PF&D Soapbox

[clutching_calliope]

I'm joining you but I'd like to add:

Listen up! If that freakin' piece of electronic silicon didn't come with a "manner mode" that you can use when you're someplace I've come to enjoy myself, not to mention paid good money to be at, then turn the fucker off.

I paid 100 bucks for a seat at the theatre and some wretch had his cell phone out until the usher approached and escorted him out to the lounge. The good thing with that is, he was escorted out and couldn't come back until intermission. I'll bet his companion attends another function with him real soon...

This can't be a phenonmenon only in our own corner of the world, can it?

The worst is when I see a parent on the phone and their children are listlessly following them around or trying to get their parent's attention. I wish sometimes that people could see themselves.

 

[Liar]

This can't be a phenonmenon only in our own corner of the world, can it?

Oh no, it's pretty much a global suckage.

 

[Maria2394]

oh, Calli, thats a good one!!

My youngest daughter was in orchestra from 5th grade until she graduated and there were those parents who, when thier kids werent on stage, would find it acceptable to gab.... I asked someone once to please be respectful and they told me to mind my own business and to shut up!!

After the concert, I spoke with the orchestra instructor and by the next concert she had posted in the bill that cell phones should be turned off and anyone who felt that had to be on should excuse themselves. ( I was not the only one who complained) That same woman I had asked to please be quiet flipped me off after that concert...what class but at least I didnt have to hear her spiel about avon and turkey cavatini.

what IS it with cell phones and pasta dinners, hehe...

what I find as bad, or worse, are those who find it necessary to be on their cell phones while they are driving.

My own sister has been involved in 3 accidents that she caused because she was yakking her gums and not paying attention. I think people who do that are not only wreckless but incredibly inconsiderate.

When ever I see someone pulled over and on their cell, I usually give them a thumbs up and a big smile. Not everyone is rude and ignorant.

The most frightening example of yakking and driving I have witnessed was a trucker attempting to make a left turn with a full load of lumber on his trailer. He had a cigar hanging from his lips, he was trying to turn and he was on his cell.

 

[clutching_calliope]

Frightening cell phones

Truly Maria, cars and cell phones do not mix. They are thinking about passing a law here so that it will be mandatory to pull over if you need to be on a cell, so alot of people are going to the hands-free dealy which is even funnier. People walking around talking to themselves...ever heard that saying, "If you talk to yourself, you must have money in the bank"?

I don't know who is getting rich talking about whether to buy the plastic laundry hamper or the wicker one. Really.

Most relevant cell phone diaster in my life: my grandfather was squashed against a car in a parking lot earlier this year because the 16 yr. old girl had dropped her cell phone on the floor and was trying to pick it up (and drive at the same time). After the accident, he was left pretty much immobile, whereas the lung cancer that had been roaming about his body took hold of him and he passed away in September. My mother (who lives on her cell phone) won't stop blaming cell phones for his death, even though it was time for him to go. I suppose we deal with our grief in different ways.

My one personal theory about who should own a cell: doctors and plumbers. I know I'm not important enough that people should be able to contact me 24/7.

I should get off the soapbox now, before I turn into one of those crazies talking to myself, too!

 

[Maria2394]

Truly Maria, cars and cell phones do not mix. They are thinking about passing a law here so that it will be mandatory to pull over if you need to be on a cell, so alot of people are going to the hands-free dealy which is even funnier. People walking around talking to themselves...ever heard that saying, "If you talk to yourself, you must have money in the bank"?

I don't know who is getting rich talking about whether to buy the plastic laundry hamper or the wicker one. Really.

Most relevant cell phone diaster in my life: my grandfather was squashed against a car in a parking lot earlier this year because the 16 yr. old girl had dropped her cell phone on the floor and was trying to pick it up (and drive at the same time). After the accident, he was left pretty much immobile, whereas the lung cancer that had been roaming about his body took hold of him and he passed away in September. My mother (who lives on her cell phone) won't stop blaming cell phones for his death, even though it was time for him to go. I suppose we deal with our grief in different ways.

My one personal theory about who should own a cell: doctors and plumbers. I know I'm not important enough that people should be able to contact me 24/7.

I should get off the soapbox now, before I turn into one of those crazies talking to myself, too!

I dont own a cell, however I did buy one for my college girlie and one for her dad. My oldest already had one. They all pull over. I told my youngest that if I ever caught her driving and gabbing, I would take her cell.

She says, mama, Im 18!!

I said, yep, you are. But until you pay your own bills... I can take as easily as I gave.

