Social Butterfly

By Jane

July 28, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

I hate to say it, but I actually heard the familiar sounds of a cell phone’s vibrator go off repeatedly in a funeral recently (no one wanted to identify themselves by turning it off)! Before you fret at the person’s seeming audacity, this particular service is the only place I believe it was apropos. The beloved subject and and the guests honoring him were executives of a local cell phone giant. In a way, those familiar tones seemed like subtle queries from some angelic host to a team he thoroughly enjoyed working with each and every day….

By Jane

July 28, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

I hate to say it, but I actually heard the familiar sounds of a cell phone’s vibrator go off repeatedly in a funeral recently (no one wanted to identify themselves by turning it off)! Before you fret at the person’s seeming audacity, this particular service is the only place I believe it was apropos. The beloved subject and and the guests honoring him were executives of a local cell phone giant. In a way, those familiar tones seemed like subtle queries from some angelic host to a team he thoroughly enjoyed working with each and every day….

By Jane

July 28, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

I hate to say it, but I actually heard the familiar sounds of a cell phone’s vibrator go off repeatedly in a funeral recently (no one wanted to identify themselves by turning it off)! Before you fret at the person’s seeming audacity, this particular service is the only place I believe it was apropos. The beloved subject and and the guests honoring him were executives of a local cell phone giant. In a way, those familiar tones seemed like subtle queries from some angelic host to a team he thoroughly enjoyed working with each and every day….

By Jane

July 28, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

I hate to say it, but I actually heard the familiar sounds of a cell phone’s vibrator go off repeatedly in a funeral recently (no one wanted to identify themselves by turning it off)! Before you fret at the person’s seeming audacity, this particular service is the only place I believe it was apropos. The beloved subject and the guests honoring him were executives of a local cell phone giant. In a way, those familiar tones seemed like subtle queries from some angelic host to a team he thoroughly enjoyed working with each and every day….

By Jane

July 28, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

I hate to say it, but I actually heard the familiar sounds of a cell phone’s vibrator go off repeatedly in a funeral recently (no one wanted to identify themselves by turning it off)! Before you fret at the person’s seeming audacity, this particular service is the only place I believe it was apropos. The beloved subject and the guests honoring him were executives of a local cell phone giant. In a way, those familiar tones seemed like subtle queries from some angelic host to a team he thoroughly enjoyed working with each and every day….

By Okay, but. . .

July 28, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

Jane: Next time, only hit the “Post” button ONCE.

By Read the directions first

July 28, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

WE KNOW!!!!! You ‘hate to say it.’

By Ich bin ein Beginner

July 28, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

I believe Jane was referring to herself in her (multiple) posts. Oligopolists, like monopolists, have no shame.

By dd

July 28, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this

So does saying “Believe me, I’ve got far too many shortcomings of my own before I could begin to criticize someone whose cell phone goes off in church” mean that it’s now ok that you’ve criticized someone whose cell phone goes off? Reminds me of the ladies who use “bless their hearts” after ripping the crap out of someone, as if it makes it all ok……

The other day I txt’d my daughter while she was on a long trip back home, to make sure she was OK, while in church (horrors). The lady with 3 kids beside me asked “can’t it wait?”. I told her I was sorry that she was bothered, and got up and moved. Why idoes it almost always seem to be “moms” who feel they should manage those around them?? wow.

You might want to move up front and you wont’ be bothered by folks who aren’t quite as saintly as you are.

By Perkle

July 28, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this

There are so many places that having your cell phone is not appropriate - why should church be excluded? Some people use them so much you would think they are surgically attached. I have been cell phone free for 4yrs but even when I had one it wasn’t glued to my ear. I would like them banned in most places, while driving, in restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores, the mall, especially doctors offices. I do not want to hear everyone’s personal conversations. You are not that important. It is amazing the conversations people will have - they seem to think that no one around can hear them.

By Common Sense

July 28, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this

DD it is called respect!

You could have text your daughter before you got to church. How are you going to hear what the pastor is saying if you are texting! I guess you don’t take the word serious therefore you want to limit you growth with the father!

