Just one question after a week with 'em...

[JAG]

Originally Posted by MrIllini

so that his teacher can get ahold of him and arrange a good boning

There is really no need for further posts after that one...unless more people want to chime in about it being a good one.

[Barkeep49]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Logan and as usually, Shorty, are some of the assholes I was referring to. I'll give you kids a hint that might pay off when you grow up: a) plan better and b) life is inconvenient at times, deal with it.

Plan better? What's wrong with their planning? They're planning differently than you. And inconvience is something to be cherished? Unless you are Amish, or the like (a lifestyle which I can respect since they are among the happiest people in the US), I think you're making a faulty argument.

Further, to return to the initial issue, I think there is nothing wrong with middle schoolers having one. There is also nothing wrong with adults telling them to put it away. But if it is a status symbol/sign of sophistication, as SD suggests and I agree, then it's a pretty harmless one. I'd rather see every kid I work with have a cell phone than try to be sophisticated in other ways, such as skanky dressing, on the harmless side, to taking up tabacco, on the more insiduous side.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Logan and as usually, Shorty, are some of the assholes I was referring to. I'll give you kids a hint that might pay off when you grow up: a) plan better and b) life is inconvenient at times, deal with it.

While I think its funny that you got thrown in the box for this, let me address this issue as if you didn't say that magic word (and SkyDog, if you don't want me responding to this, feel free to delete it--no hard feelings). You can respond once you're out of the can.

How am I being an a-hole (like that SD ) if I try and stay in contact with my friends through a night out? I don't know where (or if) you went to college, but Rutgers is a big place, with tons of different bars/frats/houses where people are always hanging out and partying. I have a large group of friends who bounce around between said places on any given night. It's a great advantage to be able to use a cell phone to get in contact with a bunch of people throughout the night, to find out if there's something cool going on that the people I'm with are not aware of.

As for your hint, I apologize for liking the fact that I can leave my options open. Maybe if people weren't so stubborn in sticking to their "plan" they would be better off in life.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Logan

... when you were loaded?

Let's see here, if your profile (and my math) is accurate, you'll turn 21 in a couple of months.

So basically what you're saying here is that the cell phones are a key component in illegal activities.

Hmm ... I think you just made a great argument for me delaying my kid from getting one anytime soon. Of course, he's just 6, so that wasn't going to happen real quick anyway.

[Ben E Lou]

To clarify, he wasn't thrown in the box for using the word "asshole." He didn't just use the word; he specifically name-called two people in an unprovoked manner. It didn't help his case that he displayed other troll-ish behavior in another thread just a few minutes prior.

[Axxon]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

To clarify, he wasn't thrown in the box for using the word "asshole." He didn't just use the word; he specifically name-called two people in an unprovoked manner. It didn't help his case that he displayed other troll-ish behavior in another thread just a few minutes prior.

I'm glad you clarified this. I thought it was the "asshole" comment and it raised an eyebrow. It didn't make sense with the f*ck thread still standing. Maybe if he'd called them a**holes? I though,t but that seemed a bit silly. I was stumped.

I understand it now after you explained it.

Oh, and I haven't come across the other thread yet or maybe I have but didn't notice.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Axxon

Oh, and I haven't come across the other thread yet or maybe I have but didn't notice.

Same here.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Let's see here, if your profile (and my math) is accurate, you'll turn 21 in a couple of months.

So basically what you're saying here is that the cell phones are a key component in illegal activities.

Hmm ... I think you just made a great argument for me delaying my kid from getting one anytime soon. Of course, he's just 6, so that wasn't going to happen real quick anyway.

Actually, my ID says I'll be 22 in a couple of months. But it also says that I'm from NY, when I'm really from Jersey.

Underage drinking is prevalent everywhere. I have friends that are a couple years older, and also some that are younger. I've seen plenty of people of legal drinking age do some of the dumbest (and illegal) things. And there are plenty who aren't 21 who drink and are very responsible when they do so.

