Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[DaveShoelace]

I remember life without mobile phones and tbh I thought it was much better. When I left work my time was my own, I could hit the golf course or have a meal with friends and nobody could reach me. Thinking back that was absolute bliss. These days the biggest change for me as a manager is employers and staff EXPECT you to be contactable 24/7. So a) if there's a problem at work and staff phone it would be slack not to answer, but more telling is b) if I didn't answer my boss would find it unacceptable.

Before mobile phones my obligation in a job was 40hrs per week and now my obligation is 168hrs per week for the same money in relative terms. There have been countless times I've been called into work for emergencies or disturbed during leisure time to sort out problems and that is just a standard expectation when you're responsible for a business. That change has just crept up on us and become a way of life and it really is a major change. If you got a new job and said you don't have a mobile phone employers would be like wtf??

Yep, all this.

[the sicilian]

I remember life without mobile phones and tbh I thought it was much better. When I left work my time was my own, I could hit the golf course or have a meal with friends and nobody could reach me. Thinking back that was absolute bliss. These days the biggest change for me as a manager is employers and staff EXPECT you to be contactable 24/7. So a) if there's a problem at work and staff phone it would be slack not to answer, but more telling is b) if I didn't answer my boss would find it unacceptable.

Before mobile phones my obligation in a job was 40hrs per week and now my obligation is 168hrs per week for the same money in relative terms. There have been countless times I've been called into work for emergencies or disturbed during leisure time to sort out problems and that is just a standard expectation when you're responsible for a business. That change has just crept up on us and become a way of life and it really is a major change. If you got a new job and said you don't have a mobile phone employers would be like wtf??

Agreed.. i have clients who seem to think calling me at 10pm on a saturday night because they haven't received an email is acceptable..

[bobAlike]

I remember life without mobile phones and tbh I thought it was much better. When I left work my time was my own, I could hit the golf course or have a meal with friends and nobody could reach me. Thinking back that was absolute bliss. These days the biggest change for me as a manager is employers and staff EXPECT you to be contactable 24/7. So a) if there's a problem at work and staff phone it would be slack not to answer, but more telling is b) if I didn't answer my boss would find it unacceptable.

Before mobile phones my obligation in a job was 40hrs per week and now my obligation is 168hrs per week for the same money in relative terms. There have been countless times I've been called into work for emergencies or disturbed during leisure time to sort out problems and that is just a standard expectation when you're responsible for a business. That change has just crept up on us and become a way of life and it really is a major change. If you got a new job and said you don't have a mobile phone employers would be like wtf??

Agreed.. i have clients who seem to think calling me at 10pm on a saturday night because they haven't received an email is acceptable..

But did you promise them the email before then?

[TightEnd]

No good comes from mobile phones

http://metro.co.uk/2013/07/11/toddler-gets-her-first-wheels-after-buying-classic-car-from-ebay-using-fathers-smartphone-3878453/

[MANTIS01]

I remember life without mobile phones and tbh I thought it was much better. When I left work my time was my own, I could hit the golf course or have a meal with friends and nobody could reach me. Thinking back that was absolute bliss. These days the biggest change for me as a manager is employers and staff EXPECT you to be contactable 24/7. So a) if there's a problem at work and staff phone it would be slack not to answer, but more telling is b) if I didn't answer my boss would find it unacceptable.

Before mobile phones my obligation in a job was 40hrs per week and now my obligation is 168hrs per week for the same money in relative terms. There have been countless times I've been called into work for emergencies or disturbed during leisure time to sort out problems and that is just a standard expectation when you're responsible for a business. That change has just crept up on us and become a way of life and it really is a major change. If you got a new job and said you don't have a mobile phone employers would be like wtf??

Agreed.. i have clients who seem to think calling me at 10pm on a saturday night because they haven't received an email is acceptable..

But did you promise them the email before then?

Yes he did. But he delegated the responsibility to send it to somebody else.

[bobAlike]

I remember life without mobile phones and tbh I thought it was much better. When I left work my time was my own, I could hit the golf course or have a meal with friends and nobody could reach me. Thinking back that was absolute bliss. These days the biggest change for me as a manager is employers and staff EXPECT you to be contactable 24/7. So a) if there's a problem at work and staff phone it would be slack not to answer, but more telling is b) if I didn't answer my boss would find it unacceptable.

Before mobile phones my obligation in a job was 40hrs per week and now my obligation is 168hrs per week for the same money in relative terms. There have been countless times I've been called into work for emergencies or disturbed during leisure time to sort out problems and that is just a standard expectation when you're responsible for a business. That change has just crept up on us and become a way of life and it really is a major change. If you got a new job and said you don't have a mobile phone employers would be like wtf??

Agreed.. i have clients who seem to think calling me at 10pm on a saturday night because they haven't received an email is acceptable..

But did you promise them the email before then?

