Memo to iPhone users: Stop the rudeness - San Jose Mercury News
If you read any technology news this week — or spent much time reading
"Tweets" from friends on Twitter like I did — you may feel like you
are missing Some Great Thing by not having an iPhone.
The Internet, Apple stores and just about anyone who loves technology
were abuzz this week about several new iPhone products. First, the
company released the iPhone 3.0 software which includes the much-
demanded cut, copy and paste function, a GPS turn-by-turn direction
system and programming tools so the exploding industry of iPod
application developers can add to the many "apps" available online.
And on Friday, Apple released the $200 to $300 iPhone 3G S, the most
powerful and fastest iPhone ever made. It looks snappier too.
iPhone envy
But the older generation iPhones are no slouches either. I spent
Sunday afternoon flipping through a new friend's photo album on his
iPhone, checking out Google maps of my neighborhood and looking at
some cool applications, or "apps," designed just for the iPhone. In
fact, last week I subjected myself to an article on Spike.com about
applications that will make the opposite sex more attractive to one
another.
I am jealous. I admit it.
Having access to the Internet 24-7 is a treat. Before deciding on a
dinner spot, my friend checks Yelp.com
on her iPhone. Another friend used his iPhone to Tweet live from a
lecture by UC Berkeley journalism professor and author Michael Pollan.
And with this phone's newer video technology, I am sure I am going to
be subjected to more videos than ever of my friends' cats snoring.
Got it? Flaunt it
Although I am envious of the usefulness of this gadget — I'd love to
get rid of the camera, GPS, and phone in my purse — I am put off by
the rudeness of what seems to be the iPhone culture. Yes, many of you
are being startlingly obnoxious with your little toy.
While you're Tweeting, snapping photos and sending them to Flickr and
surfing the 'Net during dinnertime, those of us without iPhones are
stewing.
I don't have an iPhone for several reasons, one being that I am stuck
in a contract with T-Mobile, and I can't get out unless I want to drop
$200. My Blackberry is fine — I take photos and listen to music on it
— but I am not connected to the Internet. I feel surprisingly serene
about that knowing what I know about rabid iPhone users.
I've literally been in the middle of a conversation with someone who
pulled out their iPhone to update their blog, shockingly unaware that
I actually cared about what I was saying to him and wanted him to care
too. His online life was apparently more important than what was right
in front of him, breathing and trying to connect.
Stop the iInsanity
So here are a few tips on how to be a polite iPhone user, saving the
sanity of all of us who don't have one.
# Say "excuse me": If you don't want me to grab your phone out of your
hand and throw it to the ground, do us both a favor and excuse
yourself before you log on to Twitter to post about the Bubble Gum on
the sidewalk that looks like a pink elephant.
# Be honest: If you really don't care about the person you're spending
time with IRL (in real life) tell them. There's nothing worse than
someone you think is a friend who loves her iPhone more than you.
# Keep tabs on your toy: A missing kid being reported over the BART
announcement system? Sure. Your precious iPhone fell out of your
pocket? Not so much. I heard three announcements about three different
missing iPhones during two trips on BART over the weekend. Something
tells me they wouldn't stop the presses on BART for my missing $60
Blackberry.
Reach Laura Casey at
lcasey@bayareanewsgroup.com or 925-952-2697.
Memo to iPhone users: Stop the rudeness 
Linear Mode
