6 ms·

>26 points I guess this is an unpopular opinion, but I really think my electronics are an extension of my body. I wouldn't go out without a phone in my pocket

>26 points I guess this is an unpopular opinion, but I really think my electronics are an extension of my body. I wouldn't go out without a phone in my pocket the same way I wouldn't want to lose a couple of digits.

mdorazio 10y ago
Ok, so don't go to live performances then? I totally understand what you're saying and often feel the same way even if I just leave my phone at my desk for a few minutes, but no one is forcing people to go to these shows. Unfortunately this is one of those "this is why we can't have nice things" situations where people repeatedly ruining acts with phone usage have forced drastic action.
csydas 10y ago
I don't think it's necessarily unpopular, albeit perhaps a bit exaggerated. :) But the concept behind the product, the type of control exerted and enforced at venues, is interesting. Even though it's just assumed everyone has a smartphone now, I think there is still a really big rift in how everyone uses it and sees it. My gf never had a smartphone until incredibly recently and had been asking me what I thought about them, and it occurred to me that even though I'm happy to have one, I barely use it. For me it's mostly sudoku on the metro and finding places in the city, along with occasional email nags from work and some messaging. To opine on the article at hand, I do agree with the artists that it's a better experience to just leave the phone in the pocket - it's how I've done concerts and performances pretty much since I was interested in going to them, and with some performances, I see it as a means of respect to the performer(s). Admittedly, in a "I know it when I see it" sort of way, the type of show dictates decorum for me, and there are plenty of shows where it feels more appropriate to use the phone to share what's going on.
- bigiain 10y ago
  On the other hand, I've had smart phones since before they really were smart phones - but I still frequently take off for the weekend without my phone, just because. (Having said that, my Flickr account is mostly snapshots of events - so I'm no poster-child for the "no phones at gigs" crowd...)
  - majewsky 10y ago
    > I still frequently take off for the weekend without my phone, just because. Same here, but this has a different quality. When you go offline for a weekend, it's your own choice. Putting your phone into a Yondr pouch is someone else's choice. Within the "smartphone is part of my body" metaphor, it's similar to voluntarily going on a diet vs. being forced into one by someone else.
    - bigiain 10y ago
      One step back though - choosing to go to a gig where they don't want phones is _also_ a choice. I wouldn't choose to go to an Alicia Keys gig where they advertised it as "you'll need to leave your thumb at the door", because I feel my thumb is part of my body. If you feel your "smartphone is part of your body" perhaps you need to make the same choice for a show advertised as "you'll need to lock your phone in a bag if you want to bring it in". There are other shows at other venues with other demands on what audiences can and can't bring in to the auditorium. Choose whichever show and set of rules works for you.
kelnos 10y ago
I think that's entirely reasonable, but I think it's also entirely reasonable for a concert to disallow whatever they choose. You have no innate right to bring anything with you into a concert venue. Most venues already do this for various things, whether it's recording equipment, outside food, drinks, etc. I get it that you're uncomfortable being without your phone, but you can always vote your displeasure by not attending such events.
bigiain 10y ago
A lot of people are like that with their dogs - doesn't mean we allow their pets into restaurants where other people go to eat. We make allowances for people with real and documented needs for service animals there, but not just for people "who'd rather lose a couple of digits than be without their dog/phone". (And, of course,this leads to over-entitled people faking it and ruining it for the people who need it: http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/20325-advocacy-column-fake-service-dogs-are-a-shame-and-a-crime http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/20325-advocacy-column-... ) You can choose to go to other shows at other venues. Artists are also able to choose to not allow phones at their shows.

mdorazio 10y ago

Ok, so don't go to live performances then? I totally understand what you're saying and often feel the same way even if I just leave my phone at my desk for a few minutes, but no one is forcing people to go to these shows. Unfortunately this is one of those "this is why we can't have nice things" situations where people repeatedly ruining acts with phone usage have forced drastic action.

csydas 10y ago

I don't think it's necessarily unpopular, albeit perhaps a bit exaggerated. :) But the concept behind the product, the type of control exerted and enforced at venues, is interesting. Even though it's just assumed everyone has a smartphone now, I think there is still a really big rift in how everyone uses it and sees it. My gf never had a smartphone until incredibly recently and had been asking me what I thought about them, and it occurred to me that even though I'm happy to have one, I barely use it. For me it's mostly sudoku on the metro and finding places in the city, along with occasional email nags from work and some messaging. To opine on the article at hand, I do agree with the artists that it's a better experience to just leave the phone in the pocket - it's how I've done concerts and performances pretty much since I was interested in going to them, and with some performances, I see it as a means of respect to the performer(s). Admittedly, in a "I know it when I see it" sort of way, the type of show dictates decorum for me, and there are plenty of shows where it feels more appropriate to use the phone to share what's going on.

bigiain 10y ago
On the other hand, I've had smart phones since before they really were smart phones - but I still frequently take off for the weekend without my phone, just because. (Having said that, my Flickr account is mostly snapshots of events - so I'm no poster-child for the "no phones at gigs" crowd...)
- majewsky 10y ago
  > I still frequently take off for the weekend without my phone, just because. Same here, but this has a different quality. When you go offline for a weekend, it's your own choice. Putting your phone into a Yondr pouch is someone else's choice. Within the "smartphone is part of my body" metaphor, it's similar to voluntarily going on a diet vs. being forced into one by someone else.
  - bigiain 10y ago
    One step back though - choosing to go to a gig where they don't want phones is _also_ a choice. I wouldn't choose to go to an Alicia Keys gig where they advertised it as "you'll need to leave your thumb at the door", because I feel my thumb is part of my body. If you feel your "smartphone is part of your body" perhaps you need to make the same choice for a show advertised as "you'll need to lock your phone in a bag if you want to bring it in". There are other shows at other venues with other demands on what audiences can and can't bring in to the auditorium. Choose whichever show and set of rules works for you.

kelnos 10y ago

I think that's entirely reasonable, but I think it's also entirely reasonable for a concert to disallow whatever they choose. You have no innate right to bring anything with you into a concert venue. Most venues already do this for various things, whether it's recording equipment, outside food, drinks, etc. I get it that you're uncomfortable being without your phone, but you can always vote your displeasure by not attending such events.

bigiain 10y ago

A lot of people are like that with their dogs - doesn't mean we allow their pets into restaurants where other people go to eat. We make allowances for people with real and documented needs for service animals there, but not just for people "who'd rather lose a couple of digits than be without their dog/phone". (And, of course,this leads to over-entitled people faking it and ruining it for the people who need it: http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/20325-advocacy-column-fake-service-dogs-are-a-shame-and-a-crime http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/20325-advocacy-column-... ) You can choose to go to other shows at other venues. Artists are also able to choose to not allow phones at their shows.