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Technology, culture and behavior seem to evolve together. Years ago, we started to see people walking through airports talking on cellphones with headsets. In order not to seem like wierdos talking to themselves, these folks would routinely hold the headset microphone to their mouths, so you could clearly see that they were on the phone.

Then people dropped their hands from their headsets, assuming you'd know they were on the phone because of the cord dangling from their ear. After a while, the introduction of the bluetooth headset took away that cord, but by then nobody was self-conscious anymore, and it became commonplace to see people walking through airline terminals talking without shame to an unseen companion.

But now, at least for men, social norms have relaxed to a new level. Many times in the past year I've walked into an airport men's room and seen a lone man standing at a bank of urinals, actively engaged in a hands-free conversation with someone hundreds of miles away, presumably with a hidden bluetooth headset in his ear. These people inevitably speak in extra loud voices, as people speaking on cell phones in public often do. So, it's hard not to hear about the latest deal they're trying to close, or the new investment idea they're discussing.

I guess the call of the greenback makes it difficult to wait two minutes to make the call. After all, cash is king. But, I personally refuse to take part in this latest cultural development. And, I'll hang up on anyone who calls me if I hear the sounds of the airport bathroom in the background.

Steve Yastrow posted this on 11/23/05.

Comments

>I personally refuse to take part in this latest cultural development... and, I'll hang up on anyone...

Good for you. If more folk were this sensible we'd likely all be better off. But they're not - so I wish on.

'Not just bathrooms...' there's many examples where attention is too distracted - thus serving no one. Being an arrogant fool, I 'let's speak later when we have each other's full attention' almost always refuse to even consider conducting any meaningful conversation by cell. Do I lose business? Of course. Do I lose sleep over it? No.

Now, cue howls of 'you ******* ignorant luddite' outrage from bluetooth-enabled, rss-fed, gizmoed-out-the-wazzoo I-got-all-the-toys trendies.

;-)

Posted by gulliver at November 23, 2005 11:07 PM

hi ste ---- shroughlooghlou ---- great topic. theoretically i do agree 100 ---- shrreeleeschrr ---- sorry, man was a damn long flight.... drip drip drip... but feels much better now ... zzzttcororroooaaarr ... talking to you.
great topic.

Posted by jens at November 24, 2005 3:26 AM

Steve, I use bluetooth jabber !! Yes, I agree at times - there is backgroung noise being picked up, the other party lets me know. If its really bad, then I'll drop the call myself.

and If I am on the receving end of a call, where its distorted, then I tell the caller and then drop the line.

But, I think my point is , that bluetooth is really conveienent. We ahve both hands free to scrabble and or take notes.

Posted by /pd at November 24, 2005 9:32 AM

Hi Steve:
Hope you are well!

I believe all the new gadgets or tools are wonderful if they make communication better between human beings for business or any other reason for relationship. But if these same things break the good old rules of kindness, common sense, respect, clarity and so on....they become obsolete. The need for a good old solid-clear-transparent communication is more evident now than it has ever been...even though we are so much more high tech than we have ever been. ItÂ´s
a contradiction...maybe it needs review...are running things for our best or things are running us for our worst? LetÂ´s think about it!

Susie Dias

Posted by Susie Dias at November 24, 2005 10:35 AM

.. are you talking sh*t?

Posted by chairmanmeaow at November 24, 2005 12:17 PM

"deal their trying to close, or the new investment idea their discussing."

THIS cultural development...the development that disrespects words and language....is NOT an advance.

Posted by steve chandler at November 24, 2005 2:25 PM

Amusing observation, but I have to agree with Steve (Chandler); Sloppy use of the English language is equally offensive. Shame on you Steve (Yastrow)! A published author, to boot.

Posted by Matt at November 25, 2005 6:13 AM

Basically it's a lack of respect for the person they are talking to. Nothing is that important... unless it's your last dying breath/crap..

Posted by Bob Hail at November 25, 2005 6:54 AM

Great topic Steve â€“you have hit the spot for thousands of people methinks! It is strange how we have got caught up in this mad rush for instant everything in the last few years. â€˜Hare Brain Tortoise Mindâ€™ by Guy Claxton is a good read. Guy reckons we have lost the ability to take time to consider decision making properly. He says we are far too impetuous in our decision making nowadays. I say short term decision making is not all bad and I am, not saying taking ones time to reflect is all good - like all things in life it is about having a healthy balance â€“ there is a valuable place for both approaches. My question is; Why does everything have to be done instantly? I too get annoyed with those pretentious primadonnas on trains that seem to want the whole carriage to know about how important they are â€“ why do they speak so loudly? Nowadays I head for the 'quiet' carriage where mobile phones are banned. Pick up a good book; read and reflect; and guess what? - Your decisions will probably be better and the amazing thing is at the end of your journey the world will not have ended whilst you were quietly contemplating.

