BT headsets, love em or hate em?

[renderman]

This discussion started on the NS forums but I would like to get opinions here as well.

Everyone has seen them, bluetooth headsets. While I'm not against thier use for driving and other situations where handsfree is needed, I'm noticing more and more people wearing them constantly. They seem to be permanently welded to some people and you never know if they are on the phone, or just really out of it.

I personally find them very pretentious to wear at all times. I've not met anyone who needed to answer thier phone that had to have the thing ready to answer in an instant.

Just wondering what other peoples opinions on BT headsets as fashion are? Do you mind people who wear them all the time? Are you one of them?

[jur1st]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

It's kind of a love/hate relationship. On one hand, I love it when it works...when sitting in my office with the phone about 6 feet away. I hate how terrible it performs in almost any other situation.

I think that leads to me hating when I see people walking around with one even more. Not only do they look bad, but there is something about how much more pretentious they seem then simply someone with headphones in.

[skroo]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

I think that leads to me hating when I see people walking around with one even more. Not only do they look bad, but there is something about how much more pretentious they seem then simply someone with headphones in.

This is exactly my main beef with them. No arguments against the safety factor when driving, but the self-important pretentiousness of the people who wander around with them glued to their ear all day makes me just take the damn phone out of the cupholder when it rings, hold it to my head, and let other people seethe at me for being that guy in the SUV on his cellphone.

Remember the late '80s / early '90s when cellphones were seen as the most visibly- and audibly-annoying yuppie status symbol? I place bluetooth headsets in about the same category of pretentiousness.

[Thorn]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

As a counterpoint, here are a few comments from those of use that do use BT headsets outside of our cars. These are quotes from the NS thread that Render referenced. I'm not sure we fall into the "constant wear" category, but the people quoted here use them a lot. As a side note, I won't talk on a phone while driving without a headset. Frankly, I feel that anyone who does is stupid and dangerous.

I'll admit that the first comment is mine, but I'm not include the other people's names as not all of them are on the DC forums. The quotes have been edited for clarity.

I have a Jabra BT200 headset and love it. It's damned convenient to answer the phone with it. No fumbling getting the phone out of the pocket or off the belt, I just tap the button and it connects. Aside from the obvious use in the car, you don't have to talk with your hand clamped to your head. All-in-all I love having the hands free ability. Also, the mic seems much more sensitive than than most cellphone mics. I find I can speak in a much lower voice using the headset.

I do take it off in social situations, but tend to leave it on when in public areas where I don't want to have dig for the phone. For example, recently while at getting the car serviced, I kept it on in the garage's waiting room, and was able to take a very quick call will a minimum of disturbance to the people around me. Contrast that to a woman who was with me in a (different) waiting room this morning. She and her phone were so loud that I was able to hear both sides to the converstions quite easily.

As you can see from the (another) thread, I am rarely without my Scala500. I take it off a few times a day at work or in a social surrounding. Other than that I have it on when awake. Since I take calls from the field crews on the cell it makes it easier to look up the information they need or write down information to be passed on with out having a handset taking up one hand.

I use the Jabra 250v and for the most part really like it. ... I've had quite a lot of people look at me strange even when driving down the road while talking on the phone because I'm not holding it to my head and nobody see's any wires.

What's wrong with (wearing it a lot)? I really don't feel like taking mine out just to please other people. Why have a earpiece if your not going to use it? even if you're sitting down somewhere drinking a coffee. To me, that's a great time to use it.

I'm not sure that I agree with (people being pretentious). My wife and I both have our cells with us 24/7 and it's not because we're on call since we're not. We don't have a home phone anymore and the same for a lot of our friends. Cell phone are getting so cheap now that it just saves money.

I have to disagree with the "look at me" statement. Some of us have no choice. I have 24 clients & over 120 employees. I have to be on call 24/7. If I'm unavailable, I'll end up out of a job or can lose a client. Unless I'm in a meeting or my office, my BT headset is usually on. It makes no sense to power it down just to get a cup of coffee or eat lunch.

[noid]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

I have a Jabra headset and I personally like it. I think there are situations where wearing it constantly is applicable. When I throw BBQs at the house I tend to wear mine all day long so I will actually answer the phone when people call looking for directions and such. I will tend to wear mine all day long in certain business situations where people need to get ahold of me. I think the pretentiousness comes from the people that pick the biggest headset then sit around with the attitude of 'Cant you see I may be waiting to take a call? Yes, I'm that important.' I dont wear mine every day, but when I do wear it all day long it is out of a legitimate need. So, there are situations where its not always pretentiousness thats driving it.

[pr0zac0x2a]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

I've got no problem with people who wear them for long periods of time for work related reasons, or when they expecting a lot of phone calls. A person I used to work with wore his pretty much constantly at work, but thats because he worked in Support and was constantly taking calls. It makes sense in that situation. The in the car thing is another obvious good use for them.

