BT headsets, love em or hate em?

[big chopper]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

Why are we so concerned about other people's behavoir or use if BT head phones?
If it works for you, use it and screw what other's think. This is America damn it!

BTW: I don't have BT
--BC.

[goathead]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

The cybermen and I agree that upgrades are manditory.

[^Dash^]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

I like BT technology and 3G... i can see it now... you and your friend are walking down the street and you see your common friend Bob:

Hey man... there's Bob, let's go talk to him.
Nah, man he is all the way on the other side of the street. Let's just call him and make a 3G conference.

[FLeiXiuS]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

I have a friend who works at Best Buy. According to him, a lot of his customers find the LED's when a call is established to be the new FASHION. Soon enough all of our ears will be glowing...

[robosycho]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

This looks like its falling back on the 'leash' theory of cellphone use. The phone rings, and for some reason, everything else stops so they can get that call. The leash tugs and they stop everything else just to talk wth someone. I deal with a large amount of customers at my work on a regular basis and every day there is someone who is either on their phone when they show up or it rings and they answer it while they're there. And of course, talking to them while they're "on the PHONE" would be rude, so nothing can happen while they talk on the phone. A majority of the calls are mundane things as well... "All right, I'll be home when I told you sweetie, bye bye!" And so on. Why the hell did they have to waste my time as well as that of everyone waiting?

But certainly the first thing my mind jumps to when I see someone talking on/wearing a headset is that there is something more important to them than what they are doing. Its akin to giving everyone around you the finger when in a group. I can understand you're in a rush, but the question is for what purpose? It conveys an all around sloppiness of the person, their attention isn't where they are, but somewhere else. Just my 2 cents.

[^Dash^]

Re: BT headsets, love em or hate em?

i had a friend who once bought himself a pair those TEAC headphones with bass-boost and separate batteries and stuff and used them as a handsfree... he looked like a pimped out nerd with those headphones covering his ears and a large microphone over his mouth ... that might work as silly too

[[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.

[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.

[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!"

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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."

[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?

[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.