Cell Phones and Restaurant-Safe Mode

For a while now we've been considering the fate of manners, especially as they relate to cell phones. Many times the two seem to be at odds as countless tales are told of a dinner, movie, conversation, (insert your bad experience here) that have been interrupted by someone with little regard for others around them. We're sure they don't mean to be rude it's just that something in the cell phone temporarily blocks the manner synapse from firing.

Much has been discussed around here on ways to force (arbitrary) good behavior. In a restaurant, for example, a base station could be installed that would block cell phone calls. However, what happens when the call being blocked is an emergency call? Would rudeness then be replaced with litigiousness?

What's needed is a decision system that allows calls based on some criteria. The caller could be informed that calls have been temporarily blocked but for $1/$5/$10 the call may be placed. The carrier and the restaurant would share the revenue.

The amount of work to provide such capabilities seemed to be prohibitive but at least a couple of handset manufacturers (Nokia, Sony Ericsson) provide phones with a 'flight safe' mode which turns off cell phones in proximity to a base station.

Should be simple to figure out a way to block or allow calls based on your criteria.

The folks around the cell phone user will thank you.