Do you think texting and walking should be made illegal?

No.

You can’t ban something because you saw a bad news story. Or we would have banned cars long ago.

You Tube has lots of videos of people doing extremely stupid thing while texting and walking.
A few years ago a middle aged fellow in a town I go to on my run walked off the curb into a semi due to texting and walking, that shut the highway down for hours because it not only run over him it ripped him to shreds.
Still think texting and walking is great?

No, just tell them to get the *@&# out of your and others’ way. I do it all the time as this is one of my biggest pet peeves.

It’s spelled “Pokémon.”

But maybe a fine might wake them up?
Great now the mods will make me correct it, see your more upset at the spelling mistake than idiots walking into traffic and other stupid stunts because they can’t lift their damn noses out of their phones.

There’s nowt new about this, when the Nazi’s saluted they had Pikachu perched on the back of their hands, Hitler fucking loved it

No. The illegal part of what they’re doing is the traffic violations (going into the road without right of way) we don’t need to ban whatever they happened to be doing when they broke traffic law.

For Pete’s sake, let’s stop making laws for every little thing, especially laws that are meant to save people from their own stupidity. When irresponsible behavior is self-endangering, I think that’s enough.

As @Mariah says, the actual infractions are the issue, and not the cause of inattention, which could be drinking a soda, having a conversation, watching a child, managing a dog, admiring a rainbow…should those things all be illegal just because they might possibly cause a pedestrian to misjudge traffic?

Let’s get the not texting and driving right first!

I told you PoGo was going to ruin everything.

Nah, let Darwinism take its toll.

No. I do think making laws that deny the freedom to risk one’s own life, intentionally or accidentally, should be illegal.

I like that idea @syz but there seems to be no end to stupid people, but it is interesting people do a crime with a gun and people cry more gun control is the only answer.
People break the law because they are addicted to their damn gadgets and no out cry because everyone else is addicted to the same damn gadget?
I have witnessed a lot of stupid things due to people that can’t seem to get their nose out of their phones, plus countless news stories and You Tube videos showing people doing extreme stupid things because they can’t get their noses out of their phones, and yet people think there shouldn’t be a law to regulate this? Interesting. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET PEOPLE TO START PAYING ATTENTION! if a law isn’t the answer?

Ya know what I said in my first post, I felt no sadness for the man who walked in front of the transport that day, but felt a great deal of sadness for the driver who hit him and has to live with that for the rest of his life.

Oh for fuck’s sake.

I have scars on the top of head from walking into concrete pillars while reading books.

I have copies of illuminated manuscripts showing people walking while spinning goddamn wool going back 1000 years.

Get over it.

So we leave things the status quo ?
there is no need for anything to get people to start paying attention?
after all it’s the traffic law they are breaking by walking into traffic without having the right of way right?
Then with that logic why the need for more gun control after all it’s law of murder they are breaking by using it to kill someone in the first place? right?

Illegal? No, that’s just silly.

Should poke=walking be discouraged? Sure. But so should texting while walking, reading while walking, having a conversation while walking.

And that will never happen. How do you force people to act in the way you want?

I’m sorry other people inhabiting the road you have to drive on upsets you so much, @Squeeky2.

Unfortunately we do not yet have point to point transportation a’la’ Star Trek, so you’re going to have to put up with pedestrians for the meanwhile.

Unfortunately, some of those people will have less than their full attention on you. Just like some drivers have less than full attention on pedestrians.

That’s breaks.

I am definitely not addicted to the damn gadget. I won’t even talk on my cell while driving because I know how much it ruins my concentration.

But I also draw the line at passing yet another law because the people who have their noses buried in their phones won’t change their behavior just because there’s a law against it. It hasn’t worked for texting while driving either.

Having a law against walking around oblivious while playing pokemon would not have saved the truck driver from the trauma nor the idiot from death. Idiots gonna be idiots, law or no law.

To go off topic just for a second and I speak for 98% of transport drivers, we will not leave the highway for any reason we will do everything in our power to avoid an accident but leave the highway, so in the end if that means going through you , you guess the outcome.