Yes he did. But he delegated the responsibility to send it to somebody else.

As he delegated for you to respond on his behalf.

[Tal]

I know you love a good, intellectual chat, Tikay, and enjoy it when you hear stories of when a fine orator regaled an audience with mellifluous, imagination-swelling narrative.

On the train this evening, a young gentleman embarked just behind me and produced his mobile telephone, in order to make what was sure to be an important communication to a noted fellow member of the Gentry. He began:

"Alroit, geeze"

I was intrigued.

"Ahh, man. Nah. Just on the way to Fuckin Stratford."

My gaze hastily directed to the list of stops. I hadn't recalled that one being mentioned. Had I boarded the wrong train?

"That f'kin...", he continued, now needing to abbrebiate - but not remove - even his profanity, "that f'kin wotsit. Y'know. Ticket Inspecta, roit?"

Roit. Go on...

What grammar to follow...

"He come over and I says...'Yeah. C'Nav a ticket?' and give him my card for half price, loik" (it's Brummie for 'like'. I use it myself)

"Then 'e sez 'you can't have half price cuz you haven't got a receipt!' So I'm loik 'This is fuckin bollocks!', cuz when I go to pay full price the ticket woman [whom I can only imagine is a disappointing Superhero to summon] sez I haven't got to pay full fare"

This is struggling to make sense, but I persevere.

"So I'm loik 'You taking the piss, mate? I'm gonna fuckin knock you out!'"

At this point, he lost signal.

Sick rubz.

Any thoughts from the thread as to how the story might have concluded welcome. I'm left with a missing half, sadly.

[tikay]

I know you love a good, intellectual chat, Tikay, and enjoy it when you hear stories of when a fine orator regaled an audience with mellifluous, imagination-swelling narrative.

On the train this evening, a young gentleman embarked just behind me and produced his mobile telephone, in order to make what was sure to be an important communication to a noted fellow member of the Gentry. He began:

"Alroit, geeze"

I was intrigued.

"Ahh, man. Nah. Just on the way to Fuckin Stratford."

My gaze hastily directed to the list of stops. I hadn't recalled that one being mentioned. Had I boarded the wrong train?

"That f'kin...", he continued, now needing to abbrebiate - but not remove - even his profanity, "that f'kin wotsit. Y'know. Ticket Inspecta, roit?"

Roit. Go on...

What grammar to follow...

"He come over and I says...'Yeah. C'Nav a ticket?' and give him my card for half price, loik" (it's Brummie for 'like'. I use it myself)

"Then 'e sez 'you can't have half price cuz you haven't got a receipt!' So I'm loik 'This is fuckin bollocks!', cuz when I go to pay full price the ticket woman [whom I can only imagine is a disappointing Superhero to summon] sez I haven't got to pay full fare"

This is struggling to make sense, but I persevere.

"So I'm loik 'You taking the piss, mate? I'm gonna fuckin knock you out!'"

At this point, he lost signal.

Sick rubz.

Any thoughts from the thread as to how the story might have concluded welcome. I'm left with a missing half, sadly.

Superb!

Speaking on Mobile Phones in public is a bit of a sore point with me.

It is as if an etiqutte is needed, but has not developed.

I don't WANT to hear one guy in the train telling his wife (loudly, so we can all hear) what sort of day he has had at the office, & asking what is for tea.

It happens everywhere, too. It is as if they are oblivious to all around them.

The really daft ones cover their mouth, so you cannot lip read - but speak LOUD.

There was a debate on the Kettle Diary recently, about the checkout Lady at Sainsburys who refused to serve a customer who could not be arsed, or have the manners, to cease her phone call whilst being served. I'd have waited until she ceased the convo, I really would.

If you want to talk to me, fine, thank you, I'm all ears. If you want to chat on your Moby, ditto. If you want to do both at the same time, you can forget it, I'm not playing.

It's a generation thing I suppose. The internet, & mobile telephony, has changed everything, but the social etiquette seems to have been left behind. The fact that so few notice that suggests it is me out of step with the world.   

[RED-DOG]

If you must answer you mobile phone, at least have the decency to wait until you get home.

[Simon Galloway]

I remember life without mobile phones and tbh I thought it was much better. When I left work my time was my own, I could hit the golf course or have a meal with friends and nobody could reach me. Thinking back that was absolute bliss. These days the biggest change for me as a manager is employers and staff EXPECT you to be contactable 24/7. So a) if there's a problem at work and staff phone it would be slack not to answer, but more telling is b) if I didn't answer my boss would find it unacceptable.

Before mobile phones my obligation in a job was 40hrs per week and now my obligation is 168hrs per week for the same money in relative terms. There have been countless times I've been called into work for emergencies or disturbed during leisure time to sort out problems and that is just a standard expectation when you're responsible for a business. That change has just crept up on us and become a way of life and it really is a major change. If you got a new job and said you don't have a mobile phone employers would be like wtf??

