Do You Use Your Cellphone (Call and/or Text) in Public?
By maple_kisses
@maple_kisses (2156)
Philippines
April 16, 2007 8:38pm CST
I do.. err... I used to do... but I think I won't do it again. I heard a lot of stories regarding cellphone snatching in the streets but it was last Sunday that I witnessed such an event with my two big eyes!
A girl in a motorcycle lost her cellphone last Sunday. The traffic light is red and she stopped beside the jeepney that I'm riding. While waiting for the green light, she decided to text someone... out of nowhere, a guy snatched her cellphone away and ran in the opposite direction. The girl screamed but what can she do? She just lost her Motorola phone.
Ohh well. I used to text in public utility vehicles too, even answer some calls. But well, I'm afraid now, I don't think I wanna do those things anymore.
How about you? Do you use your mobile phones in public place? While walking in the streets? While riding a jeepney/bus? Why? Why not? I'll appreciate your replies....
3 people like this
31 responses
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
17 Apr 07
Definitely I do. And we all do in Singapore. We use it everywhere.
It is pretty safe in Singapore and it is very rare (not no but very rare) for people to rob cell phones. It sounds really scary where you are. :/
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
You can say that again! Scary alright! People are somewhat accustomed to it that it's sometime regarded as an ordinary event, now that's scary. You're lucky to belong to such a rare community....
1 person likes this
@gwenmari1029 (1481)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
i try not to even bring out my cellphone whenever i am in public places. before i go out the house i make sure that i switch my phone to discreet mode and vibra alert so that in case someone would have to call or text me i can be informed. i do this because i am so paranoid and afraid to lose my phone. there are times that i hear stories like your that is why i make it sure that i don't experience it.
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
that's not paranoia, you're just being careful, it'll be too late to start being careful when we already lost our cellphone....
1 person likes this
@mikaelalexis (399)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
i do respect your opinion gwen. but may i suggest? try buying a cheap cellphones thats capable only of making calls and texts. im sure you will no longer be paranoid carrying them wherever you are. just a tip.
2 people like this
@angelco (345)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
actually i don't answer or text if someone's calling me because im afraid to lose my phone...nowadays, we have to be careful since snatchers are scattering on the streets or even in public vehicles such as in jeepneys or buses there are some snatchers who have modus operandi like bringing up of big bags and dropping of coins...we need to be aware of this modus operandi especially when you are in public places but most often, i put my phone tones on silent mode then i'll just answer or reply to my friends when im at home or in a place where i see and feel that im safe :)
2 people like this
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
yeah, i'll keep those warnings in my mind, thanks for sharing them :)
1 person likes this
@vesuvius (1677)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
I use my cellphone in public when I know the place where I'm at is safe.
Here in General Santos, there are places which we are fond of calling 'havens of the snatchers' because those places are where these bad guys stay - all the time. These places range from jeep terminals to public market stalls. I would never dare let them see my phone there or else, I'd be very regretful.
However, there are public places which are very safe here. Majority of the mall stalls here have no records of phone snatching so I feel comfortable of letting my phone out at such places.
2 people like this
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
well, you can never be sure, sometimes, those snatchers attack where you least expect them to.... we still need to be careful :D
1 person likes this
@mikaelalexis (399)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
using your cellphones in public just added attraction to snatchers. in other words, we are helping them with that way of living. in my case, be it necessary or not, i no longer use my celphones in public. if there are insistent callers, i would safely turn off my device.
2 people like this
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
That's a pretty good discipline you are imposing to yourself mikaela, I envy you for sure, I'm not sure if I can carry on with my promise not to do it n public anymore, but I will try my best, I'll get used to it later... maybe {*wink} Thanks...
1 person likes this
@femimi (872)
• Indonesia
17 Apr 07
There are some places and street in my city that I won't use cell phone. And especially some traffic lights in my city also dangerous place to having a conversation with cell phone. Crime usually happen there. I also won't use it in public transportation. I'm using cell phone in public area if I know in that place there are some securities around it, such as offices, banks.
2 people like this
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
yes, that's true too, I understand you...
1 person likes this
@TheCatzMeow1 (579)
• United States
17 Apr 07
To my knowledge, we haven't had an incident like this in my area so I never really thought about it. I'm not like some folks who just love talking on a cell phone. I have it for emergencies and so that my other half can call me from work when he needs to, or on his breaks. Most of the time I'm at home when my phone rings. I'm sure that I'll be thinking of your post the next time I do use my cell phone in public.
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
Now I've just introduced paranoia with a clean-minded person! Hehehe! I never thought of that, you sure you'll be thinking of this post the next time you use your phone in public? Gee... see what mylot can do? :D Good for you you're living in a very secure place...