@SQUEEKY2: You asked the question and then you argued with everyone who disagreed with you.

At least more people are exercising because of Pokemon Go! Of course there will be some shocking stories where people haven’t used common sense because they are so wrapped up in something but I’m sure these are in the minority. I don’t have or know anything about Pokemon Go (although I do think it looks quite fun!) but if it’s encouraging people to exercise then maybe we should focus more on educating people to use it safely than banning it outright?!

People don’t play games for the purpose of causing or becoming the victim of a traffic collision. People do own handguns for the purpose of using them against human targets. There’s no logical comparison there at all.

But this isn’t about logic, is it?

The loading screen of the game literally encourages people to be aware of their surroundings and to play carefully.

The people killing themselves playing the game are the same people that ignore the chainsaw’s warning to not stop the blade with their hands, feet, or genitals.

We don’t need laws against stopping chainsaw blades with our hands, either.

The loading screen

I like trucking
I like trucking
I like trucking
And I like to truck

On the road
You must be tough & tireless
On the road
You can listen to the wireless…

[I’m MC gets-sidetracked-easily]

I have not yet read the other responses. Will do so after posting. No, I don’t think it should be made illegal, but I do think that there should be PSA’s and other public means of alerting people to the danger of doing this. Most people simply don’t think about it, because it seems so harmless, that is until someone they know gets hit by a car. A lot of people just don’t think about it. Maybe there needs to be some signs at the phone store, or out on the street, or on billboards, or messages on TV, or information packets sent home with kids from school. A little bit of everything would help a little bit, I guess.

We used to have that problem with people reading books while walking. We survived.

@Kardamom

Take a look at the link posted by @Seek.

That seems pretty damn clear. At least the makers of the game app are trying to do their part. If people are going to persist in acting like idiots without an iota of common sense then maybe being eliminated from the gene pool is not necessarily such a bad thing :)

Obviously another law on the books isn’t going to do that much. They’ll ignore that as well.

@Buttonstc another law on the books wouldn’t work because people will just ignore it?
Then why the cry for stiffer gun laws if people will just ignore them as well?
@Jeruba said people do own hand guns for the purpose of using them against human targets.
I own several and that has never been my purpose for using them.
Target and competition purposes only with my hand guns.

Let’s make it against the law to be stupid and to lack common sense. That’ll make dumb people go away, right?

If that would work, I’m all for it.

Hell no…. I love it. Thinning the heard. Woo hoo Pokémon.

@Seek. GA. As usual.

How would the “no texting and walking” be enforced? Someone could say they were not texting, they were just looking at the time. They were not texting, they were making a call. They were not texting, they were playing Pokemon Go. They were not texting, they were looking at their music. They were not texting, they were looking at photos. They were not texting, they were looking at Facebook. They were not texting, they were looking at their email.

For that law to work, you’d have to say “no walking and touching your phone” which would be utterly ridiculous.

Oh yay, another thread in which TC veil’s his dislike of technology in clothes as thin as a dryer sheet then argues with everyone who doesn’t give the answer he wants.

If we banned everything that people got stupid and reckless with then your profession would have ceased ages ago.

@Darth_Algar: Who is TC? Do you mean @SQUEEKY2?

Yes. TC = “thread creator”. I thought that was pretty standard forum lingo by now.

OK-OK I apologize , for the arguing part and remember this is what I heard local governments are considering because of the IDIOTS that can’t seem to get their noses out of their phones while playing that stupid FUCKING game if that makes me a hate of technology then I guess I do.
I surely do love how people defend the damn gadget, I get the feeling you could get away with insulting their mother easier than talking trash about their damn gadget.
Now why is a dislike for cell phones a total dislike for technology that I don’t get @Darth_Algar or is the advancement of cell phone the only technology we have?

@Darth_Algar: I am sorry for not knowing that. I have heard OP but this TC is new to me. I realize I may be behind the times.