"For he who has no tranquility there is no concentration." Bhagavad-Gita

Posted by Trevor Gay at November 25, 2005 7:03 AM

Great topic, Steve, and I agree with you. Here's a few other no-no's:

- Holding up the queue in the airport cafe because you haven't got enough hands to operate your mobile phone, Blackberry, laptop, PDA and a biro to scribble notes onto a scrap of paper whilst simultaneously taking out your wallet to pay for your coffee and let the rest of us finally get served.

- Switching on the mobile phone the very nano-second the plane touches down.

- Pretending to switch off your laptop after the, "Switch off all electrical items for landing" announcement and then putting it back on when the stewards are all sat down.

- Audibly typing away at your keyboard while you're supposed to be participating in a telephone conference. (If it's that boring or irrelevant, don't dial in - or at least press the mute button!)

- Leaving your mobile phone on during meetings so we can hear beeps and buzzes as your text messages come in etc.

- Taking calls on the mobile during a meeting. (This is my top hate: it's pig ignorant rude to everyone else.)

- And finally, to prove that I'm no Luddite and I am in fact a Blackberry fan, audibly phoning the office to ask your secretary to print out an e-mail and fax it to you somewhere because you can't be bothered to / have forgotten how to / are too important to turn on your own Blackberry.

Technology is my tool. I am not it's tool. Rant over - anyone got any other pet hates?

Posted by Mark JF at November 25, 2005 10:21 AM

I hope all at Tom Peters Blog do not mind my personal request for you to vist this link to commemorate the life of my own football (soccer) hero GEORGE BEST who has died today here in England. A sad day but at least George is now at peace with God

http://www.manutd.com/splashPages/black.sps?itype=5786&icustompageid=16275&bg=1

Posted by Trevor Gay at November 25, 2005 11:04 AM

Tom,

I forsee a technology that automatically disables digital divices that are personal space-invaders. I guess we have to reach a PDA satuation point before the market for digital decorum tools emerge.

Do we need fake movie trailers to remind us to turn off our phone and pagers?

I am facinated with the rapid advancement in new digital technology are we the design flaw you desribe?

I love the 4- pack as a compliment to Re-Imagine.

Your recent quote on your Worthwhile profile is a keeper.

"Re-Imagine" did not air in the local (Columbus, Ohio) PBS affiliate. I am a non-profiteer without the resources to order a copy--as of yet.
Any suggestions?

Posted by David Yorka at November 25, 2005 11:20 AM

There are few things more silently hilarious than being on a conference call and hearing an airport toilet flush... it becomes a hidden game of "Whodunnut?"

Posted by Alex Jones at November 25, 2005 4:59 PM

The great thing about blue tooth technology that no-one seems to have grasped is the opportunity for you to talk to yourself in public and everyone assumes you are on the phone and not a gibbering idiot - result!

Posted by PaulH at November 26, 2005 6:00 AM

Personally I think technology is making you dispensable. As much as "being connected" is a boon.. it also is a curse which leaves you with little freedom or time in your hands

Posted by Aparna at November 26, 2005 9:51 AM

Steve: (1) I agree. (2) I think this means we're both getting older. (3) Every generation has been thoroughly disgusted with the next generation's technology. (4) With advances as they are in life sciences, soon we'll not need to shit or piss, so the discussion will become moot.

Posted by tom peters at November 26, 2005 12:04 PM

yes, the darwinalotion of man longer thumbs, larger top left or right earlobe (to hold hold more robust blueooth devices with solar panels to recharge the device on the fly and ir devices which pertrude from our navels to alert any type of disposal mechanism (we are done) so we do not have to touch the handles. Yes, I am excited and resistance is futile. btw, I did not get my paper today can someone tell me the 24 hour marathon of matlock is on tonight?

Posted by Bert Kash at November 26, 2005 12:56 PM

Picking-up on the remark by Mark JF...

>Rant over - anyone got any other pet hates?

Sure. Lots. If you'll make contact with me (there's no way to reach you) this is an issue I'll be happy to constructively advance off-forum - it's a genuinely worthwhile topic of personal and commercial interest to me and, I suspect, others.

Same goes for anyone else too - rather than hog a TP forum, let's air this elsewhere in an at-least article-length piece. So, if you're interested, please shoot me an email. Thanks.