By Pastor

July 28, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this

I had a parishioners cell phone go off during one of my sermons once. I could tell where it was coming from and whose it was and I knew that they could take a little kidding so I stopped my sermon and told her I would wait for her to take her call. If nothing else it got a big laugh - even from the person holding the offending cell phone. (-;

By vee

July 28, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this

At my church cell phones frequently cause interference with our pa system. Very annoying squeaking and buzzing blasts out from the speakers when someone’s phone rings (even if it’s on silent or vibrate). They used to ask us to turn them completely off at the beginning of the service. I believe now they just have a note printed in the bulletin.

By Debora

July 28, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this

I understand all of your comments. However, since my Dads heart attack and quad bypass, I do not turn my phone off for anyone or anything. I will be respectful in theaters, restuarants, church and do turn it to vibrate. But my phone is where I can feel it and if it is my Mom or Dad, it gets answered.

At work, I do NOT turn my phone off EVER FOR ANYONE NOT EVEN HR and my cell phone is within reach at all times.

I missed the initial call when I had my phone on vibrate because I had a client in my office and my phone in a desk drawer. There is nothing more important that my Parents. I had to hear about my Dad via voice mail. My poor Mom not knowing if I could come and be with her for an hour or more after she called me and I got her back on the phone.

By WOW

July 28, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this

Wow - won’t even turn the cell phone off for Jesus - that’s hard core. Just kidding - I understand your reasoning.

By Dude

July 28, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this

Ah, what did we do in the days before cell phones?

Oh yes, we received emergency calls on our office phones, and lived our lives in blissful ignorance of the day-to-day minutiae of other’s lives.

And to think, entire generations survived before the cell phone.

By J

July 28, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this

You’d think the callers would know where these people are on sunday mornings and NOT CALL during that time.

By J

July 28, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this

You’d think the callers would know where these people are on sunday mornings and NOT CALL during that time.

By Debora

July 28, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this

We at one time didn’t have cars either. Should I have walked to the hospital?

Once we didn’t have planes. Should I have ridden a horse to my out of state parents home?

By J

July 28, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this

By the way, I did NOT hit post twice!

By Pastor

July 28, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this

LOL - I can remember when it sometimes took two days to find out who won the braves game when they were playing on the West Coast.

I love the modern conveniences - I remember the good ole days and I prefer indoor plumbing and air conditioning. (-;

Even so - cell phones are here - and as long as they make people feel important about how urgent their lives seem to be - they aren’t going anywhere.

By Debora

July 28, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this

J you are an goofball. I DO NOT CARE WHERE I AM, WHO I AM WITH, WHAT I AM DOING - MY PARENTS ARE TO CALL ME IN AN EMERGENCY AND I WILL ANSWER.

By Happy Agnostic

July 28, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this

One of the many reasons I don’t go to church.

By RJones

July 28, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

What if it was Jesus on the phone telling you to PAY ATTENTION ?

By Pastor

July 28, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this

LOL - To Happy Agnostic - you should probably stay away from movie theaters, restaurants and the like as well. (-;

By Pastor

July 28, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

To Happy Agnostic - you probably better stop driving your car as well because there are a lot of people on those roads talking on cell phones. (-;

By RJones

July 28, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this

Everyone has to understand that some people feel that they are above everyone and everything. Nothing will stop them from doing whatever they want to, regardless of the situation. ‘I’ am so important, ‘I’ can’t wait like everyone else. There will always be self important egomaniacs.

By deidre_NC

July 28, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this

it is just rude to use a cell phone in a way that disrupts other people. even a silent text in an inappropriate setting is disrupting. people dont have manners anymore. you cant compare cell phone use with driving or flying-those dont disrupt what people are doing (unless there is a crash involved.)

By DN

July 28, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this

Debora: Are you familiar with the word “narcissism”?

By RamblinLonghorn

July 28, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this

It always blows my mind that people have become so attached to Cell Phones. It was only 15 years ago, when we didn’t have them, and you didn’t have to be in contact every second of every day.

That’s the price we pay for advancing technology I suppose.

C’est la vie

By jg

July 28, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this

No kidding I saw one of our choir members texting during a service!

It took only 1 time of my husband’s phone going off in church for him to leave the phone in the car. It was his brother - a Pastor calling!!!

