Comments on: Can You Hear Me Now? http://dervala.net/2004/08/15/can-you-hear-me-now/ A love letter Mon, 21 May 2012 17:59:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Wil http://dervala.net/2004/08/15/can-you-hear-me-now/comment-page-1/#comment-803 Wil Tue, 24 Aug 2004 03:48:42 +0000 http://dervala.net/?p=607#comment-803 As an expat for the last few years, and now as a listless traveller, i've come to realize just how much the internet and cells have changed the way we plan. Like you say, it's just the matter of a few words, but their inclusion or ommision has altered social interaction. Call him. With payphones being removed all aroudn the world, and highly vandalized before that, it's hard to do. Plan in advance. We've been trained not to. I hate planning. The certainty of a text message once you're there, the looking around for someone typing on their phone... it's humorous, if it weren't the way we live. I don't know where it's going, but being here, in Bangkok, with no cell (that works) makes me wonder what the world's doing. And while i don't need them, i'm not sure i'm any better off being oblivious. As an expat for the last few years, and now as a listless traveller, i’ve come to realize just how much the internet and cells have changed the way we plan. Like you say, it’s just the matter of a few words, but their inclusion or ommision has altered social interaction.

Call him. With payphones being removed all aroudn the world, and highly vandalized before that, it’s hard to do.

Plan in advance. We’ve been trained not to. I hate planning. The certainty of a text message once you’re there, the looking around for someone typing on their phone… it’s humorous, if it weren’t the way we live.

I don’t know where it’s going, but being here, in Bangkok, with no cell (that works) makes me wonder what the world’s doing. And while i don’t need them, i’m not sure i’m any better off being oblivious.

]]> By: Chris Corrigan http://dervala.net/2004/08/15/can-you-hear-me-now/comment-page-1/#comment-802 Chris Corrigan Fri, 20 Aug 2004 17:59:17 +0000 http://dervala.net/?p=607#comment-802 My cell phone broke and I haven't replaced it. And my suffering vanished. I never thought I would be one to go backward, but backward feels good. My cell phone broke and I haven’t replaced it.

And my suffering vanished. I never thought I would be one to go backward, but backward feels good.

]]> By: Christopher Gleeson http://dervala.net/2004/08/15/can-you-hear-me-now/comment-page-1/#comment-801 Christopher Gleeson Mon, 16 Aug 2004 22:03:17 +0000 http://dervala.net/?p=607#comment-801 I sympathize, Ranger Tim. I rather liked not being accessible by mobile phone. I must confess, however, that upon moving south last year, I did get one of the nefarious devices. With traffic and an appalling dearth of pay phones, the mobile variety seems well nigh essential. It has come in useful at times, but things were simpler in Wawa..... I sympathize, Ranger Tim. I rather liked not being accessible by mobile phone. I must confess, however, that upon moving south last year, I did get one of the nefarious devices. With traffic and an appalling dearth of pay phones, the mobile variety seems well nigh essential. It has come in useful at times, but things were simpler in Wawa…..

]]> By: Ranger Tim http://dervala.net/2004/08/15/can-you-hear-me-now/comment-page-1/#comment-800 Ranger Tim Mon, 16 Aug 2004 16:31:17 +0000 http://dervala.net/?p=607#comment-800 Still no cell coverage anywhere here in Lake Superior Provincial Park, just a jog down the Trans-Canada Highway from Wawa. We like it that way. In the continental states, there's not a single wilderness mountaintop where you can't get at least two bars of signal; USNPS rangers despair of the constant telephone calls from hikers ordering in helicopter airlifts because they've lost the path for five minutes, or have bad blisters, or are about to run out of Trail Mix. - T Still no cell coverage anywhere here in Lake Superior Provincial Park, just a jog down the Trans-Canada Highway from Wawa. We like it that way. In the continental states, there’s not a single wilderness mountaintop where you can’t get at least two bars of signal; USNPS rangers despair of the constant telephone calls from hikers ordering in helicopter airlifts because they’ve lost the path for five minutes, or have bad blisters, or are about to run out of Trail Mix.

- T

]]> By: Christopher Gleeson http://dervala.net/2004/08/15/can-you-hear-me-now/comment-page-1/#comment-799 Christopher Gleeson Mon, 16 Aug 2004 14:12:24 +0000 http://dervala.net/?p=607#comment-799 Your screed reminds me of the time, about 6 years ago now, that a young lady, not more than 20 years old, walked into our office. She had a panic-stricken look on her face. What you must remember is, at that time, I lived and worked in Wawa, and cellular phone service was still several years away. (The townsite has it now, but there's still nothing along the highway until you reach the Sault.) Anyway, this frightened looking lady was clutching a cell phone in her hand and said,"My cell phone's not working!" "That's right," I said. "We've no cell service here. If it's an emergency, you're welcome to use our phone to call anywhere." "But what if someone's trying to call me?" she asked. "Well, I guess they'll be unsuccessful," I speculated, and repeated my offer of the use of our phone. She just shook her head, and left the office. I think I saw her driving down Broadway Avenue, out of town a few minutes later. I'll never forget that "deer-in-the-headlights" look she had when she realized that her wireless connection was severed. Your screed reminds me of the time, about 6 years ago now, that a young lady, not more than 20 years old, walked into our office. She had a panic-stricken look on her face.

What you must remember is, at that time, I lived and worked in Wawa, and cellular phone service was still several years away. (The townsite has it now, but there’s still nothing along the highway until you reach the Sault.)

Anyway, this frightened looking lady was clutching a cell phone in her hand and said,“My cell phone’s not working!”

“That’s right,” I said. “We’ve no cell service here. If it’s an emergency, you’re welcome to use our phone to call anywhere.”

“But what if someone’s trying to call me?” she asked.

“Well, I guess they’ll be unsuccessful,” I speculated, and repeated my offer of the use of our phone.

She just shook her head, and left the office. I think I saw her driving down Broadway Avenue, out of town a few minutes later. I’ll never forget that “deer-in-the-headlights” look she had when she realized that her wireless connection was severed.

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