Hubby hates his, but needs it for his work and I have never seen him on it while he was driving. But he doesnt think twice about driving around with a beer between his legs

I told him that next time he gets a DUI, ( he hasnt had one in 12 years, but still))

next time he gets one, I am getting me a new hubby.

Obviously that doesnt scare him too much.

I read somewhere that even a first offense DUI can cost around 10 thousand dollars and more, and that includes fines, increased insurance and loss of license for whatever amount of time. and when you consider that it is considered a violent crime, well, all I can think of when he does that is the fact that he could kill someone and that dosent bother him either. Personally, i couldnt live with myself if I caused someones death because I was being selfish.

anyway

I doubt that anyone in their own right mind would think that YOU are crazy. Especially if they read your work.

I am so sorry about your papa. I lost both my parents in 7 months and it is hard, even when you have been expecting it for years. ( my mom had emphysema and it took her 6 years of misery before she finally let go.) Oh gosh, I hadnt thought about that in a while. I miss her so badly..


hugs, Calli

keep talking to yourself, it is okay, BUT if you begin to answer yourself, well, then that might be a sign of some weirdness going on



m

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

I dont own a cell,
m

Oh good! I'm not the only hold out! I HATE those things!

luddites-R-US

 

[Tzara]

Oh good! I'm not the only hold out! I HATE those things!

luddites-R-US

I own one because my company makes me have one. It is handy when I am out of town, which is basically the only time I turn it on. It's kind of funny to find 23 voice mail messages, at least until I have to go through all of them and erase the messages. Call my office number, dammit!

The salesperson I used to work with would do this charming thing of getting into the rental car in a strange city and try to drive, read a map, and talk on his cell all at the same time. After we almost got plastered onto the front of a semi, I finally managed to convince him that it was perhaps better if I drove. Then someone would ask him a technical question and he would try to hand the phone to me. Sigh.

One of the women I work with has a Bluetooth (wireless) headset she uses. Wears the headset constantly. It's one of those that has a small flashing blue light on it to indicate it is linked to the phone. You can see the light blinking under her hair--makes her look like an android.

 

[Maria2394]

I own one because my company makes me have one. It is handy when I am out of town, which is basically the only time I turn it on. It's kind of funny to find 23 voice mail messages, at least until I have to go through all of them and erase the messages. Call my office number, dammit!

The salesperson I used to work with would do this charming thing of getting into the rental car in a strange city and try to drive, read a map, and talk on his cell all at the same time. After we almost got plastered onto the front of a semi, I finally managed to convince him that it was perhaps better if I drove. Then someone would ask him a technical question and he would try to hand the phone to me. Sigh.

One of the women I work with has a Bluetooth (wireless) headset she uses. Wears the headset constantly. It's one of those that has a small flashing blue light on it to indicate it is linked to the phone. You can see the light blinking under her hair--makes her look like an android.

The blue tooth headsets make me think of them as the Borg. DAmn, those Borg things give me nightmares. They are ONLY aliens on Star Trek that ever scared me in real life.

My hubby ppointed out on our last job that the huge square metallic boiler houses look like Borg ships. He is right...

Boy, I loved him for pointing THAT out!!

 

[annaswirls]

I refused to carry a cell phone until I was pregnant with our second kid while toting around the first, my husband insisted we get them.

Now I do feel like I have to keep one on me. If there is an emergency or illness with the kids, I want the school to be able to get ahold of me pronto, and I do not want to wait around next to a land line just in case.

I have to confess that I sometimes do talk on the phone while driving, but I never answer or dial while in transit, and never in town where I have to be making a lot of starts stops turns pedestrians etc. only while sitting in Austin traffic, what better time to quick catch up with my far away family and I swear I pay attention

But it is insane, the little conversations I over hear at the store, or while hiking in the woods, yes, very annoying...



Okay I am going out on a limb. One of my pet peeves is seeing tiny awake babies in those plastic bucket car seat carriers, swinging along flying through the air bumpbumpbumping against the leg or doorway, at a long armslength....instead of all snug and warm in their big people's arms.

(I know I know I used them too especially when going into a resturaunt or grocery shopping but so much prefer the fabric sling with the baby all pressed in where babies are meant to be, safe against the skin of the big warm safe people who love them)

But on the topic of babies. In general, I think I can see different views of hot topics without agreeing with them, understand the point of the argument, etc. BUT one controversy that I cannot understand is that against public breastfeeding. I cannot wrap my head around it, why anyone would think that is would be okay to limit where and when an infant can nurse from its mother.

There, off my soapbox and into the laundry room.....