Agreed.. i have clients who seem to think calling me at 10pm on a saturday night because they haven't received an email is acceptable..

But did you promise them the email before then?

Yes he did. But he delegated the responsibility to send it to somebody else.

He can delegate the task to someone else.  But it is his company ~ the responsibility remains squarely with him.

[Jon MW]

...
I don't WANT to hear one guy in the train telling his wife (loudly, so we can all hear) what sort of day he has had at the office, & asking what is for tea.

It happens everywhere, too. It is as if they are oblivious to all around them.
...

What if the guy is on the train loudly telling his wife what sort of day he had at the office and asking what is for tea - and they're both on the train?

Is that the same, better, or worse?

[tikay]

I remember life without mobile phones and tbh I thought it was much better. When I left work my time was my own, I could hit the golf course or have a meal with friends and nobody could reach me. Thinking back that was absolute bliss. These days the biggest change for me as a manager is employers and staff EXPECT you to be contactable 24/7. So a) if there's a problem at work and staff phone it would be slack not to answer, but more telling is b) if I didn't answer my boss would find it unacceptable.

Before mobile phones my obligation in a job was 40hrs per week and now my obligation is 168hrs per week for the same money in relative terms. There have been countless times I've been called into work for emergencies or disturbed during leisure time to sort out problems and that is just a standard expectation when you're responsible for a business. That change has just crept up on us and become a way of life and it really is a major change. If you got a new job and said you don't have a mobile phone employers would be like wtf??

Take your point, but it is not as cut & dried as you suggest, imo.

Many of us, in this modern age, no longer work a rigid 9-5.

Senior Managers never did, but it is more common now. If we have a Managerial position, we get paid accordingly, & it comes with the territory. And we are not employed 9-5, we are employed 24/7. Just the way it is.

Part of the "oh no, they ring me out of hours" is the same as "I always lose with pocket jacks" (cue my WSOP experience!) sorta thing, selective memory.

There are also GOOD NEWS calls out of hours, but we are inclined to forget them.

x has thrown a sickie, can you do the Show tonight please? A bloody nuisance, but a bit of extra money.....

I really dislike late night calls. The gut reaction is "uh-oh, this must be trouble".

The nut worst for me is from the Big Boss, next door, late at night. I KNOW that means trouble, & my peaceful evening is over. "Bit of a problem on the Forum, some noise about (whatever) kicking off, can you settle it down please". Yes yes, of course. (inward groan, but it comes with the territory.)  The nut worst is "it is kicking off on 2+2, can you deal with it please?". "Yup, no problem, leave it with me". Mega inward groan. Don't like it or enjoy it, but we must remember both sides of the coin, & I get some lovely calls from him, too. "Can you speak to x & tell him he has a won a free seat for xxxx".

Just have to try & remember the good as well as the bad.    

And that is the thing with modern communication, which has changed our lives so much. We are almost never "free". And that is the addiction I resent, & am trying to cure, but as long as I have a job, it is not possible.

Cake & eat it.

The day after I retired from work, back in 2004 or whatever, was the happiest day I can recall. No phone calls, no e-Mails, no nothing. Free at last, after 50 years being at the whim of others. YES YES YES!

After 3 days, I got bored, bumped into Dave Colclough, & off I went again.....

There's no pleasing us.

[tikay]

...
I don't WANT to hear one guy in the train telling his wife (loudly, so we can all hear) what sort of day he has had at the office, & asking what is for tea.

It happens everywhere, too. It is as if they are oblivious to all around them.
...

What if the guy is on the train loudly telling his wife what sort of day he had at the office and asking what is for tea - and they're both on the train?

Is that the same, better, or worse?

Same. Rank bad manners. When conversing with wifey whilst in public, do it quietly.

[tikay]

I know one thing. I so wish I was still in that Main Event.

Wow, what a thing that is.

[Jon MW]

...
I don't WANT to hear one guy in the train telling his wife (loudly, so we can all hear) what sort of day he has had at the office, & asking what is for tea.

It happens everywhere, too. It is as if they are oblivious to all around them.
...

What if the guy is on the train loudly telling his wife what sort of day he had at the office and asking what is for tea - and they're both on the train?

Is that the same, better, or worse?

Same. Rank bad manners. When conversing with wifey whilst in public, do it quietly.

That's what I think is irrational about people complaining about mobile phone usage - the phone is irrelevant, it's how people are conducting themselves that is annoying and/or rude.

I think people just get distracted by the fact a mobile is involved and blame that rather than thinking it's just the person or people involved.

Like at the supermarket - if two people are shopping together and get snappy with a cashier asking them a question because they're so busy talking to each other; it's them as individuals that are causing the problem. A person on a phone getting snappy for being interrupted is exactly the same - but it's not the phone that's the problem; it's the individual.