Last weekend a woman was arrested for disorderly conduct after allegedly talking for sixteen hours while in the “quiet car” on an Amtrak train from Oakland, California to Salem, Oregon. I have to admit my first reaction to this news was shock that anyone could talk for sixteen hours. But, assuming the facts are as they are reported, it presents a fascinating case study of both group behavior (how did it go on for so long?) and conflict resolution. Roi Ben Yehuda, a regular “quiet car” rider and a P.h.D Candidate in Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, offers good advice about how to handle these situations, here .
Anderson Cooper placed the woman on his Ridiculist .
I was left wondering what might be an appropriate resolution for this case if it is true. My first thought was a sentence that involves some lengthy time without a cell phone. Or maybe she needs a full-blown rehabilitation program for what is clearly a serious addiction. Or maybe she should just be sentenced to proctor law school examinations so she is forced to sit in utter silence for several hours at a time. I suspect that if she tried to make any noise the law students taking the exam would quiet her in record time. The fear is that this case, and the many others that are undoubtedly out there like it, will spawn a new breed of problem solving court: The Cell Phone Court.
Natalie – Don’t forget those people who leave their cell phones on during movies!
Cell phone court could have a extremely clogged docket – particularly if we include the conflicts caused by drivers on their cells phones, confidentiality concerns from overheard phone conversations in the produce aisle and teens bringing privacy violation charges against parents (who foot the cell phone bill)reading their kids’ texts to keep up on activties/friendships!