Want a parenting tip from an underage kid ? It's inevitable that your kid will come in contact with others drinking underage (hopefully not for 10+ years of course). Trust him to make the right decisions until he proves that he doesn't deserve your trust. My parents never had a problem if I came home in high school with alcohol on my breath as long as A. I wasn't driving, B. They knew where I was going, and who with, before I went out, and C. I didn't lie about it. As long as I followed those rules, they felt safe for me, and were able to sleep at night.

[Senator]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Heh. Buzzbee beat me to it. What he said.

Incidentally, I'm wide open for lunch the rest of this week and can meet you somewhere near your office. Let me know what might work.

Call him on his cell phone.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Logan

And there are plenty who aren't 21 who drink and are very responsible when they do so.

Apparently you & I have dramatically different definitions of "responsible" -- willfully engaging in criminal activity doesn't really fit mine.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Logan

I can't imagine having to make plans with a big group of people by calling everyone's dorm phone individually and then deciding on a central meeting place.

I am going to give you a shocking piece of information. Placing a call from a land line to a land line takes no more time or effort than placing one from a cell phone to a cell phone. Arranging for 10 people to meet someplace is no harder using this 'obselete' technology.

Originally Posted by Logan

And good lord what did you people do for booty calls at 2 am when you were loaded?

Umm, since generally the actual booty call was more successful if the girl was actually in her room, I think this was easier using land lines.

[rkmsuf]

it's like before the cell phone life was so inconveinient. how did man survive? it's like when we invented fire.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Logan

It's a great advantage to be able to use a cell phone to get in contact with a bunch of people throughout the night.

Another thing. Develop enough self confidence to not fear your entire 'rep' being ruined if you miss one event the masses consider cool. THAT will make your life better - for the rest of your life, not just your young years - than any one or series of social events that occur while you are young.

[Barkeep49]

[rant]Logan while I am with you about the cell phone things, you are completely off base about drinking in high school. First of all the teenage brain and the adult brain are not the same. Teenagers who drink, even moderately, make it harder for themselves to learn even when they haven't had anything to drink. Further, alchoal doesn't sedate teens as much as it does adults leading teens to feel more confident than they should be about pursuing activities, even if it isn't driving, while being intoxicated. PET scans have shown that teenagers have enough chemicals which naturally block their ability to make good decisions, thye certainly don't need an additional drug to help them along. Not to mention that 40% of those who start drinking by age 15 become alchoalics, and 90% of alchoalics started drinking by age 18.

I think the much larger problem among teenagers today is how few of them know what to do when bored. They are so used to stimulation, and at least with the middle class, always having a full schedule, they never learned as kids how to handle boredom. While all of the statistics I quoted above are from the NIH, I will say that from my experience it seems as though 95% of kids who start using alchoal/drugs do so because of boredom.[/rant]

[Subby]

I graduated from college a long time ago - 1993 to be exact - so I can remember a time when we had one phone for my whole freshman hall and during my sophomore year, one phone in my fraternity house. Eventually, we got phones and voice mail in our rooms. Looking back on it now, it seems crazy - but back then none of us really gave it a second thought. We went out drinking all the time, stopping by dorms and fraternity and sorrority houses to pick people up and bring them along. We knocked on doors, made phone calls, left messages. Rarely did we ever all start out in one massive group at the beginning of the evening. A lot of times a night would start with just 2 or 3 of us splitting a pitcher early in the evening. As the night wore on, folks just showed up...and if they didn't, they didn't. Half the fun was running into each other next day and swapping stories of the previous evening.

I went to a fairly small school (I think there were ~5000 kids there when I attended) and the drinking possibilities were limited to the fraternities and probably 4 or 5 bars/delis. I don't know - I am not passing judgement on new types of communication, I just don't remember *needing* them back in the day.

One day your kids will probably stare at you increduously when you tell them that The Matrix started as an idea in a movie

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Subby

One day your kids will probably stare at you increduously when you tell them that The Matrix started as an idea in a movie

LOL, did it? Or did it reveal to us the truth about our own "lives"?

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Whoa...

My sentiments exactly... for some reason, I just never would have figured Bucc as a candidate for the penalty box.