@SQUEEKY2: You seem to always vehemently rant against cell phones. Cell phones are more good than evil in my opinion. In so many ways they are beneficial. Meeting someone, looking something up, keeping in touch thru texting, finding an address, finding movie times, using the GPS (for those that use it for that), the list goes on and on. Like anything in the world, there is a negative side but it is far outweighed by the positive side.

@SQUEEKY2

Kudos on demonstrating my point to a T.

@jca

Nothing to be sorry for. I hope you didn’t infer the wrong tone from my statement above. I was merely referring to my assumption that this was known by everyone.

@Darth_Algar: Gotcha. I didn’t know if it was just a teaching moment or something more, which was why I took the humble stance.

@jca I will admit I have had times I was really glad to have my cell phone with me, like when I break down and need help.
Or to clear up something with the boss.
I get that they are an easy way to keep in touch, but you don’t have to look very hard to see the negative side to this wonderful technology example people walking into traffic, driving while using the darn things, ignoring the people they are with to text people that they are not.
And it’s not just me there are big signs on the freeway(saying “Leave the phone alone focus on driving”) other huge signs with a picture of a cell phone with a line through it saying no hand held devices it’s the law. is that just me ranting ?? I sure didn’t get the government to put those signs up .
Another example was on CBC radio they had a thing about texting is it a problem a while back and this lady got on and complained that she had a friend the put no tone or emotion in her texts, WHAT??!? I have an idea if you want tone and emotion how about just talking to the person instead.
Another one was at my wifes work she noticed co- workers using text to gossip about another co- worker sitting right beside them, yup wonderful technology we sure have come a long way.

@SQUEEKY2: There are negatives to everything.

@SQUEEKY2

This is a recurring theme with you. You make these posts often where you bitch and bitch and bitch about stupid people what the devices they’re carrying, and your response is always to, firstly, berate anyone who doesn’t give the answer to your “question” that you want, and to, secondly, call for more and more restrictions on the device in question. Cell phones, in particular, seem to get your ire up more than anything.

If I followed your logic I’d be calling for ever more restrictions (if not outright bans) on semi trucks going by the stupid, reckless shit I see (and always have seen) semi truck drivers do on a regular basis.

@Darth_Algar If a transport truck is being operated in an unsafe manner it should be with out a doubt reported to the authorities.
and we have ton of restrictions already on the way we operate, nice try though.
another thing and don’t take my word for this when a transport and a small vehicle are involved in an accident 90% of the time it’s the small vehicles fault.
And great if ya got an out right ban on Transports could you imagine the costs of goods when it costs that much more to get them to market.
If cell phones are not a problem why did the government put up those signs on the highways?
If cell phones are not a problem why are local governments considering making texting and walking illegal?
YES cell phones piss me off when I have to sit behind a bad accident for hours because someone couldn’t leave the phone alone or pull over.
Yes cell phones have a positive side but people have become so addicted to them we witness the negative side more than the positive side.

@SQUEEKY2: I have never heard that local governments are making texting and walking illegal. Certainly not in the area I live in is this something that’s on the table, nor in NYC either. Do you have links?

Also, you ignored the many examples I gave above of other uses of cell phones that people do while walking, and how it would be almost impossible to enforce.

For all of the zillions of times people use cell phones in each day, the percentage of actual issues is probably very minor. Probably less than 1%. For the texting while driving, yes there are public service announcements and fines and things like that already. Nobody here is saying texting and driving should be ok.

@jca it’s local governments out here on the west coast of Canada is where I heard it, and only that they are considering it due to the mishaps to this game.
I don’t have a problem with people talking on their cell and walking, or checking the time, or even looking at the GPS to find out where they want to go.
My problem is when they can’t look up to see they are about to step out into traffic, or walk off the side of a cliff that a two guys did here playing that game.
You are right it would be hard to enforce such a law.but what is it going to take ?

@SQUEEKY2: I’m betting for all the zillions of people playing that game, the number who are doing really stupid things is in the teeniest, tiniest percentage. You hear about the problems, you don’t hear about the millions that are playing it without any problems. The ones that are playing it without any problems do not make a news story. The problems are what make a news story.

