Cell Phones in Pool Rooms??

Pushout

Pushout

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Is anyone else bothered by loudly ringing cell phones where they play? I play once in a while in a small, 11 table place and some of the people who come
in, mostly casual and league players, have cell phones that can be heard three blocks away. I'm used to relative quiet when I play. Since I move South from NYS, I have to try and get used to a LOT more noise. I've spoken to the owner but don't really expect much.
 
What are you going to do? Cell phones are now part of everyday life. I agree that they don't need to be on full blast so people 20 feet away can hear your ringer loud and clear, but it's going to happen. Besides, it's rarely quiet anywhere I play now. People are having conversations, smashing balls, playing the juke box, etc. Learn how to block it all out.
 
I am certainly not used to quiet. At one pool hall it is incredibly loud, at another pool hall there is always a couple of guys who are making a lot of noise.

Nevertheless there are these kids (teens) who come in and have their cell phone that plays music. The sound is of horrible quality and they have terrible taste in music. Not much you can do though.
 
I carry a small mp3 player and noise cancelling ear-buds in my case for times that it just gets to noisey. Although it is rare, at least I know it's there. Sometimes when using it, I get into my own world, have missed announcents and such, but not usually a big deal. Also I don't get to hear the ramblings of my opponents(which could be good)
 
i do frown on the use of sound damping equipment and mp3 players for one reason..I dont use them so i am forced to have to concentrate and focus on my game and learn to naturaly block out sounds that could shark me like the sound of someone esle breaking a rack a person yelling after missing a shot..loud music..a droped glass..but when some one can just put on sound damping ear plugs and play clasical music to close off the world..it not really fair...but that is my opinion
 
I'm used to POOL ROOMS, not bars. Where I played for 25+ years, there was no juke box, no loud music, people were encouraged NOT to make a lot of noise, more than they had to. I guess things have changed in NYS a bit since they allowed alcohol in the rooms. Cell phones being a part of life doesn't remove the responsibility of their owners' to not consider those around them, and that doesn't mean just in pool rooms. I've played long enough to block out most of it, after nine years in the south, but I'm talking about real loud rings.
 
Pushout said:
Is anyone else bothered by loudly ringing cell phones where they play? I
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Better than bozo's with cameras flashing their way around the pool hall.

-td
 
Loud Noise

Yep, everyone has their distractions. Cell phones, music that sucks, but it is blaring too loud. The drunk at the next table. If you have to use an MP3 to tune it out, then that is all good, but it is definately a good skill to learn how to block all that out.

I was at a pool hall last night and my phone rang (it was on vibrate, so no one heard it.) I was on the phone and playing my game, and I never set the phone down. I also didn't hold up the game. Everyone at my table said, damn dude, you should play with a phone on your ear at all times!!!! I ran the rack with the phone on my ear. LOL It isn't the first time I have done it, but if I am in a conversation I can still focus on my objective on the table. I know everyone can't, but I thought it was pretty funny.

Main thing is to focus on the game, and eventually everyone else dissapears and you just shoot!!!!!
 
I consider it rude if my opponent leaves their cell phone on during a match, whether it's a practice, gambling, or tournament match. It is irrelevant whether I can block it out or not, for the fact remains that this is a distraction that has resulted from my opponent's poor manners.

If my opponent indicates at the onset of a match that a critical phone call is expected or that a unique situation exists making it necessary to leave their phone on, I will generally deal with it and allow them to leave their phone on.

Under normal circumstances, however, I consider those who find it appropriate to leave their phones on during every pool match they play to be selfish and inconsiderate.
 
I do not have a Cell Phone, Pager, or ATM Card, and I am Jurassic... Am I welcome to play in your ROOM....
 
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sjm said:
I consider it rude if my opponent leaves their cell phone on during a match, whether it's a practice, gambling, or tournament match. It is irrelevant whether I can block it out or not, for the fact remains that this is a distraction that has resulted from my opponent's poor manners.

If my opponent indicates at the onset of a match that a critical phone call is expected or that a unique situation exists making it necessary to leave their phone on, I will generally deal with it and allow them to leave their phone on.

Under normal circumstances, however, I consider those who find it appropriate to leave their phones on during every pool match they play to be selfish and inconsiderate.
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That seems a little extreme. That's like being outside and asking someone not to smoke because you want them to not smoke. Cell Phones are a common way of life. If someone asked me to turn off my cell phone, I will tell them no, because what if an emergency came up? When you weren't expecting a call, but one came through saying someone has been in an accident? I will be more than glad to turn it on vibrate, but asking someone to turn their phone off is a little extreme.
 
txspaderz said:
That seems a little extreme. That's like being outside and asking someone not to smoke because you want them to not smoke. Cell Phones are a common way of life. If someone asked me to turn off my cell phone, I will tell them no, because what if an emergency came up? When you weren't expecting a call, but one came through saying someone has been in an accident? I will be more than glad to turn it on vibrate, but asking someone to turn their phone off is a little extreme.
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I consider having your phone on vibrate as having it turned off, and I'm fine if my opponent frequently checks for messages. I just don't what their phone ringing during a game. If somebody urgently needs to reach you during a match, let them call the poolroom and have you paged.
 
Nobody I have ever known NEEDS to have a cell phone. If anyone asks me if I have a cell phone, I answer that I am not that self-important. I only play three-cushion these days, and my rule with my opponent is that if his cell phone rings, I get five points on the wire, and if he answers it, I get five more.
 
