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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 7:38 am
  #31  
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So how do all you anti-BT folks answer your phones? you carry the thing in your left hand, wide open, arm raised, and stare at it most of the day?

I put black tape over my blue flasher, so as not to offend.

I once had a Home Depot checkout clerk try to check me out while conversing on two cell phones, one on each shoulder. would she not hav been much more efficient if she had a pair of blue teeth?
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 7:45 am
  #32  
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Originally Posted by slawecki
So how do all you anti-BT folks answer your phones?
Um, I pick it up when it rings or vibrates?
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 7:48 am
  #33  
 
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Another vote for ridiculous.
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 7:55 am
  #34  
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Originally Posted by PTravel
Paraphrasing Oscar Wilde, I never go to McDonalds. Obviously, our social spheres are widely different.
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 7:59 am
  #35  
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Originally Posted by slawecki
So how do all you anti-BT folks answer your phones? you carry the thing in your left hand, wide open, arm raised, and stare at it most of the day?
Simple - ALL of my calls go to VM, and *I* decide which to return now, later, or if at all. I'm probably in a small minority, but I like to preserve a tiny shred of privacy in my life, and not being at the beck and call of itinerant callers is one small way I can do that. YMMV, of course
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 8:34 am
  #36  
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Originally Posted by PTravel
Wow. Interesting thread.

This morning in Shanghai, my wife and I had a taxi driver with an attitude. He kept making almost-over-the-line snide comments -- I must have a lot of money, it must be nice to be a woman and not have to work -- things along those lines. All I could think was, "And yet you're the guy driving a cab."

So many judgmental people!

I have a bluetooth headset and keep it on from time to time, particularly when I'm transiting an airport. I do it because it's convenient for me -- I don't want to stop and fumble through my pockets to find it when I'm expecting a call. I don't wear it to impress anyone, and I certainly don't wear it to pick up girls -- I couldn't care less what people think.

This thread strikes me as a case of, "the lady doth protest too much." A bluetooth headset costs $50 -- less on sale. No one buys them to impress anyone, any more than any one uses a cellphone to impress anyone. If you think anyone uses a bluetooth headset to impress any one else, you might want to examine your own self-esteem issues.

People use bluetooth headsets because it's convenient -- the same reason they use ballpoint pens instead of quills with a bottle of ink. If my use of a bluetooth headset is a source of amusement to some, well, I'm not the one driving a cab.

Thank you for your response. I would point out that I am not criticizing the USE of a headset. As a matter of fact, I support the use of them, in certain situations like driving, and traversing airports (as you pointed out, which I had not previously considered, and wholeheartedly agree).

My point, which seems to have resonated, is that the non-use of them IS a source of amusment (waiting for a call, trying to impress/score a date, wanting to look like Lt. Uhura, etc.). Although I haven't done so yet, if I were to encounter someone is a service position with a blue tooth over their ear (or worse, being used on a clearly personal call while I stand there waiting on their services) I would have no problem challenging that individuals compliance with their company's cellphone policy, or a similar scolding. Or maybe not...

Anyway, as some posters have mentioned, the practice of wearing them when not in use is nerdish and geeky (at least in the here and now) and marching around as if the White House is about to phone in is simply, well, ridiculous.
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 8:35 am
  #37  
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For those that are curious why they get left on the ear all the time. It really only makes sense. If I am going to put the earpiece away and just have to fumble for it when the phone rings then I might as well not have it. I just make it a part of my normal process to put it on each day, charge it etc otherwise it will not be charged or on when I need it. Also, I have my phone set to quiet so it never rings or vibrates and I just get a beep in my ear and hit a button and I am good to go. The phone sits in my bag mostly.

I am always amazed when people get so worked up about how others live their life (especially when it doesnt bother them). I have seen people comment that the users of the headsets are trying to look important and the like. I think the problem may be with the person who is so concerned about what I wear on my head. A boston red sox hat on the head now that is ridiculous!

I lost my manual on what I am supposed to wear, eat and drink in life. Could someone PM me the link to download it?
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 8:40 am
  #38  
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Originally Posted by mcgahat
For those that are curious why they get left on the ear all the time. It really only makes sense. If I am going to put the earpiece away and just have to fumble for it when the phone rings then I might as well not have it. I just make it a part of my normal process to put it on each day, charge it etc otherwise it will not be charged or on when I need it. Also, I have my phone set to quiet so it never rings or vibrates and I just get a beep in my ear and hit a button and I am good to go. The phone sits in my bag mostly.

