The lights at the IU Auditorium started to dim black as the bandIncubus began walking off stage. They just finished their 18-songset with "Megalomaniac," a hit off their new album.
Lighters began rising in the air, accompanied by the obligatoryencore chant from the 3,500 strong in attendance.
As I searched through my jeans for a lighter to join in, thehunt for a Bic was halted when cell phones rose in the air, theirscreens replacing the glow of fire.
Anger. Disgust. Embarrassment.
All of these feelings shot through my body as I witnessedseveral teenie-boppers continue to follow along.
This was the final straw to end all straws.
Cell phones are handy, don't get me wrong, but the things giveme many reasons to hate them.
Clipping a phone on the waistline of pants so it folds over themis not only as ridiculous looking as a pink shirt on guys andpopped collars, but it also makes the person look like a wannaberunway model showing off their insanely expensive clothing.
And girls, don't start complaining that this clip method isnecessary during a night on the town in pocketless pants. Theluxury of pockets was given up when those exceptionally fittingpants were purchased.
Though a close second, phone clipping doesn't take the mostridiculous looking award though, as that honor is reserved fortheir hands-free offspring.
Back in the day, people knew when they saw a person talking toabsolutely no one they should steer clear of them.
With hands-free phones, it's impossible to tell whether thatperson is popular among the crowd they're in, talking on a phone orjust a schizophrenic. Looking past the out-of-style shaggy hair foran earpiece is the only method nowadays.
Don't give me that crap about them being safer while drivingeither, because concentrating on a conversation whether using handsto hold a phone or not is just as dangerous. At least these idiotshave the common decency to irritate from a distance, thereforemaking them easy to avoid, unlike crowded area yakkers.
If you find yourself walking onto an elevator, bus or anyconfined space, it's always courteous to put the conversation onhold. I doubt everyone within 20 feet wants to listen to theroommate troubles you are having, how drunk you were last night orhow awful that strenuous two-page paper is.
That phone better be on silent, too, because if I have to hear"She Bangs, She Bangs" blasting from a phone one more time, I'mjust going to flip. Ringtones are getting out of hand, plain andsimple. According to Reuters, the U.S. is expected to generateroughly $300 million this year in ringtone sales.
There is actually a chart listing for ring tones now, dubbed theBillboard Hot Ringtones Chart. Every week, the top 20 polyphonicringtones sales from that week will be listed, with all thetrimmings such as their number of weeks on the chart and theirprevious weeks position.
Excuse me, I just threw up in my mouth.
If there ever was a line that needed to be drawn, it's with cellphones. Not trying to make them flashy and annoying is a start inthe right direction.
Just make sure that if someone needs a light for theircigarette, don't pull out the cell phone. It might be anembarrassing situation.
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