[MR] suggestion for new cell phone rules at events

[Kathleen Madsen]

Us transplant patients were among the first in the nation to use pager
technology before the cellphone came into common use.  Pager's came
with a silence feature almost from the very beginning.  There was a
distinct desire to keep them as unobtrusive as possible when silence
and discretion was an issue.  Frankly, I think this discussion comes
down to common courtesy - not to adding on yet more rules to already
harried event staff.  It is a courtesy to extend your attention to
important matters that are taking place at an event and to allow
others to pay attention without distraction.  If someone has some
difficulty in feeling the vibrate mode on their phone then they should
look at how they are storing the phone and consider an unobtrusive way
to keep it on their person while still being able to access it should
it go off.  Be it simply putting the phone into a pouch and laying
one's hand upon it, or sliding it into a pocket cut into a skirt,
doublet, or trousers.  There is an unobtrusive, quiet, solution in
most cases.

I think that getting a permit to carry an active cell phone on site is
plain foolish and would require a great deal of additional work on the
part of the Autocrat, Gate Staff, and Attendees.  What's next?
Issuing permits to wear a prosthetic limb or use a scooter because
"they might damage the grass"?

We should all use common courtesy in the use of cell phones, CPAP
machines, generators, electrical scooters, etc, etc, etc.  Yes, it is
a game but in most Kingdom's the first rule is one of Courtesy and we
should all try to practice it to the best of our ability.

Regards,
Baroness Eibhlin nic'Raghailligh, OL
Kidney Transplant recipient and darn proud of it!