I recently stumbled upon mention of a study done several months back indicating, among other more important facts, that 39% of smartphone users have used their phones while going to the bathroom. I’ll admit to having done that, which I’m sure many of you would, too. But it got me thinking about a much more important question. Namely, where is the strangest place that you’ve used your smartphone? Or what is the strangest way that you’ve used your smartphone?
I’m probably pretty boring. Aside from sneaking a peak during church, or pulling my phone out with freezing fingers on the ski slope, I can’t think of any truly odd places I’ve used my phone. And aside from using my phone as a flashlight, which many people do, I’m coming up empty as I try to think about odd ways in which I’ve used my phone. Does putting my fart app on a timer and hiding it under someone’s cushion count?
So, go ahead and entertain us. Can you come up with anything more exciting than my examples? Where or how have you used your phone that is a bit off the beaten path?
Kosmo @ The Soap Boxers says:
This is a story I heard from someone else. I believe the witness to be very credible.
I work for a very large financial services company. (Yes, you’ve heard of it. No, the company didn’t get bailout money.)
We produce and consume a LOT of information, and consequently have a huge systems department (our systems department by itself is larger than most entire companies).
So the end result is a massive building crammed with techies. Everyone’s wired, 24/7/365.
It’s not uncommon to heard people using their phones in the bathroom. That seems a bit disgusting to me. I refuse to answer my phone when in the bathroom – whatever the problem is, it can wait a few minutes.
The incident that takes the cake was witness by a friend. As he was assuming the squatting positions, he saw hands in the next stall drop to the floor … and begin typing. Yes, someone was doing IM while pooping. Gross.
November 14, 2011 — 10:55 pm
Evan Kline says:
IM on a computer keyboard, or the phone? If the latter, I guess the person really could have been typing anything.
November 15, 2011 — 9:11 am
Kosmo @ The Soap Boxers says:
IM on a laptop. My friend could hear the pings of incoming IMs.
November 15, 2011 — 11:19 pm
Evan Kline says:
OK, yeah, that’s weird.
November 16, 2011 — 9:04 am
Sean says:
Again, what I’ve witnessed and not what I’ve done: At a company I was consulting, another consultant was on the john with the door wide open (yes, open) and he was calmly sitting doing his business and texting. I had to look twice to make sure I saw what I saw and run the hell out.
Not probably too strange but stranger than the other story above.
November 15, 2011 — 12:34 am
Evan Kline says:
Wow. I think the sitting on the john with the door open is the more disturbing part. Even if he didn’t care for his own privacy, he needs to spare his coworkers the sight.
November 15, 2011 — 9:09 am
David@theOnlyCog says:
I do worry about folk who feel the need to use their phone in the loo. I would also not appreciate being called when someone is engaging with mother nature!
It always amazes me the things people take into the loo.
November 16, 2011 — 9:55 am
Evan Kline says:
My thoughts exactly. If it were just me, I’d have no qualms about it. But sheesh, think of the poor soul at the other end.
November 16, 2011 — 5:14 pm
Graham says:
I do take my phone to the loo, however, I don’t take or make calls, I play games. It just makes the time go faster :-)
Something I found disturbing on an internal flight in the US, people were on their mobiles BEFORE the plane actually landed. It was on the approach, from what I could make out they were telling friends and loved ones they were about to land! I’ve never seen this on a UK flight…
November 24, 2011 — 4:10 pm
Evan Kline says:
Wow, that takes some gall. I’m surprised the flight attendants didn’t beat them over the head.
November 24, 2011 — 9:21 pm
Pascal Venier says:
I went to a Bob Dylan concert in Manchester in the fall and was quite astonished when I went to the rest room to see this chap standing at the urinal, using one hand to relieve himself and the other for texting! Who said men cannot multitask, eh!
January 11, 2012 — 8:05 am
Graham says:
Haha, yeah men CAN multitask! That reminded me of something; I guess it’s like something to do with being over 40, but when I’m out with the lads, drinking, I’ve taken to texting my wife each time I use the bathroom, using the spare hand. I text her each time I have a pee and how many pints I’ve drunk. I can then work out my pee to pint ratio. Maybe it was me standing next to you? (I’ve never been to see Dylan BTW!) I think there must be an app for that!
January 11, 2012 — 8:45 am
Evan Kline says:
I’m more of a “pee and browse” guy than a “pee and text” guy. That’s better, right?
January 12, 2012 — 6:28 pm
David says:
The smallish office where I work maintains a birthday cake tradition, but we never have candles for the cake. I have taken to whipping out my trusty flashlight app, which of course has a candle option. One recipient even tried to blow it out!
I use the same candle setting next to my bed when the wife and I are feeling romantic (she’s a little afraid of lit candles in the house.
January 16, 2012 — 11:36 am
Evan Kline says:
Pretty clever! I’d be worried, though, that my wife would smack me upside the head if I tried to whip out a candle on my smartphone!
January 16, 2012 — 1:41 pm
David@theOnlyCog says:
I bet your wife feels special — who said romance was dead. LOL ;-)
January 16, 2012 — 1:44 pm
Sean Butterfield says:
People read magazines and newspapers in the bathroom. What’s wrong with texting/surfing/gaming on the pot? And even conversing, depending on your conversation partner, sphincter control and strategic use of the mute button, is acceptable.
A buddy of mine had recent surgery near his nether regions and, for lack of a mirror, I advised him to use his phone to photograph the area for visual inspection. I didn’t sneak a peak, but it satisfied his curiosity with the doctor’s work.
I have used my phone’s camera to look under/behind things MANY times myself. Best use so far: put in a ziplock bag, insert into garbage disposal with LED and video camera on, FINALLY FIND THAT TINY METAL FRAGMENT THAT WAS GRINDING FOR WEEKS.
January 18, 2012 — 5:23 am
Evan Kline says:
Pretty clever, Sean. I would have been paranoid about turning the disposal on at the wrong time . . .
January 19, 2012 — 9:26 am
Usman says:
Well I have seen people using smartphone while doing exercises at the gym. I think this is the strangest place where already majority of us are panting and sweating after hard workout moreover I have seen some guys using their smartphones while crossing the busy traffic roads this is very dangerous and I advise everybody including myself to refrain from such stupid acts. Anyway I loved your idea of asking readers about the most unusual place they have used a smartphone.
February 2, 2012 — 10:47 am