How Big Of A Life Nit Am I? (Cell phones on trains)
 

So after being called a life nit and a douchebag by about 15 different people in the Real Life Hero thread, I wanted to get an idea of exactly how nitty I am by OOT standards. In general, I'm very neurotic about lots of things, and when something attracts my attention (whether positive or negative), I stay fixated on it until there's some sort of resolution. So one of my pet peeves is people using their cell phones while riding the train. I'm not talking about people who speak in hushed tones and keep their conversations quick, and I'm also not referring to people who speak really loudly throughout the entire trip (I assume everyone hates those people). I'm talking about people who just speak at a normal volume, say outdoor speaking volume, and have what seem like everyday, trivial conversations that seem like they could probably wait until after the train ride. And to be clear, I'm talking about a commuter train - like an under an hour - not a four-hour trip from NYC to DC. So on to the poll:

Re: How Big Of A Life Nit Am I? (Cell phones on trains)
 

i didn't read the thread and voted for the first option.

Re: How Big Of A Life Nit Am I? (Cell phones on trains)
 

I'm talking about a commuter train - like an under an hour




If Im in any kind of vehicle by myself (ie w/o friends), I purposely schedule any phone calls I need to make, personal or business, during this downtime.

Re: How Big Of A Life Nit Am I? (Cell phones on trains)
 

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i didn't read the thread and voted for the first option.

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Cool.

Re: How Big Of A Life Nit Am I? (Cell phones on trains)
 

I really don't get why people think it is such a big deal that people talk on the train. You're reading a paper, not preforming brain surgery or recording an album.

Re: How Big Of A Life Nit Am I? (Cell phones on trains)
 

The "No" option on your poll is too weakly worded: it seems to imply that cell phones on trains is bad, but not bad enough to care about. Using your phone on a commuter train is actually a good thing, a positive force in society.

Re: How Big Of A Life Nit Am I? (Cell phones on trains)
 

I think it's extremely rude and low class, but I think 99% of people are rude and low class so I don't really get upset about it. It's like people eating popcorn at a serious/quiet movie - total douche move, but if you get upset about it you're just going to be miserable.

Re: How Big Of A Life Nit Am I? (Cell phones on trains)
 

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I really don't get why people think it is such a big deal that people talk on the train. You're reading a paper, not preforming brain surgery or recording an album.

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i don't ride on trains regularly, but when i do, i'm often reading. if you're talking to someone you know on the train fine, but god, find something to do, read a book or get an ipod.

although i'm a huge life nit

Re: How Big Of A Life Nit Am I? (Cell phones on trains)
 

Hypo for OP:

Person is speaking at the exact same volume and length as you describe in OP, but to someone sitting next to him.

Still bother you?

If not, then you're being a nit just for the sake of being a nit.

Re: How Big Of A Life Nit Am I? (Cell phones on trains)
 

I do not own a cell phone. Don't like them and the only reason I would ever have one would be if required by work. I think people who use their cell phones in places like movie theaters should be taken out back and shot.

However, OP is an incredible, unbelievable nit! Would you object if someone carried on the same conversation with a friend sitting next to them? What's the difference as far as it impacts you?

There is no "expectation of silence" on a commuter train. It's a train, not the opera.

If this bothers you, get an MP3 player and wear headphones. LDO.