 

[champagne1982]

<snip> one controversy that I cannot understand is that against public breastfeeding. I cannot wrap my head around it, why anyone would think that is would be okay to limit where and when an infant can nurse from its mother.</snip>.....

I have no problem with someone feeding their infant *note: infant not toddler* in public. I do have an issue with mothers - make that anyone who smokes while holding their babe-in-arms directly below a glowing red ember!

 

[Liar]

Um... I only have a cell phone. No regular one.

But I have sense enough to turn the damn thing off when it's supposed tp be.

 

[Liar]

I have no problem with someone feeding their infant *note: infant not toddler* in public. I do have an issue with mothers - make that anyone who smokes while holding their babe-in-arms directly below a glowing red ember!

I kind of take objection to actually smoking that close to a kidlet, ember or no ember. But I might be duped by the Passive Smoking mafia.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

I have no problem with someone feeding their infant *note: infant not toddler* in public. I do have an issue with mothers - make that anyone who smokes while holding their babe-in-arms directly below a glowing red ember!

Make that ANYone who smokes in public. I think it is getting to that point - or close.

(there's no indignation against smoking like that of reformed smokers)

 

[annaswirls]

I have no problem with someone feeding their infant *note: infant not toddler* in public. I do have an issue with mothers - make that anyone who smokes while holding their babe-in-arms directly below a glowing red ember!

yes, that is definately a no-no.

so what is your idea of a cut off age for nursing in public? I remember thinking that if the kid can ask for it, climb up on the mom's lap and unbutton her blouse it was time to cut off the juice, but idea kind of changed as I got older and lived through it. Although we knew a mom who sent breastmilk in to school with her kindergardener, and I thought that was a bit odd.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

"bitty!"?

 

[annaswirls]

"bitty!"?

actually that is how I became inspired to wean my second, when he was 15 months old and bit my nipple with a huge smile on his face.....

 

[champagne1982]

I kind of take objection to actually smoking that close to a kidlet, ember or no ember. But I might be duped by the Passive Smoking mafia.

I agree with you on that, but consider the immediate agony of a burn. I think if more people were made aware of that danger then passive smoke would be (kind of) dealt with simultaneously. It takes true idiocy to ignore the burn factor over the kind of ignorance that permits smoking (indeed other polluting acts) around children at all.

 

[champagne1982]

yes, that is definately a no-no.

so what is your idea of a cut off age for nursing in public? I remember thinking that if the kid can ask for it, climb up on the mom's lap and unbutton her blouse it was time to cut off the juice, but idea kind of changed as I got older and lived through it. Although we knew a mom who sent breastmilk in to school with her kindergardener, and I thought that was a bit odd.

Well, I think that if breast milk is the sole source of nourishment for your child, have at it... But, if you are using breast milk as a supplement to other foods, then it's time to leave it behind the material of your shirt in public. If they're old enough to eat food in a restaurant, then buy your children food.

 

[bogusbrig]

I have no problem with someone feeding their infant *note: infant not toddler* in public. I do have an issue with mothers - make that anyone who smokes while holding their babe-in-arms directly below a glowing red ember!

Sometimes I'm impressed with how many activities a dedicated smoker can do while still smoking a cigarette. When i worked in the coal mines waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in another life time, it fascinated me to watch men shower while smoking and never get the cigarette wet.

As for cell phones. I have one (because everyone has one ) but I refuse to use it because it is like being tagged and I have yet to be convicted of anything more than a parking fine. One thing I have never worked out about myself though is why I keep giving people my number when I barely turn my phone on more than one a month. I once spent weeks wooing a woman for a date and when I arrived at the rendezvous I was stood up. I was gutted and rather wounded (wounded pride hurts real bad). I promised myself I wouldn't go crawling to her for an explanation but a couple of days later I just had to find out why she stood me up. I switched my phone on to be greeted by about fifteen increasingly frantic messages where she had tried to contact me explaining she couldn't make our date and asking if I could reaarange it.

 

[annaswirls]

Well, I think that if breast milk is the sole source of nourishment for your child, have at it... But, if you are using breast milk as a supplement to other foods, then it's time to leave it behind the material of your shirt in public. If they're old enough to eat food in a restaurant, then buy your children food.

ahhh if it were only that simple

 

[Tzara]

Make that ANYone who smokes in public. I think it is getting to that point - or close.

It is illegal in Washington state to smoke inside a public building, including restaurants and bars. It is illegal to smoke within 25 feet of the entrance to a public building.

So when I'm home, I am rarely around anyone who smokes. Why Las Vegas is so irritating to go to. People smoke everywhere there, including elevators.

