November 11
...serving up your daily dish.
Maybe we're oversensitive because we've been reading Philip Roth's "The Plot Against America," in which the U.S. becomes a fascist state after the election of Charles Lindbergh to the presidency in 1940. Or maybe we're just bad. But yesterday, the Barista was snapped at twice by people in authority. (And not, believe it or not, for referring to ourselves in the plural.)
The first time, we were parked for a moment on Douglas Road in Glen Ridge, a street that gets maybe 20 cars an hour in the middle of the day, and we were scootched a few feet out in the street to avoid a big pile of leaves. A cruiser flicked his siren and "ma'am"-ed us, complaining of our distance from the curb.
A few hours later, on the Decamp bus to Manhattan, in the early evening, we received a cell phone call from the Barista husband, to inform us that the party we were supposed to be attending at the "W" hotel was, indeed, not going on. Despite keeping our answers quiet and brief, we were in a matter of seconds cut off by the bus driver, who turned on the light and demanded we turn off the cell phone.
Fascist.
We understand that there are a lot of obnoxious cell phone users out there, but we think the quiet and courteous use of a communication device for the purposes of arranging a liason with one's own spouse isn't asking too much of either Decamp or our fellow passengers. Why not, in the interests of fairness, ban all obnoxious conversation on the bus, regardless of whether the person on the receiving end of the conversation is also on the bus or, say, on the other side of the tunnel?
So, we put it to you, dear reader:
November 11, 2004 in Paranoia Beat | Permalink
Does Barista work for Diebold? I "voted" but it was not counted! Still shows 0% for everything.
I agree with you on the DeCamp thing. I wonder why they don't get much sympathy from the townsfolk with their economic woes lately?
Posted by: Right of Center | Nov 11, 2004 2:04:28 PM
Stop the presses. Right of Center agrees with the Barista. And we too are having trouble voting.
As to your question, ROC, why doesn't Decamp get more sympathy with the townsfolk with their economic woes? Maybe they would if they weren't so damn dictatorial.
Now we'll go back and try to unstick the voting machine.
Posted by: The Barista | Nov 11, 2004 2:07:53 PM
If you want to use your cell phone, take the train. It's cheaper, faster and roomier. I suffer the cost, slowness and smooshing for one simple reason: no cell phones.
I do make exceptions for emergencies and calls home or to daycare re massive lateness. Otherwise, why not wait until you're in Port Authority? What difference would it make? Another suggestion: text messaging.
Posted by: Lex | Nov 11, 2004 2:13:49 PM
Lex, I can save you $, Slowness and smooshing!
http://tinyurl.com/5cp88
Posted by: Right of Center | Nov 11, 2004 2:21:14 PM
p.s. I hear they will be really cheap at walmart!
Posted by: Right of Center | Nov 11, 2004 2:21:42 PM
DeCamp is TRULY a fascist organization.
Yes, people DO abuse cell phones. But I don't think Mein DeCampf has the right to ban them entirely, as in the case of the Barista receiving a call from her husband letting her know that plans have been changed. Some of these drivers truly enjoy the power trip they are on.
At DeCamp's prices (which keep increasing), they should surely cut us some slack.
PS: I used to take the train when I lived in Montclair. Now that I live in Verona, however, it is no longer convenient.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Nov 11, 2004 2:23:55 PM
Bah, I hate earplugs. But, then again, it would be a plus not having the enormous guy sleeping on my shoulder or not sitting behind the person who feels it is their god-given right to put their seat waay back, even though straight up it's only three inches from the tip of my nose.
But if Barista's going to insist on chatting about her socialite parties at the W and Miss Martta's going to be spewing venom while I'm riding, then back to the train it will be.
Posted by: Lex | Nov 11, 2004 2:39:56 PM
The only *venom* I will be spewing is at you, Lex. And for that, I don't need a cell phone.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Nov 11, 2004 2:48:57 PM
Comparing DeCamp to Hitler's screed in which he laid out his plans for extermination of the Jews is venom, in my opinion. I have yet to see you direct it at me, but I look forward to it because I am That Sort of Guy.
For adjusting your level on the Holocaust, you can compare it to 2,000 9/11s in death toll alone. In morality, measurement is impossible, but it aimed at not just terror but the extermination of an entire race.
Posted by: Lex | Nov 11, 2004 2:55:55 PM
I'm with DeCamp here. I have often wanted to grab a phone an break it in two after hearing half an insipid conversation. Or half a conference call.
The flip phones are best for this.
Posted by: Kevin Lee Allen | Nov 11, 2004 3:21:05 PM
Yeah, you can text message the intended party if you don't have a blackberry.
"Party was cancelled, I'll call when I get off the bus"
Posted by: Joe mama | Nov 11, 2004 3:32:25 PM
Kev,
What do you want to break when the insipid conversation in a public place does not involve technology?
