Wil Wheaton, his eReader and flying - Page 2

ucfgrad93 · 09-14-2011, 03:10 AM

When I fly with my Kindle, I just make sure the 3G/wifi is off, put it in standby mode, and slide it into the pocket in front of me until they say I can use it again.

Quexos · 09-14-2011, 03:19 AM

But seriously and out of curiosity, what exactly is the danger of using some devices such as the cell phone or in this instance your e-reader in a plane ?
Don't tell me it may crash the plane because out of 200 or 300 passengers, there must ALWAYS be some smart ass that keeps his device on. If it was VITALLY dangerous, they would be screened in the airport just as bombs or weapons are. But as far as I know they just tell you to turn off devices but nobody checks on you for absolutely sure.

stonetools · 09-14-2011, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddos

What happens? Absolutely nothing. It's been tested and proven again and again that cell phones (and a 3g nook or kindle count as cell phones) and wifi receivers do not cause any interference. Pilots now fly with iPads as replacements for paper flight books, yet the sheep in the tube have to turn off anything electronic? Something seems seriously wrong here.

The "correct" thing to do is to set your device to use a blank screensaver, so that the eink screen clears when you turn it "off" and just keep it on your lap. Then once the flight attendants strap themselves into their jump seats for takeoff, turn it back on and resume reading. You should turn off wifi/3g on the flight, but not for any ridiculous "interference" reason, but because constantly searching for a signal that doesn't exist will run your battery down too quickly.

This. its irritating to have to turn off your machine for 15-20 minutes for no good reason at the beginning and at the end of each flight. But the proper thing to do is not to berate the poor sap who has to enforce the stupid regulation: it is to change the regulation.

toddos · 09-14-2011, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonetools

This. its irritating to have to turn off your machine for 15-20 minutes for no good reason at the beginning and at the end of each flight. But the proper thing to do is not to berate the poor sap who has to enforce the stupid regulation: it is to change the regulation.

Good luck with that one. "Changing the regulation" means that all electronics will be banned from in-flight use entirely. And more groping, just for good measure.

It's been decades since the airline industry has done anything right, and the incompetence has only accelerated in the 2000s with the introduction of the TSA. Semi-appropriate comic (link NSFW due to language. You've been warned!).

Oh wait, did I just derail the thread into TSA hate? Is this a new Godwin corollary?

tubemonkey · 09-14-2011, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddos

Oh wait, did I just derail the thread into TSA hate?

Now, now ...don't go hating on government agencies

JSWolf · 09-14-2011, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

did the plane go kaboom?

Irrelevant. It's an electronic device. The device can use WiFi and/or 3G. So turn it off. The flight attendant is not going to check every device to see that it's in airplane mode. Wheaton was way out of line.

WillAdams · 09-14-2011, 05:27 AM

If he had properly stowed it as is expected when one is supposed to power off such devices, the stewardess never would have seen the screen to know what was on it.

It's not just a matter of electronics interference (over which the airlines and FAA are overly cautious, and rightly so), but of eliminating distractions which will hinder people from following directions or evacuating in an emergency, and of minimizing the danger of flying objects in the event of a hard landing or other maneuver.

William

JSWolf · 09-14-2011, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stickybuns

So... how do you turn off a Kindle? I've only every put mine into "standby" mode.

And another question: does the 3G antenna put out a signal when wireless (but not the device itself) is turned off?

JSWolf, clearly Wil wouldn't have had this problem if he had his Kindle is a proper cover

If he had a cover, he could have closed it and the attendant would not have seen an image on screen.

OldGunbunny · 09-14-2011, 08:06 AM

It's not the airlines - it's your friendly FAA. They're the ones who mandate this sort of nonsense.

Two reasons for these pronouncements. First, because they just might interfere with the plane electronics. Since you can't prove your handheld whatever will NEVER interfere, the FAA assumes it can.

Second, the FAA doesn't want you distracted during take off and landing in case of an emergency. In case your pilot decides to do a Sully and fly into a flock of geese on a bright sunny morning, you need to be ready to ............. Oh wait, that flight was in the air several minutes after the geese before it landed in the river. You as a passenger could do - er, nothing.

It's the FAA. That group of clowns, drunkards, fools, knaves and misplaced village idiots is doing their best to hold aviation back to the Wright brothers days.

Just be glad you aren't a pilot and have to deal with them.

