Because, it would be like...
You know, like, totally - you know - like

To me, its a gruesome idea to have to sit next to someone yacking all the way to their destination...its like you know, totally scank*.

(*which I assume means disgusting or gross)

100 PERCENT AGREE I am so glad that this will not happen. Can you imagine what it would be like to have a plane full of yakkers for the whole flight. Oh my god!

The world is good today.

How depressingly anti-social you're all being. Or is it just Luddite?

I sit on trains full of ordinary people almost every day. People on the phone are just like people not on the phone: some conversations are banal, some fascinating to overhear and some - well, just like any other conversation.

Whether the conversation concerned's on a phone or between two people at the same table.

If you don't like hearing people talk, it's people you've got a problem with. Not the technology.

No doubt the Trappist order would love to have you.

though I don't care that much one way or the other --- the other day I was sitting outside at a Starbucks and there were 2 other tables also occupied... One table was by 2 people who were talking back and forth and the other someone alone talking on a cell phone....and it hit...why do we all get excited and annoyed by people talking on a cell phone....truly, what is the difference between one person talking on the cell phone and two people (there 2 voices) talking back and forth?

of course, Im usually listening to my ipod while on the plane so I don't care what others are doing unless they are trying to invade my space or constantly pulling down on my seat each time they get up.

Put me in with the group that does not feel the need to listen to other peoples conversations, expecially on long overnight flights! Unfortunately, I think the operative words are no cell phones 'for now'. According to an article in yesterday's (?) Wall Street Journal US carriers are planning to have hot spots on planes this fall and expect to allow cell phones thereafter. The only upside that I could gleen from the article is that due to band width considerations, it will only be possible to place 14 simultaneous calls at first.

First to flanneruk - I do like people very much flanner. I do not like people that insist on talking in loud voices (on a phone or to another person) that intrude on my personal "space". Perhaps the phone users in the UK are softer spoken (I have not noticed it when there if they are) but it seems that as soon as a person begins to talk on cell phones they suddenly raise their voice to unacceptable levels. Actually, it would be good if trains were declared cell phone free as well. Perhaps the answer is to have phone and non-phone cars on trains.

Some of the 'ordinary' conversations I overhear in public, especially on transit, are too LOUD, too many people feel they have to shout; too PERSONAL - why discuss yours or others medical problems, especially of the female variety, on a bus? (my favourite though is the male caller asking whoever he phoned "Did you poop?"; and those calls where the person receiving them wants everyone to know just how IMPORTANT they are to their employer.

The reply or comment I hear most often because they're talking too loud is when someone gets a call on transit? "I'm on the bus/subway/streetcar, will be home in 5 minutes"...why don't they just wait till they walk in the door?

There are people who speak quietly on cell phones in public so that no one else can hear them - but not enough of them.

I agree it is a good thing to have some quiet up there!!

I was flying home from LaQuardia at near midnight 2 days ago - so tired, looked like everyone else was too - most were sleeping. All of sudden this lady started talking and laughing real loud - it jarred me and the passenger next to wide awake.
Just magnify that by the may who will talk on the cell phone.

>why do we all get excited and annoyed by people talking on a cell phone.

BECAUSE THEY ARE USUALLY TOO D****D LOUD!

true, some cell phone talkers are too loud, but I would glady have them in comparison to a couple I sat next to once who bickered the whole time!!! I wanted to yell back at them..Go get a divorce!!!

I totally agree with Curt et al. People do tend to talk more loudly on a cell phone. I work in a medical facility, and you would not believe some of the sh*t I have to hear with people talking about the results of their exams. You would think they'd be embarrassed about that and at least find a quiet corner to talk, but noooooo. All I want to do is eat my lunch in peace and not have to hear about someone's effing colonoscopy.

Why do we hate cell phones in public, and dread them on planes?

"UH HUH. HUH? OVER IOWA I THINK HE SAID. OR CLEVELAND. WAIT, IS CLEVELAND A STATE? OH, IT'S IN IOWA. HUH? OHIO, ISN'T THAT WHAT I SAID? HUH. MAYBE WE'RE OVER OHIO. IS THAT NEAR IOWA? UH HUH. UH HUH. HUH? ABOUT FIVE. HUH? NO, I HAVE BAGS CHECKED. NO, I TOLE YOU! BILL HAD TO BUY ALL NEW CLOTHES AFTER HIS STOMACH WAS STAPLED. HUH? NO, THAT WAS MARGE WHO HAD HER INTESTINE REMOVED. HUH? UH HUH, YES. UH HUH. OH NOW I SEE LIGHTS. NO, WAIT THAT'S A REFLECTION. HUH? NAW. UH HUH. UH HUH. NAW. TWENTY-FIVE. UH HUH. REALLY? HUH. UH HUH. IT SMELLS LIKE B.O. HERE. THERE'S A OLD LADY IN FRONT OF ME, I THINK SHE POOPED! PEE-YOO! UH HUH. UH HUH. I DUNNO. MY LEG IS ASLEEP. UH HUH. I DUNNO. MEATLOAF IS OK. UH HUH. UH-OH, I GOTTA GO TO THE TOILET NOW. UH HUH. UH-HUH."

REQUIRE CELL PHONE MANUFACTURERS TO HAVE PROPER FEEDBACK IN THE EARPIECE.

...then people could realize how loud they are speaking when they use cellphones. As it stands, presumably to save battery power, there is insufficient audio feedback.

2. Add a 'will take your call when it is convenient to me and those around me' button. Press the button - and take the 60 seconds to: exit the library reading room, for example.

No need for bans - just better design.

No, I still prefer a design that sends a large stainless steel dart directly into the user's ear at 1,000 MPH whenever they answer a call.

No, Curt, the mobile phone users in the UK are NOT more soft-spoken. They are as noisy as anyone else and seem to delight in using the F-word frequently at substantial volumes.
The BIG difference between FlUK's train scenario and the plane is you have nowhere to else to go at 37,000 feet. If somebody is yammering on the phone in a train, you can always move to another car and hope for the best (note: the trains from Waterloo London to Windsor have several NO Phone cars). Or you can console yourself that you'll be getting off (or Mr. Loud Talker will) 10 minutes down the line. No such luck when you're over Greenland en route from London to Chicago.
Hooray for the rule.

With respect to trains, it seemed to me that several years ago in France, people making phone calls would get up from their seats and go in between trains (or at least out of the car) to speak on a cell phone. More recently, I seem to observe more French people simply conversing from their seats. I don't know if there used to be rules about cell phones that have been eased, or the social etiquette perhaps is evolving. Generally, I have found on those TGV rides that the conversations have not been too loud or intrusive, and so they haven't really bothered me. I get the sense that callers are being thoughtful about how loud or perhaps how long they are speaking. (Maybe it's also been true that the speakers haven't necessarily been sitting directly alongside me....)On the other hand, I think on a long flight, it might get a bit annoying hearing alot of loud yacking going on....I am generally in favor of this ruling for planes.

I suggest that a toilet-sized cubicle be placed on planes for people to use if they need to make a phone call. Calling while sitting in one's seat should be completely prohibited.

As for TGV's, you will see a little pictogram in them showing that cellphones should not be used at one's seat. I think it is dreadful that more and more people are ignoring this.

Given that cell-phone users would have to talk loud enough to overcome the sound of the jet engines and the high-decibel babble of other users, can you imagine how LOUD the cabin would be if they permitted this abomination!

Given that many people would use their cell phones out of sheer boredom on flights of any length, can you imagine how OFTEN they would filibuster on their cell phones just to keep themselves occupied!

Yes, as other posters have said, for once, the world — for now — is a little saner.