(time zone difference is the reason fyi!)

By JRS

July 28, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this

Admittedly cell phones are a great convenience; however, people take it way too far with their need to be constantly connected. Cell phone users have no concept of “this CAN wait”. Before we had these contraptions you received phone calls at your homes, if you were out you got a message when you returned, if you were at work you received an “emergency” phone call on the company phone when children or family needed you immediately and for all other instances you just WAITED.

By JRS

July 28, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this

This is yet another commentary on how self-absorbed and narcissistic we as a society have become. Even Jesus himself can’t pry the electronic leash from around our necks!!! In church a cell phone being used is disrespectful to the Pastor, Priest, Whoever is speaking. It amazes me that most people would die if thier boss caught them testing during an important client meeting, but will freely use the cell phone while their spiritual leader is giving them the very guidance they showed up for.

By katherine

July 28, 2008 9:52 PM | Link to this

Several years I was at a funeral and — while preaching, the preacher’s cell phone rang! He was mortified, we were horrified. He mumbled an apology about another parishioner being “about to die” and could hardly continue. There is a time and a place for everything, right?!

By FCM

July 28, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this

During Church I leave mine in the car. I will check voicemail before leaving the lot though. More than one person has been called back and told,”No, I did not hear the phone, I was in Church.” They always think for a minute, then say something like “Well that is a good reason not to have the phone on you.” It surprised me to know that some good Christian folks I admire answer their crackberries in church. Usually to text something like “I can do that when I am out of Church” or “I am sitting in Sunday School right now.”

Basically, unless Christ decides to call, leave the phone off. Better to ‘skip’ church and make sure daughter is home than to text in church when your mind (and heart) are probably someplace else.

By Judgemental?You Bet

July 28, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this

How incredibly rude to answer a phone anytime, anyplace, anywhere. If I was so concerned about my parents I would be staying with them instead of pushing my private problems on everyone else, everywhere else. Sounds like someone taking advantage of airing their personal business to me. Everyone has problems but that doesn’t give one the right to force them upon others, especially if it disrupts others. Do you have an insane need for attention or what? Grow up, will ya?

I, too am agnostic but even I would frown upon texting during church service. I also frown upon texting while in class and while driving, which I’m seeing more of, unfortunately.

By by crenshaw

July 29, 2008 1:09 AM | Link to this

there is a time and place for everything.it just goes to show you the lack of reverance there is for GOD AND THE THINGS OF GOD.

By by crenshaw

July 29, 2008 1:09 AM | Link to this

there is a time and place for everything.it just goes to show you the lack of reverance there is for GOD AND THE THINGS OF GOD.

By by crenshaw

July 29, 2008 1:09 AM | Link to this

there is a time and place for everything.it just goes to show you the lack of reverance there is for GOD AND THE THINGS OF GOD.

By by crenshaw

July 29, 2008 1:10 AM | Link to this

there is a time and place for everything.it just goes to show you the lack of reverance there is for GOD AND THE THINGS OF GOD.

By MzEm

July 29, 2008 5:59 AM | Link to this

@dd - now that is PLAN rude to be texting in church. Debora I can empathize with you but what would you have done if we were back in the 80’s when cell phones weren’t around? When my son was serving overseas in the military I was always on edge when I didn’t have my phone but I NEVER TOOK IT IN CHURCH and never will.

I’m not a judgemental person but I do feel having a phone in church is RUDE and we need to get back to the basics of respect. I don’t take my phone inside the church - I leave it on in my car. I would absolutely pass out if my phone went off in church.

By Magenta

July 29, 2008 7:16 AM | Link to this

I once lost out on an opportunity for advancement at work because the person assigned to show me a new procedure would not leave her cell phone alone for one minute. Her comment, an exact quote: “I’m just so important to so many people, they just can’t stop calling me, ha ha.” When it became clear that she couldn’t concentrate long enough to show me what needed to be done she said “Might as well just do it myself anyway. I get stuck with all the jobs…I work harder than anyone else I know…oh excuse me, my cell phone is ringing…”

Narcissistic is THE right word! Feh!

By buzz

July 29, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

For one hour on those sunday morning’s put away the cell phones and talk to god.