Posted by gulliver at November 27, 2005 7:52 AM

free viagra sample by mail Steve,

You're always griping, but I'll agree with this one. I try not to take it personally, and just assume that the person is adequately making a fool of themselves without my pointing it out to them.

viagra generic paypal Have you seen this phenomena? Get your printer ready for a great way to get back at those loudtalking rudies:
http://www.coudal.com/shhh.php

Also, I just got back from Asia and the trend seems to be for people to text other folks WHILE THEY ARE TALKING TO YOU. Maybe bluetooth cyborgs aren't so rude after all, at least relatively.

Cheers,
Paul

Posted by Paul Davidson at November 27, 2005 2:57 PM

PS - I think the Dear Cell Phone User cards I linked to above were designed by the same folks who did Tom's beautiful blog design.

Paul

Posted by Paul Davidson at November 27, 2005 2:59 PM

Hence the growing popularity of waterless urinals?

I cringe at the thought.

Posted by Olivier Blanchard at November 27, 2005 3:43 PM

I must be getting old

I repeat "For he who has no tranquility there is no concentration." Bhagavad-Gita

Posted by Trevor Gay at November 27, 2005 4:53 PM

I think Marshall McLuhan had it right. Technology controls us, not the other way around. And from what I've seen women are just as likely to conduct a powder room phone call as men are.

Posted by Nancy R. at November 28, 2005 12:37 PM

I really glad there are more women commenting stuff here, even more because it is an IT related topic that has something to see with ethics.

I guess Mr. Peters was referring in that joke above - re. not needing to shit or piss in the future thanks to the advances in science - to a figurated way of doing that, that is to me: that our spice will turn to be more refined. Which is basically what this post verses on: education, politeness, manners, consideration and ultimatelly, more common sense.
Just a quote popped into my mind when I was reading these posts:

"There has been a shift from Stress Envy, where everyone wanted to be suffering from stress in order to seem important and in demand, to a Cool to Cope, which acknowledges that giving more time to fewer things and enjoying the process is infinitely preferably".

(50_easy, Design magazine)

canada viagra mastercard

Posted by Omara at November 28, 2005 8:51 PM

A couple years ago, when I lived in Korea, it was quite common to see people cover their mouths while speaking into a hand phone. Speaking loudly in public is considered rude behavior there, and Koreans (and other Asians) try to avoid doing so, especially while talking on the phone.

The question now is, how will Asians be able to keep their voice levels down and remain "polite" while using Bluetooth?

Posted by JD at November 28, 2005 11:50 PM

It's not just manners that is important. There is also the issue of security in public places.

A Public place is not the same as an anonymous place. I have overheard a conversation on a train that was obviously a person from a competitor company to mine talking about internal details. I also know a VP who ended up on a plane seat next to her exact equivalent in a competitor (I guess not much work was done by either on that flight!)

So think twice before making that call in public- you don't actually know who is listening!

Posted by PaulH at November 29, 2005 10:26 AM

JD,
I remember seeing an article a few months ago about some department stores in Japan installing audio equipment in the ladies restrooms that will create the sound of flushing. Why? Because other bathroom sounds are considered rude or offensive. Most patrons would flush several times to cover the other sounds and it was costing the stores dearly in water bills, not to mention being extremely wasteful.

Posted by Mike C at November 29, 2005 12:17 PM

Cellular phones have become such a status symbol it's hilarious. I remember wishing I had a blackberry at work, so that I could be more available when people needed me and I wasn't at my desk...then I got one, and all hell broke loose. Pages at 10pm, etc etc.

I spent two years working on a Cellular account for a major advertising agency, and am now a huge "gear head" when it comes to cell phones. I love them, I love my bluetooth headset, HOWEVER, I only wear it when I'm driving or cooking or doing something else that warrants it...I vomit a little bit in my mouth evertime I see people in airports walking around one on their ear while also wearing their sunglasses indoors. It's really not that cool people. :)

I do think that wireless tech is making business run better, faster. However, it's almost always at the expense of personal lives (i.e. Driving to get lunch and getting called for work...can I have 5 minutes to myself)...and the most concerning thing is the social impact it's having on our culture. We're no longer required to meet people in person...if you're at an airport or restaraunt waiting at the bar and the people you're meeting are late, what do you do...talk to a stranger and possibly make a new friend/business contact OR nervously thumb through your caller list and dial up someone to avoid the awkwardness and silence of not having something to say vocally. don't get me started on text messages (it's the new version of yesterdays' email to the person sitting next to you at work).

Posted by Stephen Hunton at November 29, 2005 4:12 PM

au viagra

Stephen:
You can get that five minutes to yourself back! Turn off the phone. Being unreachable for five minutes ought to be do-able for just about everyone.

Posted by Nancy R. at November 30, 2005 9:05 AM