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Jack White bans phones at gigs for “100% human experience”

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381–390 of 545 posts

Re: Jack White bans phones at gigs for “100% human experience”

#381

I think his statement "If they can’t give me that energy back? Maybe I’m wasting my time." is thoughtful. Jack is old enough to have gone to and performed shows in his youth where cells phone were rare if there were any. He performs not only for the music but for the energy of the crowd. A crowd that's now placed a screen between themselves and the performer taking away that energy or removing that sense of connectio…

But he's the entertainer, whom the audience is paying. People should be able to use their phones if they are not doing it in a disruptive manner, or jeopardizing the quality of anyone else's experience. They should be able to look around, too. And stand with poor posture if that's what they like. And even not dance if they must.

Re: Jack White bans phones at gigs for “100% human experience”

#382
How about we let flip phones with the speaker visibly ripped out still be carried?

It has terrible video and audio recording capabilities, people know how to use them already, and there's nothing on that tiny screen worth distracting yourself/alienating yourself. Other than an SMS, and that's cool.

That's all the pro's of no-phones, without any of the cons of having to drop off the grid for a few hours.

Re: Jack White bans phones at gigs for “100% human experience”

#384
post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When it’s a venue you don’t know too well and there are 8 bars on each floor, that completely breaks down. Sticking together doesn’t always work, especially when queues are split between men and women for pat downs (as is usually the case in the type of venue that would force you to put your phone in a locked pouch). Of course we got by OK before mobile phones, but to suggest we give up the considerable benefits beca…

Let's think of a million different hypothetical situations in which not having a phone is bad. Result: you sound helpless.

frequently, these situations are not so much hypothetical as simply explanations of situations some of us have found ourselves in.

Perhaps you have never had the experience of taking a close friend or relative with a disability, social dysfunction, etc. to their first ever concert and knowing it's partly enabled by the fact that if you somehow become separated you are both carrying electronic devices that will let you reconnect easily. (I find many people evaluate situations based on a default expectation that everyone involved is able-bodied, of sound mind, and socially adept, and then get defensive about "hypothetical" situations that are realistic considerations for a lot of us.)

Re: Jack White bans phones at gigs for “100% human experience”

#385
post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Manchester and Bataclan incidents are perfect examples. That's the whole point of terrorism. The groups are not effective enough to influence who they want without fear tacits. They're going to target large groups of people, and events tend to do that. The situation of the Bataclan, the emergency services does need to know whats going on inside, and at multiple points of the building. For Manchester, they needed…

I'm more likely to get killed by a fall in the tub than by a terrorist, yet I don't fear going into the shower without my phone. Fearing terrorism is a consequence of innumeracy. Do you carry your cellphone in case you or a nearby person get struck by lightning too? More US citizens get struck (and killed) by lightning every year than die in terrorist attacks since 2001.

Actually, yes, that’s exactly why I carry my phone: for contacting emergency services when something goes awry. Your lightning analogy sort of falls down a bit here (even though I agree with your overall point of not fearing terrorist attacks)

Re: Jack White bans phones at gigs for “100% human experience”

#386
post #318
post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to laugh at some these posts. I also lived in a world without cell phones and I (and the rest of the world) did just fine. Turning off your phones at a concert is not a big deal at all.

Indeed. Pleas to "terrorism" and "think of the children" on a topic of simply unable to access your phone for a couple of hours. HN has experienced a palpable drop in quality recently.

Commenters have said that about HN for years.

Re: Jack White bans phones at gigs for “100% human experience”

#387
post #87

I experienced the Yondr phone prison last night for the first time (at a Chris Rock show). While I detest people being disruptive with their phones, I don’t think this is the right solution. From a practical standpoint, it took a lot longer to get into and out of the venue when phones had to be locked up. Checking your phone when you pop out to the toilet meant waiting in a queue to have your phone unlocked, and bein…

How did the world even work before cell phones?

Meeting your friends: You made plans to meet at a certain time and place and you showed up when you were supposed to or you carpooled.

In an Emergency: you'll find out what happened to your friends eventually when you meet at school or call each other then next day. You aren't emergency service personnel. You just need to evacuate.

Going to the bathroom: you go to the bathroom and get out of the stall in an expeditious fashion to let others use it instead of looking at your phone while people wait in line. If you were a real jerk, you read the newspaper on the toilet, but this was rare.

Seeing a show: you watched the show, danced, or crowd surfed if it was a punk show. You never had to wory about your phone falling out of your pocket or getting broken. The place was dark. Someone might kneel on the speaker with a lit cigarette lighter in one hand if it was a special moment.

Re: Jack White bans phones at gigs for “100% human experience”

#388
post #331
post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being available for work is part of my "human experience." edit- I really don't understand why this is downvote worthy...

Because it is pathetic. You're available for work while at a Chris Rock show?

You've never worked a job where you might be called in during an emergency? We're in a forum full of sysadmins and devops people and this idea is foreign?

Re: Jack White bans phones at gigs for “100% human experience”

#390
post #331
post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being available for work is part of my "human experience." edit- I really don't understand why this is downvote worthy...

Because it is pathetic. You're available for work while at a Chris Rock show?

Name-calling isn't allowed in comments here. Could you please read https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and not do this again?
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