My problem with them is best summed up with an anecdote from a few weeks ago. I'd stopped at the Quik & Easy Mart to get something to drink. When I get to the counter the guy in front of me is apparently friends with the clerk. Hes showing off to his friend his brand new "totally banging" bluetooth headset, which cost "like $200", which of course hes wearing. Put nicely, I don't think he was taking many business calls. I guess I've just got a problem with tech as a fashion statement.

Also, has anyone seen that (I think) beer commercial where the guy keeps thinking the girl in the grocery store is hitting on him, but shes in fact talking to her boyfriend on a wireless headset? Its entertaining to see people who look like they are talking to themselves. Much worse with women and people with long hair which covers up the headset. Its now much more difficult to tell the difference between a business professional and a really well dressed crazy person.

[renderman]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

Its now much more difficult to tell the difference between a business professional and a really well dressed crazy person.

Often, they are the same thing.

They just seem to be everywhere and as skroo put it, they are the new yuppie fashion statement. I'm particularly peeved about people who wear them in meetings. IF your there for a meeting, your attention should be there, not anticipating a phone call, besides that damn blinking light across from me is distracting!

I think there needs to be some serious work put into finding a way to broadcast into BT headsets. The world needs a way to inform people to take the damn things off once in a while.

[Nikita]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

I will agree with the asstardedness of using tech as a fasion statement but there will come a time when the statement is just the norm. Let us also take in consideration plenty of other, fun and usefull things that can be classifed as fasion/status peices for example: The Blackberry, The Razr, iPod Nano, ipod anything etc etc. Although these things are great, I own a nano for example, I see everyone with them and almost seemingly using them to look trendy and important, just like those damn Terminater BT Headsets. Cell and Earpiece-ware ( itunes ear buds or cell ) Are becoming a stable for looking cool, busy and important. Like once was that damn grande coffee cup everyone is holding while walking down the street. I would also speculate that american culture is so intensly caught up in everything work or appearance wise, I think it is rare for a reasonable adult to feel comfortable walking down the street without something in your hands. I know that i am that way and I know other people as well. I just think personally it is harder for folks to walk down the streets with out those 3 or 4 seperate appendages, the headset just allows them to carry more. Sometimes that is for good reason, sometimes its just plain stupid.
I used to have a wired over the ear headset, didnt cost me over 20 bucks, great for the car, or while doing other crap you needed your hands for, but i would take it off when not using it, I didnt comfortable and always felt like i looked like a snobby self important idiot. This was before the BT ones. But as times change and the tech becomes easily affordable by everyone. ( not like those purse sized cells back in the day ) Then that perception goes away, and it become just another tool used by everyone, similar to the internet and digital cameras. Notice how very few people wear watches anymore? Why would you when you have a cell phone to check the time?

[DaKahuna]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

I own and wear a BT ear piece for use when driving or other situations, such as today when I was in BestBuy and a co-worker called for assistance.

I normally take it off when I am not on the phone and carry it in my shirt pocket. However, I admit that they have become so light weight and because I wear glasses, I sometimes forget that I even have it on and end up wearing it for hours.

I agree 100% about having them on in meetings-absurd. I also think people using their PDA/SmartPhone/Blackberry in a meeting is in-appropriate as well.

As we learned when growing up - "Different strokes for different folks said the woman as she kissed the cow."

[jur1st]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

I think a lot of the posts were defending the use of BT headsets in general, not in public situations. Clearly if most of your time is spent taking calls on your cell then you should rock that headset like Brittney Spears at a tractor pull.

Unless I'm in a meeting or my office, my BT headset is usually on. It makes no sense to power it down just to get a cup of coffee or eat lunch.

So what is the difference if you put it in your shirt pocket like Kahuna? If clients demand that you answer the phone within 1.5 rings they just might be too much of a pain to worry about. Maybe it's my chosen profession but a BT headset in public is far from professional looking.

It's damned convenient to answer the phone with it. No fumbling getting the phone out of the pocket or off the belt, I just tap the button and it connects.

Don't even get me started on the whole belt thing. Get a manpurse or carry a fannypack if your phone is too big for your pocket.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

my $0.02 (which do not have an even exchange rate with everyone else's life, i know) is that anything i'm doing which is too involved for me to spare a hand is also likely too involved for me to have a conversation on the phone.

i make my phone calls during breaks in whatever i'm doing be it cooking, working with power tools, etc. if my phone rings and i can answer, i have a free hand. if i don't, i'll call the person back.

p.s. - i also agree with the whole "is that person on a phone call or are they just crazy?" question which i often ask myself in public places.

[TheCotMan]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

When people use such phones, they should not make eye contact with other people when speaking on the phone.
When people are using such devices, they should not interact with anyone else.
When people are using such sevices, they should end the call BEFORE they get to the front of the line for whatever they are in line for, and if they are not done, then 3 other people should have the right to cut in front of them.
When people are in any kind of accident, cell phone records showing *activity* should be pulled for all people in the car to see if any were in use at the time of the accident. (No need to see what number was called, just to see if they were being used.)
Theaters and places that prepare food (except fast food) should disable cell service (signal interference) inside their business.