[Daimyo]

I have to carry a cell phone and pager for work and there is no way I would carry either if I didn't have to, but some of you luddites are hilarious. Just because kids do things different than you did when you were young doesn't necessarily mean their way is worse. What's the big deal if high school and college kids set up activities via cell phone as long as they don't use them to do anything harmful to themselves or others?

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Daimyo

I have to carry a cell phone and pager for work and there is no way I would carry either if I didn't have to, but some of you luddites are hilarious. Just because kids do things different than you did when you were young doesn't necessarily mean their way is worse. What's the big deal if high school and college kids set up activities via cell phone as long as they don't use them to do anything harmful to themselves or others?

just because Buc is in solitarty doesn't mean you get to run hog wild around here.

[Daimyo]

DOLA, and to Bucc's comment about using it in a supermarket... there are times on my way home from work where I stop at the grocery store and make a quick call to my wife to see if she needs anything while I'm there. Would it be more honorable if I just did without? What's the point of that when I have the ability to do it and it doesn't harm anyone else at all? Its especially strange to hear that sort of complaint coming from a libertarian... *shurg*

[Franklinnoble]

Just wondering... how many minutes do you get for calling Shorty an asshole?

**note to SD... I'm not calling anyone an asshole... just wondering is all...I don't need you to SHOW me how many minutes you get for calling Shorty an asshole.**

**note to Shorty... this is not some veiled attempt to call you an asshole...**

[Radii]

Originally Posted by Daimyo

DOLA, and to Bucc's comment about using it in a supermarket... there are times on my way home from work where I stop at the grocery store and make a quick call to my wife to see if she needs anything while I'm there. Would it be more honorable if I just did without? What's the point of that when I have the ability to do it and it doesn't harm anyone else at all? Its especially strange to hear that sort of complaint coming from a libertarian... *shurg*

Nah, I don't have a problem with that, and I do that all the time myself. What I don't understand is how so many people view the cell phone as a *must have* that they couldn't live without, and not simply a convienance. Really, without my cell phone, I'd just be extra careful to find out all the details about what I was supposed to pick up when I went to the grocery store. Instead, I get the general idea and when I'm looking at the 5 different types of onions they sell at the store and have no idea which one I'm supposed to get, I hop on the cell phone.

But I surely could live without it if necessary

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

To clarify, he wasn't thrown in the box for using the word "asshole." He didn't just use the word; he specifically name-called two people in an unprovoked manner. It didn't help his case that he displayed other troll-ish behavior in another thread just a few minutes prior.

Looks like I missed this thread last night. Ar first, I thought the "magic words" were his incorrect usage of "usually" in the middle of the sentence. Thanks for setting the record straight.

I didn't get a cell phone until I left the state and got a real job. Very necessary. My wife already had one, in case of an emergency with our daughter. And for the same reason, I'm glad I also have one, in case something happens and she needs to get a hold of me. Since it's available, why not take advantage of it?

My phone's always on vibrate. For you.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

My phone's always on vibrate. For her pleasure.

Well isn't that thoughtful.

[Ksyrup]

My phone's on vibrate for you
Electroclash is karioke too
I try to dance Britney Spears
I guess I'm getting on in years

My phone's on vibrate for you
God knows what all these new drugs do
I guess to have no more fears
But still I always end up in tears

My phone's on vibrate for you
But still I never ever feel from you
Pinocchio's now a boy
Who wants to turn back into a toy

So call me
Call me in the morning
Call me in the night
So call me
Call me anytime you like

My phone's on vibrate for you
For you

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Radii

Nah, I don't have a problem with that, and I do that all the time myself. What I don't understand is how so many people view the cell phone as a *must have* that they couldn't live without, and not simply a convienance. Really, without my cell phone, I'd just be extra careful to find out all the details about what I was supposed to pick up when I went to the grocery store. Instead, I get the general idea and when I'm looking at the 5 different types of onions they sell at the store and have no idea which one I'm supposed to get, I hop on the cell phone.