I am sorry SJM but I wholeheartedly disagree

sjm said:
I consider having your phone on vibrate as having it turned off, and I'm fine if my opponent frequently checks for messages. I just don't what their phone ringing during a game. If somebody urgently needs to reach you during a match, let them call the poolroom and have you paged.
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Would you also ask the room owner to turn off his house phone because you are within earshot. My phone can be heard throughout the room as so it can be heard by employees wherever they may be as they move through the room. That seems to be common practice everywhere. It is no big deal if a phone rings next to table or behind the bar, you get used to it. To me it is better when people have their own phones. Why? It saves the help from answering the house phone, then paging someone, then they have to leave their table to answer and return. So in essensce you are telling someone when they play with you, they cannot get a phone call. Cell phones are just an extension of the house phone which eliminates the middleman. Should we disallow the paging system too? It is a way of life, move on. I am old school and should hate cell phones, but they do not bother me in the least.
Now when I played you in NYC, I had my cell phone on. Damn glad it didn't ring, you probably would not have paid my time. LOL> Tks
 
- It annoys me when my opponent gets a call in a middle of a game. But I'm mollified because they'll still shoot while phone is next to ear. So they may miss a shot or not get the shape they want.

- For that reason, if I get a call when I'm playing, I just use my bluetooth headset for hand's free operation.

- My cell phone has the Star Trek communicator sound. So it's fairly unobtrusive since it's not that typical ringing sound. But every time I answer it, I want to flip open the phone and answer with "Kirk here!"
 
sjm said:
I consider it rude if my opponent leaves their cell phone on during a match, whether it's a practice, gambling, or tournament match. It is irrelevant whether I can block it out or not, for the fact remains that this is a distraction that has resulted from my opponent's poor manners.

If my opponent indicates at the onset of a match that a critical phone call is expected or that a unique situation exists making it necessary to leave their phone on, I will generally deal with it and allow them to leave their phone on.

Under normal circumstances, however, I consider those who find it appropriate to leave their phones on during every pool match they play to be selfish and inconsiderate.
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I definately agree SJM. In fact most times I take it a step further. If they talk on the phone during a match I just unscrew my cue and leave.

Usually the same people are the ones that can stand to learn something. That's just one reason why they don't play well. The're so busy taking calls thinking they will miss something. Well in fact they are, me, and learn something about pool.

People are so self centered when on the phone and don't have a clue what is really happening around them. In everyday life, like driving, they can hurt someone or be hurt. Then live the rest of their life trying to deal with a big mistake. They wasn't paying attention.

Rod
 
nfty9er said:
Would you also ask the room owner to turn off his house phone because you are within earshot......So in essensce you are telling someone when they play with you, they cannot get a phone call.....Now when I played you in NYC, I had my cell phone on. Damn glad it didn't ring, you probably would not have paid my time. LOL> Tks
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No, the room owner is conducting business and their phone should be on. Similarly, if I'm playing a doctor that's on call, he/she is conducting business, so his/her phone should be on. There are many other situations in which I believe a cell phone should be on (and in all such cases I feel my opoonent should make it clear at the beginnning of a match that the phone will be on and why) but I continue to object to it being on when no special circumstances exist.

One of the most basic courtesies one can offer one's opponent is to make every possible effort to not distract their concentration while they shoot. I make no distinction between opponent's cell phone going off during my shot and opponent talking while I shoot. In each case, and barring the exceptions already noted where I think it's OK, it's a case of opponent making a less-than-sincere effort to avoiding distracting my concentration.

Finally, you need never apologize for disagreeing with me. Yours is an informed and educated opinion, offered in a lucid and respectful manner. That's what the forum is all about!
 
Pushout said:
Is anyone else bothered by loudly ringing cell phones where they play? ...
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That doesn't bother me, but what does bother me is somebody holding up a game to talk on their cell phone. I think often times it is an instance of sharking, other times it is just plain ignorance.
Cell phone rings are really nothing compared to god damn jukeboxes. Though sometimes I like what I hear, it is not worth it for the number of times I hear just plain crap trying to pass as music.
 
mbvl said:
Nobody I have ever known NEEDS to have a cell phone. If anyone asks me if I have a cell phone, I answer that I am not that self-important. I only play three-cushion these days, and my rule with my opponent is that if his cell phone rings, I get five points on the wire, and if he answers it, I get five more.
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Well, I NEED my cellphone, and most of the time it's on, but even if it rarely does go off, it's nothing in comparison to the lyrics and rap music that pounds incessantly. I say get over it. Unless you're playing in a hall that is really quiet, or in a private room, or during an important match, etc. etc.

If my opponent/playing partner really wanted me to turn it off, I might just play someone else. And getting in my face about it would guarantee I wouldn't play them, not then nor in the future. That sort of insistence is an obnoxious form of sharking. No thanks.

Cheers!

Flex
 
Flex said:
Well, I NEED my cellphone, and most of the time it's on, but even if it rarely does go off, it's nothing in comparison to the lyrics and rap music that pounds incessantly. I say get over it. Unless you're playing in a hall that is really quiet, or in a private room, or during an important match, etc. etc.

If my opponent/playing partner really wanted me to turn it off, I might just play someone else. And getting in my face about it would guarantee I wouldn't play them, not then nor in the future. That sort of insistence is an obnoxious form of sharking. No thanks.

Cheers!

Flex
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I can totally agree. If it's a serious match, playing sets or such, I will most definately turn my cell phone on vibrate. But when in a pool hall, music jammin, people talking, if someone asked, I would have to respectfully deny their request, as there is already so much backgroud noise it shouldn't matter.
 
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