Freedom!!!
 

We should permit this idea in the States. I feel all movie theaters, churches, schools, and any place of business that wishes to discourage the use of cellphones ought to install one of these jammers to freeze any cellphone calls from being made or accepted.

I can almost find a daily occurrence where I want to crush someone and their cell phone for being so ignorant and rude in a public domain. I’ve also had more than a few asshats check their cell phones during the course of a movie, prompting me to kick one gal intentionally in the shin on my way out of the aisle, and telling another gal if she were to open her cell phone one more time- I was going to break the damn thing.

http://www.comcast.net/News/TECHNOLO...d77585581.html

Churches Installing Cell Phone Jammers

Tue Oct 19, 10:04 AM

By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer

MONTERREY, Mexico - It was the reporters who noticed first. Unable to call their editors while covering the weddings of the rich and famous, they asked the priest why their cell phones never worked at Sacred Heart. His reply: Israeli counterintelligence.

In four Monterrey churches, Israeli-made cell phone jammers the size of paperbacks have been tucked unobtrusively among paintings of the Madonna and statues of the saints.

The jarring polychromatic din of ringing cell phones is increasingly being thwarted _ from religious sanctuaries to India's parliament to Tokyo theaters and commuter trains _ by devices originally developed to help security forces avert eavesdropping and thwart phone-triggered bombings.

The Indian parliament had jammers installed after politicians ignored requests to turn off their cell phones and legislative sessions were constantly interrupted.

In Italy, universities started using the blockers after discovering that cell phone-savvy teenagers were cheating on exams by sending text messages or taking pictures of tests.

The four Roman Catholic Churches in this northern city began using the devices, from Tel Aviv-based Netline Communications Technologies Ltd., after an insurance salesman imported them as a personal favor for a priest.

"There are still many people who don't understand that being at Mass is sharing a moment with God," said the Rev. Juan Jose Martinez, a spokesman for archdiocese. "Sadly, we had no other choice but to use these little gadgets."

Purchased for about $2,000 each, they can be turned on by remote control and emit low-level radio frequencies that thwart cell phone signals within a 100-foot radius.

Users get a "no service" or "signal not available" message on their cell phones.

Although Mexico has no law against the devices, the private use of cell phone blockers is illegal in the United States and most Western countries.

But the tide is turning.

Japan allows public places such as theaters and concert halls to install jammers, provided they obtain a government-issued license. And last week, France's industry minister approved a decision to let cinemas, concert halls and theaters install them _ as long as provisions are in place so emergency calls can still be made.

Canada had considered allowing blocking in similar situations. But Industry Canada, which regulates the country's telecommunications, decided against it, saying the devices could infringe on personal freedom and affect public safety by crippling communication with law enforcement and security agencies.

Officials at Netline, which sold its first jammer in 1998, say they are selling thousands of jammers a year and have expanded their business throughout the world.

They're far from the only manufacturers. The devices are sold the world over, with dozens of suppliers selling them on the Internet.

Tokyo-based Medic Inc. sold thousands of its Wave Wall jammers before the government stepped in and regulated their use to venues with live performances. Commuters still buy mobile jammers to shut up chatty train passengers, even though their use is illegal.

In Scotland, businessman Ronnie McGuire, owner of Electron Electrical Engineering Services, imported Taiwan-made cell phone blockers and sold them to hotels, restaurants and bars until a local newspaper reported his activities, which were illegal in Britain.

McGuire has said he will still import the Taiwanese devices but sell them for export only to countries where they are allowed.

Loreen Haim, the director of marketing and sales for Netline, wouldn't say how many devices the company sells per year or what country buys the most.

In Mexico, the main clients have been banks looking to stop would-be robbers from communicating with their accomplices and the Mexican government, which is planning to use them at prisons, Haim said.

In Monterrey, the Sacred Heart church, a baroque temple favored by Mexico's elite for weddings, church officials acquired their blockers two years ago.

"Whenever there was a wedding, cell phones would ring every five minutes," said Bulmaro Carranza, a parish clerk. "It was a real problem because there were times when even the groom would forget to turn his cell phone off."

For months, the devices went unnoticed until reporters covering the weddings began complaining that their cell phones never worked.

Since word of the jammers went public, priests from around Mexico have been calling to find out how to get them, said Carranza.

At Sacred Heart, a device at the entrance to the church and another by the altar are turned on right before every Mass. Still, priests remind parishioners to turn off their phones before beginning the services, hoping good cell phone etiquette will eventually catch on.

The other Monterrey churches with the devices _ The Rosario, San Juan Bosco and Our Lady Queen of the Angels _ are also frequented by wealthier parishioners, Martinez said.