I am always amazed when people get so worked up about how others live their life (especially when it doesnt bother them). I have seen people comment that the users of the headsets are trying to look important and the like. I think the problem may be with the person who is so concerned about what I wear on my head. A boston red sox hat on the head now that is ridiculous!

I lost my manual on what I am supposed to wear, eat and drink in life. Could someone PM me the link to download it?
I don't think anyone is getting worked up, or is telling others what they can or can not wear.

All I said what that IN MY OPINION wearing one of these for any long period of time just makes you look like a dork.

But we live in a free country, and there are no laws against looking like a dork.
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 8:42 am
  #39  
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Originally Posted by ScottC
The Importance of Being Earnest:

Cecily Cardew: When I see a spade, I call it a spade.
Gwendolyn Fairfax: I am glad to say, I've never seen a spade. Obviously our social spheres are widely different.

[This useless bit of theater trivia brought to you by a multiplicity of useless graduate degrees.]

Last edited by PTravel; Jan 5, 2007 at 8:49 am
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 9:19 am
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Originally Posted by EngIceDave
I discovered that the lanyard that comes with my flash drive is perfect for hanging it around my neck when not in use.
I didn't know anyone actually used those lanyards...
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 10:53 am
  #41  
 
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Originally Posted by You want to go where?
While I don't use a Bluetooth, I have received calls in the Metro (subway) in Washington. The system has been specifically wired for cellular by Verizon. This may not be true in NYC.
Originally Posted by yvrnycracer
I think it is the best when people wear them in the Subway in NYC!!! THE SUBWAY!!!! who is going to get a call while in the underground!? The other new trend is for people to wear them as they are working their service jobs. I have seen a few people working in the fast food shops in a mall foodcourt while having their headsets on! I think it's a coin toss between the ones who wear it in the subway or ones who wear them while working a fast food job that makes me laugh the most!
Actually, while the NYC subway remains un-wired, in contrast to many system sin Europe for example, there are portions of the NYC "subway" system that are overground, in the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn and even in Manhattan. It wouldnt be all that odd if you had entered on one of those stations and just left the head set on.

Also the fast food people would in fact need this thing even more since they are on highky regulated schedules where they cannot even go to the bathroom without telling a manager.At least not if they want to get fired. So if they can free up their hands to be able to still talk while they do a mind-numbing job, are you really going to begrudge them this?

Originally Posted by Unimatrix One
Well, I think the bluetooth headsets look ridiculous when in use. So many people walking around who look like they're talking to themselves or their imaginary friend. You can't tell who's crazy anymore.
Its not that long ago that people talking on mobile phones looked "weird", as they were speaking into a 1 lb grey plastic brick while they walked down the street. Surely you do remember this? I do.

So its a bit ironic that we all now claim other people are odd for talking into something that is at least smaller and less obstrusive.
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 11:11 am
  #42  
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Originally Posted by slawecki
So how do all you anti-BT folks answer your phones? you carry the thing in your left hand, wide open, arm raised, and stare at it most of the day?
Hahahaha, are you REALLY serious??

When my phone rings or vibrates, I pull it out and answer it.

Wearing a BT headset is EXACTLY as ridiculous as having your cell phone 'in your left hand, wide open, arm raised, and star(ing) at it most of the day?'

It's just not required to be THAT prepared for a phone call...
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 11:21 am
  #43  
 
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When I see them clipped to the ear of a man who otherwise doesn't wear jewelry, I rather enjoy alerting him to the fact that he's lost one of his earrings

That being said, I bought one for myself a few years ago. I'm not ashamed to admit that I bought it, but am ashamed to admit that I have never once used it. D'OH!
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 11:33 am
  #44  
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I'm curious about the McDonald's thing. Was the employee wearing it for work purposes, (running the drive-thru) or was it connected to her personal phone? I doubt very many businesses allow front line customer service people to use their personal phones with or without BT while working.

We had a guy who used to wear his office phone BT headset and his cell phone BT headset, one on each ear. He's somewhat like Dwight on the Office, and we were able to solve it via a team effort. Basically, we called him repeatedly on his cell number and called him a tool.
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Old Jan 5, 2007 | 11:49 am
  #45  
 
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Originally Posted by Dugernaut

We had a guy who used to wear his office phone BT headset and his cell phone BT headset, one on each ear. He's somewhat like Dwight on the Office, and we were able to solve it via a team effort. Basically, we called him repeatedly on his cell number and called him a tool.

Nice...

How long did it take him to catch on?
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