Excuse Me Sir, There Is Something Stuck In Your Ear
Double3 posted something similar to this a few months back. I did not think twice about it until right now.
The dude in front of me @ St. Arbucks has been fiddling with that thing for like 10 minutes. Trying to get it to stay in his ear.
I am wondering why.
He is not speaking.
I think he should take it out of his ear.
In fact. I think there should be some sort of law that prohibits you from wearing large chunks of plastic protruding from your ear canal in public.
Especially if it glows.
Tell me if you wear one of those things.
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
My husband!
Cheers
heck no. it’s bad for your brain!!! hehe
Those things are the worst. Especially at conferences. I sat there watching person after person approach this presenter guy and he was on his phone each time and it was so awkward to see these people start to talk to him having to give hand gestures back to let them know he is using the ear piece. Not a fan. Maybe for driving and that would be it.
i used to wear one…but it was really small.
but i no longer rock the bluetooth….it reminds me that i want to bring it back.
I went to a Sunday School where the teacher wore one the entire class. I guess he needed it in case a call came in that was more important than class.
You’d be amazed at the number of guys that wear those during our Sunday services.
It is a requirement if your above the age of 45 and into gadgets. Especially if your above the age 45, into gadgets, and you are in the ministry.
I personally now have one, but only use it when I drive (required in 2008 in CA). But I do hate them so, much, I may just choose not to talk at all while I am driving or get my new car equipped with bluetooth.
Seriously. Hate them. If you’re driving your car and talking on the phone with one, fine. But if you’re just walking around, like some kind of android, be prepared for me to rip it out. Hate them. I hate them…sooo..much…I-it-it-flames..flames..flames! On the side of my face..breathing..breathle..heaving breathes..heaving…
This might be the most comments ever in 3 minutes after posting something. You guys are amazing.
And yea. I echo the 45 gadget comment.
I hate to say it, but the ipod equally annoys me. You are only allowed to walk around in public listening to an ipod if you previously did the same with a CD player…otherwise you are just posing with your gear.
That said…the bluetooth is priceless in the car and at my desk…never in public.
Cars and office only.
I don’t have one.
Don’t really want one.
Hate ‘em.
They’re not even techno geeky. They’re stupid.
Yea. So here is my issue. The new iphones use the same headphones as the ipod. Only there is a microphone on them. So the surprise is double whammy when you see someone with a pair of iPod earphones walking into Starbucks talking to themselves. NO ONE knows that the iPhone ear buds have the mic on them. These people look even stranger.
yeah, i wear one, but not usually in public unless there’s good cause (winter chill is somewhere near 10-15 degrees and then i don’t have to take my hands out because, like usual, i forgot my gloves)
i don’t mind if someone is wearing one if they are driving or needing to use their hands for some reason, but other then that, just hold the phone to your ear.
just in the car my friend, just in the car.
i would recommend wearing one if you want to look like a tool.
In the car. Working at my desk.
Aside from those two scenarios… you may as well be wearing a fleece.
I had one for when my phone was charging or while i was in the car, but then dropped it and the speaker inside the piece got knocked loose. so then when it produced sound, the sound waves vibrated the speaker to where the vibrations where louder than the person actually talking, so it became useless.
i don’t wear one. i have a wired earpiece that i keep in my car and use ‘cuz it’s a little safer than holding the phone.
my kids and i were wondering why these people are the only ones that aren’t in on the joke of it. i think it’s doing them a FAVOR if you tell them.
a year ago i was at a dinner theater production of the scrooge story that was really fun… there was a man ( i typed “big man” but decided it didn’t matter his size for the story so i deleted the big part) sitting in the front row – so close that he could touch the feet of the performers – rockin’ the bluetooth. the performers noticed this early on and rocked HIM during the performance – worked it in improv/dicken’s style. i laughed harder than anyone in the whole place. they totally called him out. classic.
I do, but only for when i’m driving!
Otherwise you don’t need them, you can just hold the phone up to your ear. No need to be so lazy about it if you’re going to talk on the phone constantly.
I don’t have one of those things, only the ipod headphones with the mic, which I only use in the car!
I agree, it’s stupid to walk around looking like you talk to yourself.
People who wear those are called: Blue Tools.
I must admit I am guilty of wearing one. But I only wear it in the car or if I’m in the house moving around a lot and can’t hold the phone. I try not to make it a habit of just walking around with it “just in case” it might ring. That is really annoying when I see people doing that. Like I hate it when people will sit there and have a whole conversation with you at a restaurant with that thing hanging out of their ear. Like they’re just waiting for someone more important than you to call and interrupt the conversation…GRRR!!!!….But that’s a whole ‘nother rant that I’ll save for my own blog so I don’t tie up your comment line…
But I will share this one story of how I went to the movies once and kept getting annoyed because I kept seeing this blue light flashing intermittently throughout the film. Everytime I turned around it would disappear. Just as I was about to get up and go complain to the manager I realized that I had left my bluetooth in my ear by accident. I was so annoyed with myself…
About three years ago I wore one. I embarrassed my family by wearing it everywhere. Then it broke and I never replaced it.
Since that time I have come to realize how utterly RIDICULOUS it looks! I see people who look like they can’t afford their next meal and yet they have their b luetooth attached to their ear.
I think it is fine if you are rolling down the highway in your car.
I dont have one of these I can barely get the Ipod buds to stay in my ears at the gym and studying speech and audiology I know the huge damage these gadgets can do to your ears. ( All of which will keep me in business for years to come)
What I really hate is waiting in the car line to pick up my kids up from school (a traffic nightmare in itself) and the moms (and dads too) yapping away on the cell phone. They aren’t paying attention to cars or kids and barely speak to their kids when they get in the car. As soon as my son hits the car I start “How was your day? Do you have any homework? How did your test/quiz/practice/speehc you name it go?” I just spent 6 hours away from my boy there is no one more important than him. Period.