"For a lot of them, the cell phone is a necessity. But that shouldn't prevent them from having good manners and remembering that one must respect sacred places," Martinez said.

Margarita Escobedo, a Catholic who goes to church at least twice a week and volunteers at the San Genaro church, says she would welcome the jammers in her parish, where cell phones are becoming a nuisance.

"Those who bring cell phones to church are not committed to God," Escobedo said. "It's very distracting to be praying and suddenly hear birds chirping or techno music."

___

A lot of colleges and universities are installing jamming technology in their testing centers, as well. Bob Dole imagines we'll see a lot of implementations in the next year.

Pretty stupid, IMO. Its a minor annoyance. Sure, lets alienate those folks who HAVE to carry a cell phone for their business/work, as opposed to putting up a sign that says "please put cell phones on silent, or turn them off".

Yeah, that's working out REALLY well so far...
 

Correct, but its better than not putting a notice up. Some people might actually remember to do it. However, its still a minor annoyance, and an embarrasment for those who do not remember to turn them off. I've never seen someone answer the phone and talk on it like noone is around, they always either shut it off quickly, or they get up and leave.

I totally agree there....

If anyone who's ever sat in the theater waiting for the movie knows- they must tell those in the theater a hundred times to "...please turn off all cell phones..." during the movie.

If people would simply honor this request- we wouldn't have to install jammers or suffer the wrath of me wanting to destroy their cell phones.

Where do you live?
 

If notification is the only issue...
 

why would you care if someone checked their phone in a movie theater? Is the light on the phone really going to ruin your movie?

Ive allways wondered how it is that some people lost sight of the fact that buisness got along quite nicely before the advent of the cell phone or pager or email or blackberry. If said person needs a sign to know when to turn said device off, Im left scratching my head at why a business would 'need' that person that degree in the first place since it's obvious said person is bereft of common sense.

I can see the need for this but my wife used to carry a cell phone while on call for work, which was every weekend. When we went to the movies she would have it on silent mode and would leave the theater if it rang and deal with the issue outside.

This would suck for those people.

Since we are no longer in that position I say go ahead and install them. :thumb:

Uhhhh, YES.

I sat next to this gal in a theater a few months ago. She had one of those flip phones with a blue neon display. Every time she flipped her phone open, that blue light literally lit up the few rows around us. I wasn't the only one who said something to her...

The thing that blew me away was she was well into her 20's, and wasn't some ignorant teenager. But, she sure the hell acted like one having to check her phone every five minutes.

Cell Phones suck.

I tried callin' CP yesterday to pull the trigger on the trades we tried to do for McCardell and Shawn Springs, but the bastard didn't answer.

A belated thank you to your wife...
 

So YOU are the infamous "Gaz;" glad to meet you...

Nice post; agree entirely.

Cell phones are an instrument of the devil. I hope you all get ear cancer.

This could be viewed as lack of Freedom of Speech. To not allow you to use Cell Phones via jammers could be construed as unconstitutional... Depending on where and how they are utilzed.

Could be getting into a grey area. :hmmm:

You obviously are a brilliant banger; what fuggin' law school did you graduate from....none? That's what I thought. Free speech my azz.

ROFL

Nope...as long as it's not the govt using jammers, this has no impact on consitutional freedoms.


The constitution doesnt protect you on private property or in a business establishment or church.

So let me get this right. I am in a building with a mobile jammer and the school calls saying my daughter has been badly injured and is being rushed to the hospital, but they can't get thru to me because some whiny ass bitches don't want to hear a ring a ding. Oh the humanity, life must be so hard hearing a phone ring occassionally. :rolleyes:

Options abound...
 

I'd recommend not going to that building while your daughter is in school.

Life is full of choices...

"Occaisionally?"

Let's say only one-fourth of those in attendance get a phone call...most I see get one or two every thirty minutes...so, in a theater of 200 people gets 50 phones calls over two hours...or once every four minutes....

People won't take that seriously. I really want to harm all the jackasses who seem to want to talk on the phone during a movie. Woman are the biggest offenders, I swear some of them call their friends just to tell them everything that happens in the movie as it's occuring onscreen. These people need to die a painful death. I'm all for alienating these skinbags.

Misbehave and force the rest of us to modify your behavior...
 

So my daughter has to wait to recieve proper care because someone is offended that a phone, may actually ring?

Voicemail may be an option in some cases, in some, like a high rise it may not. Checking voicemail may be all fine and dandy if you check it atleast on an hourly basis but HTF I am supposed to know I have a voicemail if the signal is being jammed? I don't know about you but my phone is on 24/7, I have to be able to be contacted at all hours.

