont fly much, ever, and dont really think through a lot of your hot takes. But hey you keep doing you and have a lovely day yourself.
Demsrule86
(68,869 posts)But I have headphones...can't do anything about the coke spilled on me by the kids! but as a younger Mom, my kid spilled a coke on a businessman so Karma is a bitch! This is not something that should be made into a law...we have too many of these sort of laws. I have never been on a plane where people talking in general was an issue...my seatmate maybe...but I put on my headphones and all was good.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)Phone conversation when they are sitting within inches of you.
It's rude and inconsiderate and not covered by the bill of rights which doesn't allow you to impinge upon another person's rights.
Demsrule86
(68,869 posts)of freedom is different than mine. I believe in freedom.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)forced to sit within inches of you.
You apparently are not aware that all freedoms are conditional on not impinging on other peoples freedom including to not impinge on other peoples rights.
That right currently exists and anyone who complains about someone talking loudly on a phone can complain to the crew and they will intercede.
What you can do in your own home is not the same thing that you can do in a public place. Beyond the obvious fact that anything you do that disturbs other passengers would impinge on their freedom is the obvious fact that it is just plain rude.
hlthe2b
(102,581 posts)I had the "pleasure" of hearing a man trying to converse with his hard-of-hearing mother, repeating every inane sentence and question re: what she had for dinner, what she had for breakfast, dozens of time at increasing volume to get her to hear it. I had no escape.
Oh, my.. Even five minutes of that had me wanting to rip my hair out.
cos dem
(903 posts)If it's not in the Constitution, it's unconstitutional.
Unless, of course, it involved controlling women.
kimbutgar
(21,290 posts)Docreed2003
(16,907 posts)But anyone else remember when flights had phones on the seat backs that you could pay to use!? That was pre-9-11
ret5hd
(20,573 posts)I don't.
Coventina
(27,227 posts)I'm assuming that's why they don't have them anymore.
If they allow phone calls on airplanes I will stop flying.
Docreed2003
(16,907 posts)Shrek
(3,986 posts)But their real value was managing my son when he was young. Any time he'd start to misbehave I'd point at the phone and ask him "do I need to call the Captain?" and for some reason it worked every time.
Ace Rothstein
(3,201 posts)I think that's why you wouldn't see many use them. They also stuck around for a while so someone must have been using them.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Flying back from a CPT delegation to Chiapas, I knew my wife would want to hear from me at my earliest convenience. The seat phone was kind of spendy, but under the circumstances well worth it.
BigmanPigman
(51,675 posts)4now
(1,596 posts)But what do I know.
Never been on a plane.
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,370 posts)Orsino
(37,428 posts)ProfessorGAC
(65,466 posts)In this one odd circumstance though, i'm on Alexander's side.
The reason has more to do with just the seat partner yakking away.
I envision a plane with 250 people on it, and 175 of them yakking away. The plane would be a din of unintelligible gibberish.
Even an experienced flyer like me would find that stressful and disconcerting as it would be constant.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)It's also sometimes really important.
I've had to:
make last minute travel arrangements.
coordinate with my teenage daughter, at home, alone, when my flight got delayed.
coordinate with colleagues when a technical issue arises that needs fixing NOW.
The way to deal with obnoxious callers is to empower the cabin crew to do something about it.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)that a lot of money was spent researching.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Though that is my daughter's preferred medium of communication.
Bengus81
(6,941 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)jmowreader
(50,604 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)"abridging the freedom of speech" ?
jmowreader
(50,604 posts)Thekaspervote
(32,825 posts)As a FF I am thankful there isnt cell phone use!! Free speech? You agree when you go in a movie house, museum or live stage performance that you will not use your phone and disrupt everything... right. How is this different?
BumRushDaShow
(130,146 posts)(don't forget one of the original of "quiet" places - the library! )