But I surely could live without it if necessary

Bingo. Exact same here. Because I have it with me, I don't make a point to be sure to write everything down, memorize the details, or call her before I leave the office like I would have before I had one. My guess is that 75% or more of the SkyDog-Mrs.SkyDog or Mrs.SkyDog-SkyDog mobile phone calls happen when one of us is in the grocery store. It is a convenience, not a necessity.

[Franklinnoble]

Hey, as long as people don't use their cell phones in the bathroom, I don't have a problem...

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Hey, as long as people don't use their cell phones in the bathroom, I don't have a problem...

Now THAT I love. Seriously. Ordinarily, if someone is using the phone in the bathroom, they're not exactly trying to broadcast it to the person they're talking to. Knowing that, is there anything better than sitting next to one of these guys and letting rip? Truly an entertaining experience.

[hhiipp]

I view my phone completely as a luxury and not a necessity. It makes some things more convenient when used properly and not abused like many people.

The thing I find most offensive about phones is the ones with the walkie talkie feature where everyone within a 1 block radius can hear you because they are so obnoxiously loud.

[korme]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Apparently you & I have dramatically different definitions of "responsible" -- willfully engaging in criminal activity doesn't really fit mine.

you sound like my mom Jon. Are you telling me you never drank before 18 (when that age was legal), or smoked a cigarrette or cigar before 18? And if you didn't, you're in the minority.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

you sound like my mom Jon...

Well, they HAVE spent a lot of time together...

[korme]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Hey, as long as people don't use their cell phones in the bathroom, I don't have a problem...

I can guarantee a call in the middle of the day from my best friend atleast 3-4 times a week... it goes something like this.

"Hey, guess what I'm doin"

"Shittin, man you always call me when your shittin'"

*plop* "Did you hear that?"

We have an interesting friendship.

[rkmsuf]

that seems perfectly normal

[Buzzbee]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

I can guarantee a call in the middle of the day from my best friend atleast 3-4 times a week... it goes something like this.

"Hey, guess what I'm doin"

"Shittin, man you always call me when your shittin'"

*plop* "Did you hear that?"

We have an interesting friendship.

The prosecution rests, your honor.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

I can guarantee a call in the middle of the day from my best friend atleast 3-4 times a week... it goes something like this.

"Hey, guess what I'm doin"

"Shittin, man you always call me when your shittin'"

*plop* "Did you hear that?"

We have an interesting friendship.

"When you think of garbage, think of Akeem."

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Buzzbee

The prosecution rests, your honor.

Yes, outstanding argument on the necesity of cell phones Shorty.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

"When you think of garbage, think of Akeem."

Nice!

[hhiipp]

Originally Posted by Samdari

Yes, outstanding argument on the necesity of cell phones Shorty.

This guy could be calling from a cordless phone. . . surely you wouldn't waste your minutes to tell someone about the corn in your feces.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by hhiipp

This guy could be calling from a cordless phone. . . surely you wouldn't waste your minutes to tell someone about the corn in your feces.

From one of the guys that was arguing that it was stupid to use anything but cell phones, I assumed this was a cell to cell call.

[korme]

Originally Posted by Samdari

Yes, outstanding argument on the necesity of cell phones Shorty.

Nope, we use the old house phones for those calls..


cell phones still kick ass though, back on topic?

[korme]

Originally Posted by Samdari

From one of the guys that was arguing that it was stupid to use anything but cell phones, I assumed this was a cell to cell call.

When did I say that? Are you drunk?

[Logan]

When I was on the board a couple hours ago, I spent about 20 minutes writing a response to both Jon in GA and Samdari. I hit submit, and got a message about some damn database error, and my post was gone. I'm not going to go through the trouble of typing that whole thing up again, so I'll just sum up my stance as quickly as possible.

If "growing up" means I will end up being as narrow-minded as some of you, I'd rather stay the way I am.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

you sound like my mom Jon. Are you telling me you never drank before 18 (when that age was legal), or smoked a cigarrette or cigar before 18? And if you didn't, you're in the minority.

