I don't blame the phones either - they just provide a con-
venient excuse for the inconsiderate in our midst to show
their true nature.

Actually, the phones do share some of the blame. There is little to
no sidetone in cell phones (that I've used). The first time I used a
cell phone I made a call to my aunt to test it out. A few minutes
into the conversation I realized I was shouting into the thing just
like all the other people whose cell conversations I despise. I
wasn't trying to be inconsiderate - but the cues provided by the
earpiece (that I'm being herad) did not exist. With more sidetone in
the earpiece, people naturally talk more quietly.

Now when I use the phone I make extra effort to talk quietly, but it
is not natural the way it is on a regular phone.

My question is "what is the
difference"? My radio was simply people talking - and we
were surrounded by talking people!

One difference is the tone quality. A radio speaker typically emits
only treble, and it =sounds= different from a regular conversation.
The experiment would be interesting repeated through a hi-fi.

I suspect that this is part of the issue with cell phone use while
driving. The sound is tinny, comes through one ear, is often a
tenuous connection, and is full duplex. This requires more brainpower
to process - not enough more that we'd notice without something (like
accident rates) against which to measure it, but more nonetheless. A
two way radio in the car (like an aviation set) would be half duplex,
higher quality, and come in both ears. (Half duplex is important
because it means that you don't have to listen while you're talking.)
I have found it's much easier.

Maybe the final solution is to pass a law that all cell
phones must be in the form of a helmet - from which all
sounds made or heard by the user must be inaudible to others
at any distance greater than 12 inches.

The cone of silence goes mainstream!

Jose
--
Freedom. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
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