(there's no indignation against smoking like that of reformed smokers)

We are rather snotty about it, aren't we?

 

[champagne1982]

ahhh if it were only that simple

LOL anna. I know that public means more than in a restaurant. There are indoor playgrounds and libraries and malls and and and... If - and this is an easy if - I were managing a facility where young families spend their leisure time, I would try to make sure there were suitable choices for those mothers who just can't wean their babies for whatever reason.

It's not fair to expect every child and mother to have the same preferences but I think it would be fair for EVERYONE in that environment to respect each other. So, if a mom can nourish her baby through giving the child appropriate finger foods or blended meals, I really would hope that she would have the consideration to choose that alternative than the breast while in a public place.

 

[annaswirls]

okay, but why? I am not being rude or stubborn, I swear I am just curious. I really really do not understand why a mother would give a baby a food other than the breast if that is what it the mother and child are both choosing.

From my experience, I don't think that mothers "can't" wean their babies, it is a choice between the mother and the baby to make, when it is time, it is time, and pretty obvious for most mother-child partnerships but is it the possibility that someone might see a breast that is worrysome? It is not a sexual thing. I got rather good at nursing so that no one would even know unless they were gawking.

It is the healthiest choice for mom and baby, so being "considerate" of the person how might possibly be offended by the breastfeeding seems secondary.

ah I know this is a hot topic, I just don't get it though!

LOL anna. I know that public means more than in a restaurant. There are indoor playgrounds and libraries and malls and and and... If - and this is an easy if - I were managing a facility where young families spend their leisure time, I would try to make sure there were suitable choices for those mothers who just can't wean their babies for whatever reason.

It's not fair to expect every child and mother to have the same preferences but I think it would be fair for EVERYONE in that environment to respect each other. So, if a mom can nourish her baby through giving the child appropriate finger foods or blended meals, I really would hope that she would have the consideration to choose that alternative than the breast while in a public place.

 

[champagne1982]

okay, but why? I am not being rude or stubborn, I swear I am just curious. I really really do not understand why a mother would give a baby a food other than the breast if that is what it the mother and child are both choosing.

From my experience, I don't think that mothers "can't" wean their babies, it is a choice between the mother and the baby to make, when it is time, it is time, and pretty obvious for most mother-child partnerships but is it the possibility that someone might see a breast that is worrysome? It is not a sexual thing. I got rather good at nursing so that no one would even know unless they were gawking.

It is the healthiest choice for mom and baby, so being "considerate" of the person how might possibly be offended by the breastfeeding seems secondary.

ah I know this is a hot topic, I just don't get it though!

Okay, can't is a bad choice, I should have said won't. It is a concious choice to continue to either bottle feed or nurse a child beyond the point when they can be and are introduced to solids and drink from a cup, don't you think?

I don't believe that even in cultures where breastfeeding is the norm (I'm not saying it is abnormal in North America, just that a lot of people choose other options) that mothers would allow their walking, talking, toilet-trained babies to hang off their teat during an outing if another food source is available.

To drop that age down a little, remembering that I can only go by statistical averages, to say - 18 to 20 months - then most babies can and often will, choose to wander a few feet away from Mom's lap. I'm not saying out of Mom's influence and rescue zone, just down from the cuddle zone. Also, at that time, most parents are offering food choices to them, if they have teeth, shouldn't they be taught to chew?

So, wouldn't a logical progression be, if you were going out of the house for an hour or two, even three, to a place that isn't neccessarily set up to cater to a nursing or bottle feeding family, wouldn't you take the time to feed and diaper your child before you went out?

I don't see the neccessity of giving a baby, older than the age of infancy, your breast in a place where most people come to be apart from child-rearing realities. I don't see how it could be of benefit to, or even desired by the mom.

I'd like to point out that I am an advocate of breast-feeding, I just don't think I would pursue it someplace where I couldn't be comfortable doing it. That is my point. I don't think it should be legislated into a closet nor do I feel anyone should be offended if a mom is nursing. I do raise a flag over the people who insist that the only option for a toddler is the breast.

If the child is thirsty, there is water and juice, hunger can be satisfied with mushie veggies and unsalted and unspiced broths. You don't have to give an 18 month old breast milk, exclusively, so why would you offer it at all if you're out where there are people who aren't accompanied by children?

 

[clutching_calliope]

<snip> waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in another life time, it fascinated me to watch men in the shower...<snip>

Waah! I thought you liked me, er, I mean women, um, you know!

I'm hoping since that was way back in another lifetime, you've changed your naughty voyueristic ways.