Phones on tour?

[LizziePope]

Smartphone use on campsites – does it annoy you? Read our latest blog as Practical Caravan columnist Martin Roberts shares one of his pet hates. Just click here.

 

[Gafferbill]

People on phones can be quite comical when they do the phone walkabout at the same time :lol:

 

[Dustydog]

People on phones can be quite comical when they do the phone walkabout at the same time :lol:

Especially when they have just come out of the shower :woohoo:

 

[saint-spoon]

We apparently live in a society where the mobile phone is king and the conversation is more important that consideration for those around you. I own a smart phone and so does my wife. I tend to turn mine off when we go camping/caravanning and neither of us spend our lives posting hour by hour updates to social media inclusive of pictures of what the kids had for breakfast. It does however amuse and sadden me when groups of teenagers collect around higher ground, mobiles held aloft in an attempt to feed their need for digital communication. Why can’t they just enjoy the camping? It is I feel, part of the modern world in which we find ourselves. I am a keen, if somewhat poor angler as well, I love the fishing and the outdoors and appreciating the wildlife that proliferates around waterways and lakes in the UK. It is not uncommon to find other anglers glued to the phone screens or even worse, having shouty conversations. The lack of consideration annoys me.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I do concur with the lack of consideration that SOME mobile phone users fail to show to others, hmy: but I think we should think a bit before we condemn others out of hand.

There is no doubt that our society is changing, and I am certain the changes in technology have played a major role in enabling these changes :huh: . Throughout history human society has had to embrace changes, some forced on us by marauding invaders, :evil: others have been more subtle, like the adoption of using cutlery and having several courses to a meal rather than the all in one free-for-all medieval banquets.

In Caravanning, the first caravans were seen by some as abhorrent, :evil: The introduction of cooking and lighting by gas, On board toilets, Canned beer and soft drinks, later the electrical lighting and heating facilities, and of course the now almost obligatory TV, BBQ and microwave. :side:

Each one of these 'advancements' had their objectors at the time, and some still prefer to do it 'old style' even today. inch: I have no problem with that for two reasons, firstly it's a freedom we all have to choose , and secondly in most cases the use of these enhancements by the user doesn't usually affect others. Which is where the public use of mobile phones in the way others have expressed differs. The same can be said about smoking, but that's a subject for another thread. :evil:

It seems some people these days are all for defending their freedom to do what they like, but they forget is that freedom carries a responsibility to prevent their activity adversely affecting or offending others. B)

Just a thought, should we apply the same to what people wear when caravanning? :woohoo:

 

[seth1]

What a strange topic to post about,please dont tell me some caravanners are this sad as to get upset over a mobile phone.How private Martin Roberts portrays to be,but if so you can follow his caravan adventures on twitter.I dont think so.
But how about all the business owners who still need to use their phone on holiday,im one of these.Is this classed as wrong,or maybe i could tell my customers take your work elsewhere for 4 weeks of the year as im on holiday in complete isolation.

 

[crazyguider]

We always take phones with us. We have elderly, infirm parents, and need to be available. Also, does it actually matter who takes their phone, as long as they are considerate of others? As previously said...strange thread...

 

[DeliDave_]

Our daughter has a brain tumour we have to be available ,without a mobile we couldnt go anywhere,its essential to us

 

[saint-spoon]

There is a certain amount of personal preference as to whether or not you take your phone or leave it switched on; and as some have said for keeping in contact they can be a vital piece of equipment that allow folk to get away in the first place. The issue in the blog was about folk shouting into their phones which can be quite annoying. For my own part I find it incredibly annoying when I am away fishing and the tranquillity is continually broken by phone ringtones and load phone conversations. I think that the Dom Jolly reference was actually quite accurate, after all Mr jolly was creating a parody of real life with the giant phone character.

 

[Mel]

There are hundreds of ways in which people can be considerate or inconsiderate of others; how they use phones, how they control their dogs, how they control their children, how and where they play music, how they drive, where they stand to have a conversation in a busy shopping centre, how they dispose of litter etc etc. This is not about phones or dogs or litter; this is about people. Some people begin each action with the thought, how does this affect others. Other people only focus on self. Society is a better place when other is put before self. Sadly this appears to be more and more of a minority viewpoint.
mel

 

[emmerson]

I too carry my phone at all times, but I suspect that DJ was not complaining about that; more about the WAY some people use their phones.Is it necessary for conversations to be carried on outside at considerably more decibels than normal speech? And is it necessary to walk around whilst shouting into the infernal machine? After a few minutes of this behaviour we all know how important you are, so please continue your multi-million pound deal inside your van!!!!!!!!

 

[emmerson]

Sorry, that should have read MR, not DJ.

 

[ProfJohnL]

There are hundreds of ways in which people can be considerate or inconsiderate of others; how they use phones, how they control their dogs, how they control their children, how and where they play music, how they drive, where they stand to have a conversation in a busy shopping centre, how they dispose of litter etc etc. This is not about phones or dogs or litter; this is about people. Some people begin each action with the thought, how does this affect others. Other people only focus on self. Society is a better place when other is put before self. Sadly this appears to be more and more of a minority viewpoint.
mel

Very well put, but I do think MJ's comment does include the concept of a 'No Mobile Use areas' on sites.

 

[Parksy]

It's strange but true that some mobile phone users feel the need to almost shout into their phones when holding conversations, as though the person on the other end might hear or understand their barked sentences better.
Martin Roberts' regular blog is a humorous sideways glance at things that we all see or do when we are using our tourers and he must be on the right track because his words of wit and wisdom regularly elicit forum responses, something of a rare event in respect of blogs on this website.
His offerings usually raise a smile but are also often quite accurate with their subject matter, so long may he continue to write these semi-anecdotal articles.

 

[Raywood]

People wandering around with phones has become so much a part of everyday life I do not notice them anymore unless they are very loud or walk in front of the car.

 

[ProfJohnL]

People wandering around with phones has become so much a part of everyday life I do not notice them anymore unless they are very loud or walk in front of the car.

Or driving one!!!

 

[JonnyG]

i believe it is frown upon in Japan to talk on a mobile on public transport, they have the right idea.yes i have a smart phone its smart enough not to ring i'm smart enough not to use it for social activities . but look around you i see too many to count each and ever day driving and talking or texting .take a walk along the streets and you cannot walk more than 50 yard without coming across somebody talking or texting on one of the dam things whilst not bothering to notice where there walking or worse walking into the road with no care in the world. ........modern cars have far superior brakes yet the highway code still uses braking distances from the days of horse and carts..ever wondered why? well apparently modern man,sorry and women are soo distracted by modern technology that they cannot think or react in the real word as our grand parents did... you have to wonder how on earth did we get by without them 2 decades ago . oh well the earths over populated already so with real social behavior like talking to one another face to face declining it wont be long till cyber sex is all the next generation know about. hey so its not all bad news..