Hatgirl · 09-14-2011, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joenunya

Wil Wheaton is a total prima donna and maybe the worst ebook narrator on the planet. But he is [Deleted by the Moderation Team] with Scalzi so he gets work.

Wow. Homophobic much?

OneandonlyDoc · 09-14-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatgirl

Wow. Homophobic much?

Mmm. Apparently, just opinionated. Folks have insanely strong views about Wil Wheaton (and John Scalzi, too, apparently).

carld · 09-14-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneandonlyDoc

Mmm. Apparently, just opinionated. Folks have insanely strong views about Wil Wheaton (and John Scalzi, too, apparently).

Using the phrase "[Deleted by the Moderation Team]" to describe someone is decidedly homophobic.

Hatgirl · 09-14-2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneandonlyDoc

Mmm. Apparently, just opinionated. Folks have insanely strong views about Wil Wheaton (and John Scalzi, too, apparently).

I'm not against the opinion (I disagree, but the internet is based around strong opinions). I'm against casual homophobic slurs that make internet forums uncomfortable places for gay people.*

*also casual racism, misogyny... sadly the list is endless...

jgaiser · 09-14-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatgirl

I'm not against the opinion (I disagree, but the internet is based around strong opinions). I'm against casual homophobic slurs that make internet forums uncomfortable places for gay people.*

*also casual racism, misogyny... sadly the list is endless...

Pinecone · 09-14-2011, 11:24 AM

Another point is, the airline can test specific devices that are used in specific places (iPad in the cockpit) to ensure that they do not cause ANY interference.

But how do you test the myriad possible sets of hundreds of possible devices scattered amount several hundred seats? And then you have to test each make and model and sub model of aircraft flown by each airline.

It is likely that everything will be OK? Yes. But do you want to be on the plane (or one or more of your close family members) when it isn't OK?

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09-14-2011, 03:10 AM	#16
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,370 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	When I fly with my Kindle, I just make sure the 3G/wifi is off, put it in standby mode, and slide it into the pocket in front of me until they say I can use it again.

09-14-2011, 03:19 AM	#17
Quexos Member Retired Posts: 1,999 Karma: 11348924 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Limbo Device: none	But seriously and out of curiosity, what exactly is the danger of using some devices such as the cell phone or in this instance your e-reader in a plane ? Don't tell me it may crash the plane because out of 200 or 300 passengers, there must ALWAYS be some smart ass that keeps his device on. If it was VITALLY dangerous, they would be screened in the airport just as bombs or weapons are. But as far as I know they just tell you to turn off devices but nobody checks on you for absolutely sure.

09-14-2011, 05:27 AM	#22
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,258 Karma: 3439432 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	If he had properly stowed it as is expected when one is supposed to power off such devices, the stewardess never would have seen the screen to know what was on it. It's not just a matter of electronics interference (over which the airlines and FAA are overly cautious, and rightly so), but of eliminating distractions which will hinder people from following directions or evacuating in an emergency, and of minimizing the danger of flying objects in the event of a hard landing or other maneuver. William

09-14-2011, 08:06 AM	#24
OldGunbunny Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 51828 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: way down South in Gawguh! Device: 9 or so at last count	It's not the airlines - it's your friendly FAA. They're the ones who mandate this sort of nonsense. Two reasons for these pronouncements. First, because they just might interfere with the plane electronics. Since you can't prove your handheld whatever will NEVER interfere, the FAA assumes it can. Second, the FAA doesn't want you distracted during take off and landing in case of an emergency. In case your pilot decides to do a Sully and fly into a flock of geese on a bright sunny morning, you need to be ready to ............. Oh wait, that flight was in the air several minutes after the geese before it landed in the river. You as a passenger could do - er, nothing. It's the FAA. That group of clowns, drunkards, fools, knaves and misplaced village idiots is doing their best to hold aviation back to the Wright brothers days. Just be glad you aren't a pilot and have to deal with them.

09-14-2011, 11:24 AM	#30
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	Another point is, the airline can test specific devices that are used in specific places (iPad in the cockpit) to ensure that they do not cause ANY interference. But how do you test the myriad possible sets of hundreds of possible devices scattered amount several hundred seats? And then you have to test each make and model and sub model of aircraft flown by each airline. It is likely that everything will be OK? Yes. But do you want to be on the plane (or one or more of your close family members) when it isn't OK?

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