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
18 Apr 07
Hmmm, what if you ahve no choice but to answer the call in the place where there are snatchers around? And that you can't find a safe place? Would you still answer the call? You probably will, the call might be very important... just be careful
@mskzalameda (4023)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
No I really don't expose my cellphone in public. My uncle once said that if you have a cellphone, just keep it, don't flaunt it for it is not a goo manner. Don't make others feel jealous about it. it is a dangerous thing to flaunt it.
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
Yes, that's one point too, I guess some snatchers do their "dirty work" because other people are also flaunting their phones. It's like half of the snatching job was done by the victim himself, showing off is never a good thing alright.
@neglitex (347)
• Latvia
17 Apr 07
Well of course I do. Mostly in public because when I'm home I use my stated phone or Skype or whatever. I haven't seen that someone has taken a mobile phone out of someones hands in a public place before. But there are many cases when burglars take cell phones off the little kids who are going back from school using knives of something like that. I feel totally safe when I use my mobile phone and i see no point of stopping it :).
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
You're soooo secure! I'm envious :D I wish I had your confidence but I can't after all the things that has been happening lately, anyway, I think you'll do fine, just be careful, ok? Good luck
@lilyoungfella (1196)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
Yea.I cant avoid using it. But there's this incident wherein my cellphone was almost snatched while i was riding in a public utility vehicle. That lessen the usage of my phone when im in a public places
1 person likes this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
17 Apr 07
i had friends who had been in such an incident before. like having their phones stantched when inside a public utility vehicle. and it made me feel scared as well to use my phone in public.
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
hmmm, experience is really a great teacher, is it? i hopw you learn your lesson well, i'll start learning my own lessons too...
1 person likes this
@aciddrop (798)
•
17 Apr 07
well its true that we have to be careful.there happens countless cellphone snatching cases everyday and i got my phone stolen on bus b4.i didnt use it but just kept it in my trousers pocket.not until i got off did i realize it has gone.but can we really avoid using cellphone in public?there are lots of situations when we have to take the risk of calling someone or recieving calls.we can just try not to use it often.
1 person likes this
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
Oh yes, I'm afraid I'm guilty of that thought too, when my phone rings in public, I would tell myself, don't answer it. But what's the sense of bringing a cellphone with you when you can't use it? Uh uh... please don't change my mind, I don't wanna use my phone in public again.. hehehhe!
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
Hmm, then maybe it's a "safe" public place. Maybe you are always in places wherein people are talking to their phones. Well, I guess your phone doesn't ring whenever you walk in the streets, or have you ever walked in a street before? hehehe, just kidding.
1 person likes this
@prashantrjp (275)
• India
17 Apr 07
yes i do....but try to as quite and non distubing as possible if it is some sensitive place....
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
17 Apr 07
yes i do... i think here is safe to use your cell phone wherever you want to... in fact, everybody is doing it here... and nobody ever snatched my cell phone ever before in public places when i am using it... so i guess it is quite safe here and there is no reason why i don't use my cell phone in public places...
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
Wow! I envy you! You are so secure just like LordWarWizard from Singapore... where are you from?
@amitabhisthebest (382)
• India
17 Apr 07
well ..i use my cell whenever i get a call irrespective of when i am on street or in a busy place..there more chances of someone picking ur pocket and stealing it than someone snatching it from your hand...
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
I guess that's fine but you better be careful everytime you do..
@spidercrown (125)
• Malaysia
17 Apr 07
Wow, that's dangerous. I only heard once that a friend left his HP on the table while having meal in a food court. Then, it was snatched and he just got shock couldn't do anything but to see the snatcher run away.
We can't avoid using hp in the public most of the time. So, i stil use it whenever it's needed. Just to be more careful.
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
That's one of the reasons why I don't put my phone on the table while eating, that's way too risky. Yup, we should be more careful....
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
17 Apr 07
I use my phone in public, but I would pretty much only be sitting down and trying to peck out a text message. I wouldn't do too much chatting away while walking around. It is mainly for emergencies, or if I am coming into the train station I might call my husband for a life if the weather is poor or the children are worn out.
@dilshadmalik (25)
• Pakistan
17 Apr 07
Yaah it is ture.i am also not to attend any call in the road.because i have also lost my nokia 6700 mobile in the same manner.after this i am not attending any call in the road.
But sometime there is amergency.at that time i am having very bad feelings.
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
Well, you regret missing those calls but I bet you'll regret losing your cellphone more, hehehe! But it actually depends on the call, the call might be of you winning $1 million and you missed it :D
