London Caters to Morons

In the real world
Post Reply
Tsukiyumi
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 21747
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:38 pm
Location: Forward Torpedo Tube Twenty. Help!
Contact:

London Caters to Morons

Post by Tsukiyumi »

Source
Padded Lampposts Tested in London to Prevent Cell Phone Texting Injuries

Friday, March 07, 2008

People who have been injured while walking and texting on their cell phones may be in luck.

A London street is experimenting with padded lampposts to protect those not paying attention from banging into them, ITN reports.

A study conducted by 118 118, a phone directory service, found that one in 10 people has been hurt while focusing on their cell phone instead of where they were walking, ITN reports.

The test lampposts will be given a trial run in London's East End on Brick Lane. If the trial is successful it will be rolled out in Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

The survey found that almost two thirds of respondents lost peripheral vision while texting, and more than a quarter wanted lines on the pavement to create routes for texters to walk while using their phones.

The study claims that 68,000 people were injured in the U.K. last year while chatting or texting on their cell phone, Infomatics reports.

118 118 will provide the padding, and in return will be allowed to advertise on them.
While I'm certainly not suggesting that I know better than you Brits, shouldn't you just encourage people to pay more attention, rather than spend tax dollars on something to protect idiots from themselves? :?

Were it my call, I'd probably put blunt spikes on them so it hurts even more. :twisted:
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
Lazar
Captain
Captain
Posts: 2232
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:29 pm
Location: Massachusetts

Re: London Caters to Morons

Post by Lazar »

Europe has been years ahead of the US in texting - back in 2003, people were writing articles trying to explain why Americans don't text. Maybe in five years we'll be crashing into stuff too. :?
"There was also a large horse in the room, taking up most of it."
Tsukiyumi
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 21747
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:38 pm
Location: Forward Torpedo Tube Twenty. Help!
Contact:

Re: London Caters to Morons

Post by Tsukiyumi »

The only reasonable justification for texts I've ever seen at all is the usefulness for sending messages in quiet places (like the movies, or church). When friends start texting people around me, I consider it rude, like whispering. At least have the damn courtesy to excuse yourself from the room to have your covert conversation. :?

I mean, it takes only a second or two to speak a paragraph; it takes way more time and concentration to text the same. So why not just talk?
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
stitch626
2 Star Admiral
2 Star Admiral
Posts: 9585
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:57 pm
Location: NY
Contact:

Re: London Caters to Morons

Post by stitch626 »

experimenting with padded lampposts to protect those not paying attention from banging into them
:bangwall:

And, Tsu. It only takes my brother a few seconds to text a paragraphs worth of information. And he can usually do it discreetly. Of course, he also enjoys texting me when I am in the same room.
No trees were killed in transmission of this message. However, some electrons were mildly inconvenienced.
Aaron
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 10988
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:01 pm
Location: Timepire Mobile Command Centre
Contact:

Re: London Caters to Morons

Post by Aaron »

Tsukiyumi wrote:The only reasonable justification for texts I've ever seen at all is the usefulness for sending messages in quiet places (like the movies, or church). When friends start texting people around me, I consider it rude, like whispering. At least have the damn courtesy to excuse yourself from the room to have your covert conversation. :?

I mean, it takes only a second or two to speak a paragraph; it takes way more time and concentration to text the same. So why not just talk?
Because people think it's impolite to hear me describe what I'm going to do to Mrs. K while I'm standing in the pharmacy. Wierdos...
Tsukiyumi
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 21747
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:38 pm
Location: Forward Torpedo Tube Twenty. Help!
Contact:

Re: London Caters to Morons

Post by Tsukiyumi »

Cpl Kendall wrote:...Because people think it's impolite to hear me describe what I'm going to do to Mrs. K while I'm standing in the pharmacy. Wierdos...
See, that's a bit different. :wink:

I mean if a friend and I are talking, and they interrupt with, "hold on a minute" and start texting. Or reading a text and laughing, only to say "oh, nothing" when I ask what's so funny. And, so forth.
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
Aaron
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 10988
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:01 pm
Location: Timepire Mobile Command Centre
Contact:

Re: London Caters to Morons

Post by Aaron »

Tsukiyumi wrote:
See, that's a bit different. :wink:
:lol: That's pretty much all I use it for.
I mean if a friend and I are talking, and they interrupt with, "hold on a minute" and start texting. Or reading a text and laughing, only to say "oh, nothing" when I ask what's so funny. And, so forth.
Oh I agree. My wife has a friend who won't use her phone for anything but texting, it's quite irritating.
Sionnach Glic
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 26014
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:58 pm
Location: Poblacht na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath

Re: London Caters to Morons

Post by Sionnach Glic »

I say they get rid of the padding, and replace them with metal spikes. Natural selection is back with a vengance.
"You've all been selected for this mission because you each have a special skill. Professor Hawking, John Leslie, Phil Neville, the Wu-Tang Clan, Usher, the Sugar Puffs Monster and Daniel Day-Lewis! Welcome to Operation MindFuck!"
Mark
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 17671
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:49 am
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Re: London Caters to Morons

Post by Mark »

Are you pulling a fast one Tsu?
They say that in the Army,
the women are mighty fine.
They look like Phyllis Diller,
and walk like Frankenstein.
Mikey
Fleet Admiral
Fleet Admiral
Posts: 35635
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:04 am
Commendations: The Daystrom Award
Location: down the shore, New Jersey, USA
Contact:

Re: London Caters to Morons

Post by Mikey »

Tsukiyumi wrote:I mean if a friend and I are talking, and they interrupt with, "hold on a minute" and start texting. Or reading a text and laughing, only to say "oh, nothing" when I ask what's so funny. And, so forth.
That's really no different than if they interrupted your conversation to have a spoken conversation on the phone. I'd say the same rules of etiquette apply. I text when I want to deliver a message but the recipient may be unable to take a call.

With the varying schedules between me, my wife, my friends, etc., I text a bit. However, the concept always seemed very self-evident to me of "stop walking when you are unable to watch where you are going."
I can't stand nothing dull
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
Captain Picard's Hair
Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Posts: 4042
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:58 am
Location: Right here.

Re: London Caters to Morons

Post by Captain Picard's Hair »

I get an image of someone standing at a podium texting a speech to an audience or a teacher teaching via text. It's just an odd thought that comes to me when I consider the popularity of texting. :? (Yet as I type this, Firefox underlines "texting" in red as a misspelling)

------------------

Speaking of texting, this editorial in the Times brings to light some alarming facts about the economics of texting.
"If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wonderous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross... but it's not for the timid." Q, Q Who
Tsukiyumi
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 21747
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:38 pm
Location: Forward Torpedo Tube Twenty. Help!
Contact:

Re: London Caters to Morons

Post by Tsukiyumi »

Captain Picard's Hair wrote:...as I type this, Firefox underlines "texting" in red as a misspelling...
As it should be. :lol:
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
Post Reply