Requiem for the Disappearing Pay Phone 559
StarEmperor writes "This Washington Post article describes the steady disappearance of pay phones as cell phones become more commonplace. Many pay phones, which used to generate hundreds of dollars per month in revenue, are now used so infrequently that they cost money to operate. I wonder what kind of environmental hazard is posed by junking thousands of pay phones?"
What will happen to 2600 mag? (Score:4, Funny)
Without public telephones... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:where can I get one? (Score:3, Funny)
You've never seen those start-your-own-business things with payphones?
Put them anywhere! tons of revenue!
Check it out! [payphoneconnection.com]
Obscure Future Rama Joke (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Without public telephones... (Score:2, Funny)
This reminds me... (Score:5, Funny)
I can see DC Comics incorporating this ... (Score:5, Funny)
[Superman showing Lois around the Fortress of Solitude
Superman: "Lois, we're finally alone"
Lois: "Oh, Superman, I've dreamed of this day for so long"
Superman: "Like they say in AOL, 'Me Too' "
Lois: "This is so perfect...wait...what's that smell?!?"
Superman: "Oops, I'm sorry, Lois, since they took out all the payphones, I have to use dumpsters to change clothes..."
John
Re:What will happen to 2600 mag? (Score:1, Funny)
When I was in the airport in London, I asked this cashier for a Pound worth of 5p's and the guy says, "Your aren't planning on using these on the phones in Germany are you?"
"Uh, no."
Re:Outside line? (Score:5, Funny)
is it where they change into their gangster clothes?
'Recycle' them (Score:3, Funny)
Just how common are pay phones, anyway? At least around here in the US Northeast Corridor, there happen to be at least a couple every few blocks, usually clustering near freeway interchanges (because there's always a pay phone at each gas station). Given their ubiquity, I'd guess that telcos could extract some more life out of the old beat-up pay phones by repurposing them as wireless access points or some kind or another, or lease the space for someone else to do it. Just as long as Verizon doesn't put out a new ad asking 'Can you ping me now?'...
Where will they go? (Score:4, Funny)
The main problem with public services such as payphones is other people use them, and I'm not one who likes getting near that kind of "interface". One of the reasons electronic (ie filthy-cashless) POS transactions get the thumbs up from me.
The problem with Payphones is more than just their stupidly high price, it's hygiene too.
Re:where can I get one? (Score:3, Funny)
I can remember (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Without public telephones... (Score:2, Funny)
Only Terrorists Use Public Telephones (Score:5, Funny)
How can the government ensure your security if you use public pay phones?
Use your cell phone, or get one! That way your phone records are just a computer away from the people protecting your safety.
Do not assist the Terrorists!
wtf?! (Score:2, Funny)
You mean I've been putting my money into them for all this time for nothing?!
Seriously though, perhaps if phone companies want to perpetuate the phone booth they should do more stuff like this [bt.com].
Sure, it can't be that good for profit, but it's bound to increase the popularity. But if you want to increase profit, there was a scheme a few years back where people listened to an advertisement at the start of a call to increase telco revenue. I've never seen (or heard) this done. Why not?
Re:Pay phones are nowhere near as annoying (Score:4, Funny)
Why didn't you? Seriously, you paid 8 or 9 bucks to enjoy the movie and you shouldn't put up with some inconsiderate fucktard yacking on his cell phone. Demand, loudly and belligerently, that they hang up (feel free to use the word "fucktard." I like it.) and if that doesn't work, pick a fight with 'em. At the very least you'll get your money's worth of enjoyment out of beating them severely (Or being beaten severely, don't back down even if they're bigger than you. Once you go down that road there's no turning back.)
Most people don't want to get in a fight so I doubt it'd ever come to blows anyway, and the audience will think you're a hero no matter the outcome. It's up to us all to stamp out the scourge of cell phones users in the movie theater.
And yes, I walk that walk, though since I pay my tribute to the MPAA as rarely as possible I've only ever had to demand that someone turn their phone off once (It was G or PG so I said "jackass" and not "fucktard" -- see, I'm considerate!) and didn't even have to threaten physical violence. He hung up, politely watched the movie and cleared out of the theater almost before the credits hit the screen. I hope the experience was traumatic enough for him that he will be more polite in the future.
Re:Obscure Future Rama Joke (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Payphone Disposal (Score:4, Funny)
Re:So much BS, so little time. (Score:5, Funny)
I agree. It's not that the cellphones themselves are bad, they are just one more tool for people who tend to be rude and inconsiderate (the same type of people who talk, wear big hats, and don't bathe). Blaming the technology for the way it is used is total bullshit.
I often carry my cell phone in movies and restaurants, but I put the ringer on vibrate. If it rings, you have to be right next to me to even hear it buzz. I check the caller ID, and if it's someone I absolutely need to speak with I answer it, and quietly tell them to hold while I step out of the theatre. If not, I let it go to voicemail and check it after the show.
Are there a lot of phones that don't have vibrate? Or just a lot of people who don't care about irritating the people around them? I think it's less an issue of invasive technology, and more an issue of a culture of self-obsession.
Case in point:
I was in a theatre this past weekend. Outside the auditorium there was a bigass sign that said "Cellphone Free Zone". During the trailers, there was an announcement to turn off your cellphone. But sure enough, halfway through the movie, a cellphone rang in the row behind me, and the woman not only answered it, but sat there and carried on a conversation. No doubt, the woman felt she was above any petty social convention, and she was too important for the "rules" to apply to her.
At this point, I lost my patience and decided to teach her a lesson about social convention. I stood up, turned around, and announced loudly, "turn off your phone or I will whip out my dick and piss on you!" I think she thought I was kidding until I reached for my fly. Then she told the caller "gotta go" and just hung up. I said, "thank you for your cooperation," sat back down, and tried hard not to ruin the moment by laughing my ass off...
Re:So much BS, so little time. (Score:1, Funny)
Those pesky hostages, they just keep taking planes over with box cutters...
Re:Pay phones are nowhere near as annoying (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Without public telephones... (Score:1, Funny)
Gotham is the NYC-ish town.
Oh, and Star City is more or less San Fran.
There are those out there who insist that Metropolis is in Deleware and Gotham is in New Jersey, but what the fuck to they know? Also, in the first Superman comics, Metropolis was obviously Cleveland.
Nowadays, the location of Metropolis is just kept deliberately vague. Kind of like "Springfield" on the Simpsons being somewhere in fly-over land, but noplace in particular.
Frank Miller once joked that Metropolis is NYC by day, and Gotham in NYC by night, but he was just being silly.
Shit. I need a life.
Matrix (Score:1, Funny)