Perhaps there should be a code of silence?
A dress code? A no-perfume ordinance? A hair-do zoning regulation? What about that reading material you disapprove of? Wouldn't we *all* be better if we never had to witness a cover of People Magazine?
As soft (and commuter friendly) a version as I could find:
http://tinyurl.com/64we2
Posted by: Right of Center | Nov 11, 2004 3:48:53 PM
To all those who get annoyed hearing only half a cell-phone conversation, I say make up the other half.
Posted by: Chris | Nov 11, 2004 4:02:57 PM
Here's a solution:
http://tinyurl.com/yrplr
Given the enormity of the people who sit next to me, though, not sure I would want to try it.
Posted by: Lex | Nov 11, 2004 4:10:29 PM
And Roc, here's a study on why cell phone conversations, even ina normal voice are so annoying: http://tinyurl.com/39l8x
Regardless, people are pretty quiet on the bus... it's been a long day, you're in a crowded place where other peoples' actions affect you and you can't move away (on the train, you can move to another car) so simple politeness would dictate no using cell phones unless there's an emergency. Since simple politeness is in short supply in suburbia, rules take its place.
But, really, what was so important about Barista;s conversation that she couldn't have waited until she got to the PA? What did she do differently knowing 15 minutes earlier? Like I said before, it's one thing with mothers calling daycare providers to tell them they're going to be an hour late to pick up their kid because the turnpike is closed again.
Posted by: Lex | Nov 11, 2004 4:20:37 PM
For the prices that I pay to ride DeCamp these days I should not have to deal with other people's cell phones (OPCP). You want to send a text message? Fine. But there is no governing body on that cramped vessel to suburbia to dictate which of anyone's calls are important. Either cell phones or no cell phones at all, the latter of which I am for. Jeez, what kind of predicament would you all be in if it were 1990?
Posted by: Tony | Nov 11, 2004 4:24:21 PM
Oh, and Barista, your *real* complaint is probably that the bus drivers are rude, gruff and genreally not customer service driven (not that they are, in fact, fascists). I completely agree with you on this and have complained to DeCamp several times. Not that it did any good.
So, don;t take my remarks to mean that I don't have any sympathy for you.
Posted by: Lex | Nov 11, 2004 4:36:31 PM
"Comparing DeCamp to Hitler's screed in which he laid out his plans for extermination of the Jews is venom, in my opinion."
I have two words for you: "Lighten up." I happen to be Jewish myself and was just making a point which apparently has gone over your head. I stand by my statement that certain people at DeCamp act like fascists.
"I have yet to see you direct it at me, but I look forward to it because I am That Sort of Guy."
??? And what "sort of guy" would that be?
"For adjusting your level on the Holocaust, you can compare it to 2,000 9/11s in death toll alone. In morality, measurement is impossible, but it aimed at not just terror but the extermination of an entire race."
Again, I think you are reading WAY too much into my comments.
"Like I said before, it's one thing with mothers calling daycare providers to tell them they're going to be an hour late to pick up their kid because the turnpike is closed again."
Oh, silly me. I forgot that only people with children have lives that are important and worth living.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Nov 11, 2004 4:49:17 PM
That's right. After all, breeders are doing the MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!
Posted by: sharky | Nov 11, 2004 5:05:00 PM
Hmmm, even people without children have to admit that leaving them without adult supervision for hours is bad. Citing an example of an emergency doesn't mean there aren't other kinds.
But being told to "lighten up" by somebody who just compared a cranky bus driver to the Nazis, well, that hurts. But, like I said, I'm That Kind of Guy, so do it to me again baby!
Posted by: Lex | Nov 11, 2004 5:11:07 PM
Where's Sal when ya need him? LOL He is the only one I would trust to be the phone police.........
Posted by: cshel924 | Nov 11, 2004 5:22:36 PM
Where's Sal when ya need him? LOL He is the only one I would trust to be the phone police.........
Posted by: cshel924 | Nov 11, 2004 5:23:23 PM
Why should a bus driver have the right to ban cell phone use? Is it a safety hazard? No. Does it leave a mess? No. Is there a rule saying that two people cannot talk to each other on the bus? No. This is utterly ridiculous.
Frankly, the driver's action was pretty obnoxious, it created a slight (very, very slight) safety issue since he turned on a light and a p.a. system when he should have been focusing on the road.
Turning on a light and making an announcement got everyone on the bus involved. Do you think they were more annoyed by the one minute whispered half conversation or the lights and public announcement?
I hope the Barista has a nicer day tomorrow.
Posted by: Cheryl | Nov 11, 2004 11:57:19 PM
what regular humans have to put up with is of no consequence! We're talking about the Barista, here! Next time, fry that impudent internal combustion herder with your mind rays! That'll teach him to mess with a Goddess.
Posted by: Lisa Williams | Nov 12, 2004 12:45:09 AM