What the hell did you people do before the cell phone was made? I think less than 1% of calls are for something as serious as a child being rushed to the hospital, most of them are made by blathering windbags in movie theaters who want to tell their buddies at home what's going on onscreen. I read a study once, atleast 95% of cell phone call are made by these "people" in movie theaters....seriously.

Considerate or inconsiderate, its a MINOR annoyance unless you have a problem controlling your anger.

I hate phones.

Aside from the hypothetical, the assumption that it's causing offense is nonsense...it's called being rude and inconsiderate. If you need to use the phone do it elsewhere.

It's a really simple concept.

Apparently, the small percentage of people who need their cell phone on at all times, and the people that might receive a call that their wife is in labor, their child is hurt, etc etc is less important than the people who would like to watch a movie in total silence.

I've been to quite a few movies in the last few months, and not once was my viewing experience ruined by a cell phone going off. However, if one went off and was an annoyance, i'd politely ask the person to turn it off. Grow a pair here, people.

Well, we had to know the “do it for the kids” line was coming...
 

For a liberal, you sure are selfish.

How the heck did we SURVIVE before cell phones?

If someone picks it up after one ring and walks to the lobby to complete the call it's hardly an annoyance at all but the people who sit there on the phone while people around them are trying to hear the movie, inconsiderate of all that's around them...these are the people who need to be shot, and they seem to make up the majority.

If cell phones are jammed, there should be a playpen in front of all doors to theaters that say "Check your Babies here". Hell, any child under 3 should not be allowed, unless its a childrens movie that will captivate them for the entire viewing.

Oh..and if you have a cold and you are going to cough and sneeze, stay out.

You don't live in Denver. :D

Maybe we should just ban phones all together and go back to Pony Express. Would that make you whiners happy? Atleast you wouldn't have to hear my phone ring.

FTR I have been to 4 movies in the past 2mos. Not once did I hear a cell phone ring in any of them.

I'll agree with that statement. Inconsiderate people suck, but they can be dealt with.

As long as they aren't 6'5 and 265 lbs of muscle.

When I was a child, we survived with the telegraph. If it was good enough for us, it should be good enough for the rest of you.

Talk about a small percentage...I love this framed hypothetical that ALL cellphone calls are 'important' matters of life and death.

What if their response is: "Im one of 'the small percentage of people who need their cell phone on at all times and besides I might receive a call that my wife is in labor, or my child is hurt, etc'? What do you do with your 'pair' then?

Ask him why he is still sitting in his seat when his wife is in labor.

That's because most people are more considerate than you are, apparently.

Now you're talking my language...
 

Your sarcasm aside, I agree with that. If you have a cold, WTF are you doing in a theater filled with people who can catch it? And people shouldn't take children under 3 to the movies anyway, unless it's " Babar's Great Adventure" or something.

LOL...what is it that causes one to go the most absurd extreme?

Because she/he is a liberal who is morally bankrupt.

I guess thats reality. People bring their annoying children to movies they shouldn't be watching. I see this as a much greater annoyance than a cell phone.

Maybe that particular call wasnt from his wife...but the next one might be.

*I love playing the what if game*

Not all children are annoying. Just because you were doesn't mean they all are.

You're a pretty funny guy. For a ballless havin multiple login puss.

Hey wait a minute! I know this guy! His first name IS Hunt, but his first name is really Mike.

Your grammar and sentence structure suck.

My entire point is its a minor annoyance, and thankfully here, people are considerate and don't talk on their phones in theaters.

I am going to have to say "feh," here...
 

That's my brother. You know where he is?

The bastard owes me money.

Still better than having no balls and not having the guts to say this under your real login, puss.

Now why don't you run along little kiddie and make another lame login, puss.

While we're on the subject, and I agree with you there...but, a few months ago, and this includes the gal with the illuminating flip phone she just HAD to check every few minutes.

The guy to my left in that very same theater had a cold. The kid behind me couldn't keep from kicking the back of my chair...so, needless to say- I was in the middle of three of the most ignorant people.

I asked the kid behind me to stop kicking and motioned to the gal to stop looking at her damn cell phone- only to find out a few minutes later the cycle started all over again: the kid kicked, the guy sneezed, and the gal opened up her cell phone.

So, I had it right then and there. I got up and pretended to lose my balance thus pouring ice cold soda all over the kid's leg behind me, and then pretended to lose my balance again and kicked the gal next to me in the shin on my way to an empty seat in the rear where I watched the rest of the movie in silence.

People are simply rude and ignorant....We need jammers.