Way-y-y back when, there were these things called "phone booths" that people could enter, to make phone calls. This afforded them some privacy, but more importantly, let the public not be annoyed by the person's conversation. People also had to leave the table, theater, ot wherver they were when they decided to make a call.

Now, on the rare chance you spot a phone booth, you might mistake it for a bathroom based on the appearance and smell, and the only people that want to use them now, probably use them as bathrooms.

Star Trek had it wrong--- technology is not solving problems as fast as it is giving us new problems.

Next time someone with a headset looks at me while they are talking on one of these things I think I will start talking top them like I am having one side of a conversation with them.
"Hi there!"
"Yes, you did look marvelous in that NAMBLA group photo, but why did you become a member of *that* group?"
"I don't agree, but I understand. By the way, you really need to stop it with your necrophilia-- especially in public; the homeless are starting to complain, since you still have not removed Hobo-Jones' body."

Stupid people making eye contact while talking on the phone with these BT handsfree sets.

[mfreeck]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

When people use such phones, they should not make eye contact with other people when speaking on the phone.
When people are using such devices, they should not interact with anyone else.
When people are using such sevices, they should end the call BEFORE they get to the front of the line for whatever they are in line for, and if they are not done, then 3 other people should have the right to cut in front of them.

I definitely agree. It shows disrespect to others, especially store clerks who already do not get enough respect.

>When people are in any kind of accident, cell phone records showing *activity* >should be pulled for all people in the car to see if any were in use at the time of >the accident. (No need to see what number was called, just to see if they were >being used.)

This I disagree with, as far as the passengers in the car goes. I would not want to discourage the passenger from calling for directions so the driver does not have to do it. I am more in agreement about pulling the phone records for the driver. OTOH, I don't think I could support a law banning *all* cell phone use while driving. it just strikes me as too legislative. I also think it's too legislative to ban laptops in the front seat.

>Theaters and places that prepare food (except fast food) should disable cell >service (signal interference) inside their business.

I once had a date with someone who answered the cellphone 3 times in a restaraunt and proceeded to have a full conversation with all of them. That was the last date.

>Next time someone with a headset looks at me while they are talking on one of >these things I think I will start talking top them like I am having one side of a >conversation with them.

Once I sat next to a fellow on the bus who had an extremely loud conversation about absolutely nothing with his buddy. Ever since then I've wanted to carry a pocket Vi book or something that would be equally boring to others and start reading it at full volume in case of such a person. Everyone on the bus was already suffering. Then when they turn around (as you can bet they will) and say "Hey, I'm trying to talk!" I can say "YES, WE KNOW."

>Stupid people making eye contact while talking on the phone with these BT >handsfree sets.

I don't think it's JUST BT headsets, but cells in general.

I should mention I've just started using a BT headset myself. So far I've used it around the house mostly as a way to work and talk at the same time. I've also noticed I have a habit of talking louder with the headset, since i can't hold th emic closer to my mouth. I don't know if it's necessary or not, it's probably a psychological thing, in part because the volume tends to be a little low in my ear. I am less likely to use the BT headset on the bus because a) i tend to talk louder b) the mic is further from my mouth, so i am concerned about obstructing it if i cover my mouth with my hand when i talk, so as to disturb others less.

I did once go walking down the street with my BT headset, but it was because i was contemplating calling someone, but wasn't sure. I think it's rather silly (and uncomfortable) to wear it all the time. I don't think it makes someone look cool... I'd prefer adjectives like pretentious or oblivious.

On a related note, when I see people wearing those bright white ipod headphones, it seems to scream "STEAL FROM ME, I have hot hot technology you can sell!"

[jur1st]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

On a related note, when I see people wearing those bright white ipod headphones, it seems to scream "STEAL FROM ME, I have hot hot technology you can sell!"

although it's potential threadjacking...

this isn't an issue where i live, though considering my mindset right now (especially after a 14 hour day of studying) I pitty the fool that decides to try and deprive me of my solid drum and bass. (jackalope...your set from DC12 appears on my most played list on itunes and it continues to get me through my terrible days) hand to hand combat is a distinct possibility between myself and anyone who disrupts my day.

cotman seems to have this issue solved.

[[Syntax]]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

Don't know.. I havent shelled out the cash to buy one yet.. Hell when I used a wired ear piece people look at me like Im crazy talking to no one..

On another note..

when I see people wearing those bright white ipod headphones, it seems to scream "STEAL FROM ME, I have hot hot technology you can sell!"

I think it was New York, where they actually released in the newspaper a notice warning people to switch out thier earphones. Because there had been a rash of muggings due to Ipods on the subway.