When I was in my early 40’s and asking the doctor whether he thought I could get pregnant, he asked me why I was concerned. I said “Because you read about all the people over 35 who have problems.” He said “It’s the problems that make a story. The people who don’t have a problem are what make a story.” Sure enough, I got pregnant at 40, no problem. Sure there are ladies who have problems but the percentage is probably very miniscule.

I agree, but a lot of those things that I complain so well about are not news stories but things I have witnessed first hand.
I just have to sit at the mall for a few minutes to see people doing dumb things on their cell phones.
The highway was shut down the other day because some dude rolled his SUV I asked the cop what happened he said the guy was on his cell.
I came up on a really bad one a few years ago a transport reared another one, the driver was on his cell the truck was only a week old.
Mrs Squeeky was at a light and saw this lady rear end a camper truck, the lady got out still texting.
and countless others if it is only a small percentage as you claim then why the need for the Government to put those signs up on the highways?
Why would local Governments consider making a law against texting and walking?
I remember a few years ago 20/20 did a thing about it and it was a southern state that was considering at well because that had quite a few accidents with people texting and walking.
It’s not just me, I am just the one bitching about it here.

OK @SQUEEKY2: You asked, you answered, you argued with all that differed with your opinion. OK why ask the question then if you already knew the answer? You’re obviously only seeing one side so let’s call it a day.

Maybe I wonder why the cell and texting has become so addictive for a great many people while for others it is simply a useful device that can keep them in touch with friends and family and help them in times of need.
and for a great many people it is more addictive than a drug and they have no problem risking their lives and the people around them to use it when they should not be.

@SQUEEKY2

“If _____ is not a problem then why does the government do _____?” is not a great line of argument. You could easily use that logic and ask (since you felt the need to inject guns into the discussion earlier) “if guns are not a problem then why does the government pass regulations on them?”. But somehow I’m guessing that particular reasoning wouldn’t fly with you.

I just got back home from a great outing with my kid. We went to Ballast Point Park in south Tampa. Hundreds of people, kids, adults, old, young… Many running around playing Pokemon while their little brothers and sisters or kids played in the water playground or on the swings. Caught a bunch of new ‘Mons, had a chat with a dad of three who was thinking about downloading the game but didn’t know much about it. Helped him catch his first Pikachu.

No one got hit by a car or burst into flames or sacrificed to Satan, even though it was a very busy parking lot in a highly populated area.

It’s almost like the game is just a game instead of the usher for the Apocalypse. So disappointing.

How would they know someone was texting and not online shopping or reading their GPS? I guess they would have to make any use of the phone and walking illegal to be safe.

I want to add more info for people who may not play the game. There is absolutely no need to look at your phone while walking in this game. I play it during the walking part of my commute to work, and here’s what that looks like: I open the game before I leave. I hold my phone at my side as I walk. If anything happens in the game that requires my attention, my phone vibrates. I then “pull over” (step off the sidewalk into the grass) and catch the pokemon, then continue on my way.

@Mariah and you’re playing it with common sense good for you.
Maybe I just look for the negative side of things or maybe I spend way to many hours in traffic observing people doing really stupid things.
For those who play the game and use your cell phones safely, not risking your lives and ours good for you carry on, for those of you that don’t grow a brain cell and start using common sense when using the damn cell phone.

Who’s defending the damn gadget? I’m just against stupid laws. I don’t have a smartphone, hope never to own one, and never intend to play a game of any sort on any phone. You don’t have to be a phone user to have dumb ideas.

No, I’m with @Jeruba 100% All the laws in the land can’t change human stupidity and careless behaviors. Texting and walking or playing Pokemon annoy me too when people are not paying attention but it’s not device that is the problem.
Cracked me up awhile back to see my cowboy neighbors texting on horseback in their arena while cutting cattle.

If someone takes a nose dive from their horse because they were looking at their phone when the horse dodged to the left to cut off a steer, well…another one bites the dust. lol