My .02 here - - I have no problems with a place like a movie theater installing a jammer, or prohibiting people with infants to come in. If you are worried that you will miss an important call, or are worried about/can't find a babysitter for your youngin', the last place you need to be is a movie theater. Nobody can prove to me otherwise.

Now places like restaurants and office buildings, that is a different story, mainly because you aren't expected to KEEP QUIET AND STOP KICKING MY fuckING SEAT!!!!

That is all.

Ok then you obviously haven't had to put up with what me and alot of people here have. I think the first time you sit through a movie with these kinds of people you will appreciate our view on the " no cellphones in a movie theater" policy.

Wow, this topic really hit a nerve. I think it's becuase I had to sit through ("Return of the King") with about 50 of these bastards/ bastrardettes on their phones.

Up the Jammer!

It must suck to be a sad and bitter little man, with no sense of humor.

Are you related to jettio, TJ, Duhnese, Frankie, and the other lame ass whiners?

Well, you are expected to be considerate of others which is all most here are asking.

ROFL hehe..It would be nice if there was some sort of comprimise. Maybe ushers that would give a damn. If your cell phone goes off, you get kicked out, zero tolerance. I like that idea better. Let the considerate people who put their cell phones on silent still receive calls/messages.

I think they need to stop selling beverages at the movies because sometimes rude, inconsiderate bastages pretend to lose their balance and soak innocent bystanders.

The Final Solution...
 

Anyone seen Mike Hunt?

I just meant the jammer issue as it pertained to restaurants, Captain Obvious.








:D

That was you? Thanks! Now my wife is afraid to wear white shirts out in public!

It was me, but I'll never throw a cold beverage on your wife's breasts again without donning a pair of safety glasses first.

Hey - watch the toes, Skip Towne.

My 2 cents:

I would not have a problem with a jammer in theaters. Frankly, if you are out and left the kids at home or with the babysitter, you should have let them know where you'd be. That way if there's an emergency, they can call the theater's direct line and a theater employee can come find you. Otherwise, there is no reason to have a cell phone in the theater. If people would just turn them on silent, I would not have a problem.

On the issue of very young children/infants. We seem to have a major problem with that here. I notice that more than I ever hear people on cells in the theaters. As far as I'm concerned, if you can't find a babysitter, don't go to the damn theater and ruin if for everyone else. I have 3 kids myself and I never go to a movie unless I have a sitter. That is, unless it's obviously a kids movie. I hate having to try to hear a movie over a baby crying. I will never understand how people can be so inconsiderate. :shake:

ROFL

Those fockers will put an eye out!

ROFL

Did you look between your legs?

That isn't a bad idea. While they're at it, they can kindly remove parents with noisy children (if it's not a kids flick). Maybe not necessarily remove them from the premesis but remove them from the theater.

Kindly? :shake:

Count me in on the "install the jammers" crowd. Too many stupid/ignorant people to give everyone the benefit of the doubt when it comes to using cell phones with etiquette.

While were at it, install them in cars.

If your wife is about to go into labor why are you at the theatre?

If you think you need to be in contact 24/7, get over yourself. Any one of us can get run over by a bus and life will go on for everyone else.

You know, ushers say something like "excuse me but I'm going to have to ask you to step out of the theater and turn off your phone before re-entering". No need to alienate your customers. Sooner or later, people will understand that it's unnacceptable behavior and most will change their ways, IMO.

I recall a couple of years ago, I went on a date with this gal I met at a bar a few nights before. Since the very moment I picked her up at her place- she would take and make phone calls, one right after the other. We maybe said but two words to each other the entire time I was driving to the restaurant.

Anyways, so we get to the restaurant, and I’m thinking to myself- “Good…now, maybe we can start talking to each other since she ought to put the damn phone away in a restaurant.”

Not.

She took a phone call as soon as we sat down. After that, excused herself to make another one, and blah, blah, blah.

By that time- I had had it. I ordered a drink for myself and contemplated my next move. I then turned to my date and told her I’d be going to the restroom. Of course, she just nodded as she continued to hammer the phone.

Well, I went straight up to our waitress and gave her $40 and told her that I was leaving for the evening.

“What ‘bout your girlfriend?”

“She’s my date and she’s been on that damn phone ever since I picked her up. So, I’m leaving. Here’s forty for the dinner I actually ordered, but I’m not going to eat. Give my date ten dollars for a cab ride home or you may pocket it yourself. I don’t care. The rest is your tip.”

She laughed and said she understood.

I got into my car, drove over to a friend’s house and drank the rest of the night. I never did hear back from my date. And I sure the hell never called her.