(getting down off of soap box) thanks.
Los, I kid you not. This actually happened to me last month.
I was in the men’s room at WalMart. A guy comes in with a Bluetooth in his ear, and he had apparently dialed someone just before he came in the men’s room.
Because here is what happened:
1) He walks up to the urinal
2) Unzips
3) Looks down
4) Breaks into a big smile and says “Hey man, how ya doin?”
But it makes him feel like he’s in the future!
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Maybe some people wonder the same about your attachment to your camera, laptop, etc. Maybe it just makes him feel connected. Who knows? Who cares? Be nice.
Right?
Bottom line: they are lame…stop wearing them. Use a normal phone. If you’re driving, don’t talk on the phone.
Paul… you made my day with that one!!!!!
Paul…Story of the day.
JK
Denise…I am only nice to the sexy people.
And yes. People do wonder about my connection to my camera. And they make fun of me. It’s ok.
Best quote of the post so far…”Aside from those two scenarios… you may as well be wearing a fleece.”
Los
i call those things “important guy pieces”. like … i’m so important that i could get a phone call at any moment.
yeah, I agree with Eric, it seems arrogant to me, but I am sure that if I want to talk on the phone in the car in the next year, I will have to have one. I do like the pressure not to talk on the phone in the car, I guess I got too used to it.
I was once drinking a cup of coffee and a guy with one in his ear said something. Then he repeated it. Then he asked me why I wasn’t paying attention to him.
I told him I thought he was on the phone…
I have a very small one- the reason that I acquired it is that it has a feature that enhances the sounds in the room. Unfortunately, I am losing the hearing in one of my ears, so this bluetooth receiver for my cell phone acts like a mini hearing aid- but it is oh-so-much better- and it only cost me a fraction of what a hearing aid costs. (Did you know that hearing aids are not covered by health insurance?) And I have longish hair that covers the receiver (and it does NOT glow….) PLUS I turn my cell phone OFF most places when I am with people – don’t get me started on cell phone etiquette and why people feel they need to be available to everyone else 24/7 (or maybe they’ll miss the second coming if their cell phone is off? – does it say that in the Bible?)
I too in the “only for driving” catagory… and then most of the time I forget… so I only use it for long “I am on cruise for an hour” drives…. otherwise… ugh.
Besides, I had cancer once… that was enough.
“We are Borg.”
That’s what comes to my mind when I see them.
OH, THOSE ARE ANNOYING. especially when you’re out shopping, and there is a girl w/ long hair wearing one … and the hair is covering it up. i go through 3 stages when i see these people coming towards me:
1 – what is she saying to me? why me?
2 – oh, she’s not talking to me. is she crazy?
3 – oh, she’s embracing technology.
my wife just went out and bought a bluetooth ear piece. we had a nice little chat where ground rules for wearing it were laid out.
i’m not so down with these ear pieces. it you’re not in 24/7 Tech Support, you don’t need to be doing 15 different things while you’re on the phone anyway … seriously, how good a job are you going to do on everything else you’re doing while you’re talking on the phone? slow down.
Love the post, Los.
Couldn’t agree more.
People wear these in church?
Why?
I’ve gotta admit I wear mine in the car all the time. It seems like the only time I have to make calls is when I’m driving and the speakerphone is horrible on my phone.
i’ve seen bigger.
“that’s what she said”
sorry. couldn’t resist. but no, seriously, our IT guy has the biggest bluetooth in the entire world. it come around to the side of his face. i mean… seriously. and he wears it all day. every day. these should only be worn during driving and even then… they can be smaller.
i can’t stand em. ESPECIALLy when you meet up with someone and they don’t take it off. it’s like, what are you going to be on the phone while we hang out? really! I mean really!!! only for driving….take it off. unless you like looking like you are talking to the voices in your head….
Oh…and phones in the bathroom are my current biggest pet peeve….hello?? it’s the bathroom! Paul’s story was amazing. that’s all i have to say =)
oh and HI!!
omg! i cant believe there are like 40-something comments – for this post!
i will never wear one of those things. they just are not cool.
Anything bluetooth just flat-out sucks when it comes to ear-pieces for your mobile phone. Thank the Lord I never found one that sounds good or I would be even more uncool than I already am! But that is what makes me Hip, is that I am uncool… which then makes me fresh, because I am hip, yet so uncool. Ya dig?
Imagine you work from home and have a job that requires you to sit in on conference calls for several hours a day, most of which you listen to and only very rarely speak. And imagine you occasionally leave the house during those calls. You’d probably want a bluetooth instead of holding the phone to your head for 60-90 minutes at a time, too.
Never had bluetooth, just used a wired headset, but I had a job like that. it’s not as uncommon as you may think. Lighten up, folks. There are lots of different perspectives and needs out there. Just because you haven’t thought of them doesn’t mean they aren’t legitimate.
But this perspective is…While out and about, please remove it. We ain’t clownin what you do behind closed doors.
I’ve got one. I forget it’s in my ear sometimes because I’ve gotten used to it and it’s so light. I am trying to take it out though when I’m not driving. Although it also comes in handy when I’m working on the computer and need to be a phone call as well.
As a mental health professional, I am very familiar… accustomed in fact, to people walking around talking out loud to themselves.
I was with a client at St. Arbucks one day and the guy at the next table is having an animated conversation with himself. It went on for a while and a number of people were glancing over at him. He was making hand gestures and the whole thing.
My client has a similar diagnosis and controls it well with medication and control techniques. He says to me, “John, are you working with him too”?
When the guy got up and left, he had a big glowing blue ‘bug’ sticking out of his ear. My client says, “Do you think he was talking to Starfleet”?
I love my job.