I didn't pick up smoking at all until I was 19 or 20 (only non-smoker & one of only two men in a hen house of an office with 17 women). I've made up for lost time since then to be sure, but I wasn't really around anybody who smoked so it wasn't really something I gave much thought.

I had a grand total of 1 drink prior to age 21, and that consisted of a decent sized shot of homemade apple brandy. There too, I've certainly made up for lost time, but the risk of going to jail or worse outweighed any desire I had to give it a whirl.

[Axxon]

Originally Posted by Logan

When I was on the board a couple hours ago, I spent about 20 minutes writing a response to both Jon in GA and Samdari. I hit submit, and got a message about some damn database error, and my post was gone. I'm not going to go through the trouble of typing that whole thing up again, so I'll just sum up my stance as quickly as possible.

If "growing up" means I will end up being as narrow-minded as some of you, I'd rather stay the way I am.

Sorry to tell you this Logan, but it's as inevitable as death and taxes.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Logan

If "growing up" means I will end up being as narrow-minded as some of you, I'd rather stay the way I am.

Yes sir, that's me. What on earth was I thinking, respecting the law & such. Such a narrow-minded bastard I am.

Staying "the way you are" is a luxury that accompanies childhood. When you're an adult, those luxuries tend to become fewer & farther between. Enjoy it while you can.

[korme]

Jon, I don't put myself into situations where I can get in trouble by the law. Ok, I have, but I know the risks and am ready to take proper action (need it be running, or getting in trouble). But usually I am somewhere where I know I can't get in trouble, and I never get in a car with someone who has been drinking.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

But usually I am somewhere where I know I can't get in trouble, and I never get in a car with someone who has been drinking.

While I applaud you wholeheartedly on your apparent committment to the latter (like many people, I've been to a few hospitals and/or funerals too many that involved underage drinking), I'd still question whether the former is as much a certainty as you seem to believe.

Rather than a lengthy (and fairly obvious IMO) explanation of what I mean, I'll just liken it to running a stop sign at 3 a.m. because "there's nobody around, not a cop in sight". I've known several people who were ticketed moments later.

[Samdari]

Just curious how thinking that cell phones are a luxury/convenience rather than a necesity makes one in any way narrow minded.

[Axxon]

[quote=JonInMiddleGA]While I applaud you wholeheartedly on your apparent committment to the latter (like many people, I've been to a few hospitals and/or funerals too many that involved underage drinking), I'd still question whether the former is as much a certainty as you seem to believe.
[quote]


Lets not stop at underaged Jon though I've seen my share of that. I've worked in our er here and I sincerely believe that as part of any drunk driving conviction you must do community service in the er. If that doesn't stop you from drinking and driving then I'm fine with life behind bars for the second offense.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Yes sir, that's me. What on earth was I thinking, respecting the law & such. Such a narrow-minded bastard I am.

Roll your eyes all you want. I'll just go on assuming that you've never driven even a mile over the speed limit, went thru a yellow light when it would have been easier for you to stop, changed lanes without signaling, or consumed an alcoholic beverage before turning 21 years of age. Oh yeah...you've already admitted to doing that. Which makes you a hypocrite. Maybe it only happened once, but all it takes is one mistake to kill an innocent person in a car accident.

Go on with your perfect, law-abiding life.

Originally Posted by Samdari

Just curious how thinking that cell phones are a luxury/convenience rather than a necesity makes one in any way narrow minded.

That doesn't make you narrow-minded at all. As I've said...I consider my cell phone a convenience. I use it when it is convenient for me, whenever that is (except in situations I outlined in my last post--in the car, at dinner, etc). It's not a necessity--only food, water, and shelter are. But there are tons of things we utilize in life because they are convenient to us.

The narrow-mindedness comes to play when you say things like how I don't have "enough self confidence to not fear [my] entire 'rep' being ruined if [i] miss one event the masses consider cool" if you think that is why I use my cell to stay in touch with my friends throughout the night. As I said before, I had a whole response to this exact quote, but that went right out the damn window with that BS database error or whatever it was. So...to save ourselves some time, let's just chalk this one up to you not knowing a damn thing about me, and vice versa...okay?