Mobile Phones at Cabinet Meetings

[EMDEE]

It's good to see that David Cameron has banned mobile phones from Cabinet meetings. I must say that I am truly amazed that they have been allowed up till now!!!

It conjures up an image of silly ring tones going off, and all these cabinet members answering phones and busily texting and checking e-mail and speaking to other people while they are supposed to be running the country!

Can people not live without these dreadful intrusive anti-social things anymore?

[ionnsaigh]

I don't have one, then again, I'm a bit like yourself - an old Fuddy Duddy

[numberplease]

I hate them as well, but I have one just in order to keep in touch with our daughter when we are away, I don`t use it at any other time. I once took it into town with me because another daughter said I should always have it with me, then it rang, I panicked, and turned it off!

[Govangirl]

Right, that's it, you three are going in a home!

Seriously though, surely it's professional for all work meetings to have no 'phones?

Signed: Fuddy Duddy No. 4

[EMDEE]

I'm a bit like yourself - an old Fuddy Duddy

I don't always agree with you, but I have to on this occasion!

[numberplease]

There are a few of us fuddy-duddies about then?

[MPR]

as a confirmed fuddy duddy but a lover of technology, I am thinking that its a total lack of manners that we have, if I am speaking to you and you started the conversation I feel that you should not interupt our discussion to answer or text on your darn phone.I will usually walk away as apparently I am not that important.
I have rules in my house and one of them is that if you are here to visit, have a meal etc you dont interupt the occasion to answer your phone, if you need to answer it so desperatly, you can leave and not come back until next time.
I do make concessions for those that have to answer due to their job. Yes I do own a mobile phone and love the freedom and comfort it gives me. Usually its on vibrate in my car.

[Govangirl]

MPR I wish I was as brave as you in setting these rules. You have raised an important point in saying that this is about manners because there should really be an etiquette around mobile phones. I don't mind my guests having a 'phone near them in case of emergencies, particularly with kids and I REALLY don't mind new Mums and Dads having them and 'phoning home every hour BUT I get so annoyed at people who come round and sit and text in company! It's so darn rude! I have a close friend who does it and in every other way she is a caring, well-mannered person. What is it about mobiles that turn folk into such rudies? Grrrrr! But well done for taking a stance MPR!

[numberplease]

I know exactly what you`re both getting at, and entirely agree with you both. My second daughter is very rarely without her mobile in her hand when visiting, and is constantly texting, as is her almost 18 year old daughter, and my number one son is almost as bad, but with him it`s playing silly games and showing off all the daft sounds that he can get out of it! They neither of them understand how rude they`re being, and think that it`s me who`s out of line.

[EMDEE]

It's just as well we didn't realise at the time how deprived we were in having to get through our teenage years without having these accessories at our disposal.

I too have often been in company where some of those present have seem to be more interested in texting than they are in the company they are in. It is most infuriating when you have to repeat yourself because they weren't even listening the first time.

[ionnsaigh]

Fuddy Duddy Corner.

What about those imbeciles that drive using the phone, I would slap a one year ban on those morons.
The mobile phone or Mobby is a wonderful invention, however why oh why, do people insist on texting, face glued to the small screen, and crossing the road at the same time ? ( young people appear particularly guilty ) stop it now, scallywags.

[EMDEE]

At the risk of repeating myself, here's something I posted almost two years ago:

The Mobile Phone

We lift the phone in modern days and take its use for granted,
It has been there for decades and the letter it’s supplanted,
Its use has speeded up our world and aids communications,
We even can just lift it up and speak to other nations.

The credit for this goes to Alexander Graham Bell,
A Scotsman in America who had done rather well,
His crude device for talking to the person through the wall,
Was embryonic, but with it he made the first phone call.

The principle of Bell’s device then moved in leaps and bounds,
We spotted its potential for the transmission of sounds,
Decades later in our houses it was just the thing,
A status symbol and a useful tool with which to ring.

For many years its only users, (its cost was a bar),
Were businesses and well-heeled individuals, like the car,
Then telephones became the norm and in our house they sat,
And anyone could contact who they wished to have a chat.

But recent years have seen great changes in the phoning scene,
The mobile phone has come along and now it’s quite obscene,
It was a good idea and the principle was great,
But they have come to be a thing that many of us hate.

Like land lines at the start they were for those who were quite flush,
But soon the price came down and we all bought them in a rush,
They clearly have made big inroads upon our phoning habits,
They once were fairly rare and then they seemed to breed like rabbits.

What is the urgent need to phone when we are not at home?
The mobile’s now essential like the wallet, pen and comb,
Are we all that important that we cannot get some peace?
This is the implication of the mobile phone increase.

It is a handy tool to have when there is a real need,
Or we must solve a problem, then it is a boon indeed!
But some will not allow the thing to stay inside their pocket,
I’d say that some of these folk up their arse should get a rocket.

You’ll see some folks go down the street with mobile at their head,
And wonder if the purpose is to give them some street cred,
Sometimes you’ll see them striding out and ranting like a daftie,
And then you see it’s “hands free” and you thought he was a saftie!

The teenage crew as we all know are keen and avid users,
In fact I would suggest that they are telephone abusers,
And those among us who grew up without this phone facility,
Wonder what effect this has on their social ability.

They have a language all their own with which their texts to send,
Which does not honour spelling nor on grammar rules depend,
It’s little wonder English standards have become so low,
When they communicate so much by texting to and fro.

The jangling noise of ring tones all the time annoys us so,
We cannot get away from them no matter where we go,
Then we must listen to one side of boring conversation,
How can we ever get a bit of peace and meditation?

In theory then, the mobile phone’s a wonderful invention,
If it was used as what it is, which should be the intention,
But it is now a menace that is on the fast increase,
Could we not confiscate the lot, then we’d get bloody peace?

emdee(2008)

[Govangirl]

stop it now, scallywags.

I can see that catchphrase being part of a big Safety Campaign - it would really work, NOT!!!!

And whilst we fuddy duddies are having a right old rant, I agree with that but would also add the amount of young people out with headphones from mobiles in their ears. They can't have any sense of personal safety. Yes, stop it now, scallywags!

[Govangirl]

And great poem Emdee!!!!! We fuddy duddies need a theme song!!!!

[numberplease]

Brilliant poem Emdee, I missed it first time around!