We’ve all experienced it, and most of us have probably done it:
You’re talking with someone in a social or business situation and a cell phone rings. Maybe it’s your phone; maybe it’s the other person’s. Either way, the previous conversation ends abruptly, because in the modern communications hierarchy the outside phone call or text message generally takes priority over mere face-to-face, human-to-human interaction.
Sure, it’s rude. But most people do it anyway, sometimes with a quick word of apology to the ignored party, but often not. And while some may not find the practice socially acceptable, the battle against it is quickly being lost.
It is, in other words, an increasingly common aspect of modern life. But as far as I can determine, we have invented no term for it. And to tame it, we must name it.
That claim might sound odd to some, but for millenia experts in the human psyche have understood the power of naming. Once given a name, any danger somehow becomes less frightening. Once something is named, our brains can begin to plot to bring it under control.
It is no accident that in the book of Genesis, the animals are brought to Adam one by one so that he can name them, and by doing so establish dominance over them. In some sects, the fact that Adam was granted the right to name Eve is still cited as evidence that God intended man to be superior to woman.
Conversely, in the Jewish tradition the name of G-d can neither be uttered nor written, because He cannot and should not be captured in a word.
So, back to the original question: What do we call this phenomenon? We can’t develop social norms for something that we can’t even name. The phrase used above, “technological capture,” might be descriptive but it is also bulky and awkward. I don’t think it’s going to catch on.
Therefore, I propose the problem be “crowdsourced,” itself a new phenomenon that could not be understood until it was named. Suggest a term and throw it out, to see what catches on. Earn a little bit of immortality by making a contribution to the English language.
My own lame proposal is to call it an “e-ruption,” with the verb form “e-rupt”. As in, “it’s rude to e-rupt a conversation.” Or “don’t e-rupt me, bro.” Or “the conversation was so boring that I had to fake an e-ruption to escape.”
– Jay Bookman
456 comments Add your comment
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
July 3rd, 2012
7:59 am
“Chesapeake Energy has made $5.5 billion in pretax profits since its founding more than two decades ago. But the second-largest U.S. natural gas producer has paid income taxes on almost none of it.”
but … but … but … they’re JOB CREATORS … they shouldn’t HAVE to pay taxes!!!
Jm
July 3rd, 2012
8:01 am
“Pretty serious stretch of the word “harms,” there.”
I disagree
To pay for the expansion of Medicaid, financial resources will have to be taken from everyone else
A good portion of thos people live at the margin, and will therefore have to elect to stop paying for something (possibly even health insurance, or maybe it’s buying a safer new car, who knows), and they will be harmed
And since the government does such a poor job of allocating and using Medicaid money, it is probably a net loss to the system
Jm
July 3rd, 2012
8:02 am
“Chesapeake Energy has made $5.5 billion in pretax profits since its founding more than two decades ago. But the second-largest U.S. natural gas producer has paid income taxes on almost none of it.”
Sorry you apparently don’t understand US tax law.
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:02 am
stands
The hospitals have a full-court pressure press underway. Lots of good info about, it’s not just the federal Medicaid dollars lost, it’s the increased costs that occur with nonimplementation.
But remember, we have a deficit well over $10 billion (state’s not exactly sure how much) and a governor who, as we saw in the primary battle, thinks he balanced the state’s budget, so……..
Adam
July 3rd, 2012
8:03 am
Actually no, expanding medicaid does NOT cause harm to their constituents. NOT expanding it doesn’t just mean they won’t have coverage, it ALSO means some of them will be assessed that individual mandate penalty. And regardless of what the states do or do not do with Medicaid, the same number of people making over 200/250k or getting capital gains or using tanning beds etc will STILL pay the same amount in taxes.
NOT expanding Medicaid has only one benefit, and that is to make it more possible that the whole law won’t add tot he deficit by the federal government not having to give the states extra money. And that benefit doesn’t go the Republicans’ way either.
They are placing all their eggs in this basket of assumption that Obama will be blamed if THEY deliberately deny health care to their citizens. I think that’s pretty dumb. Hard red states might not vote them out, but they WILL NOT like that, and they wont’ blame Obama except in that hard right “everything is Obama’s fault” way.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
July 3rd, 2012
8:03 am
USinUK,
I like your husbands view…I think that’s what the “Right” is afraid of…
————————–
Good morning Paul,
I wonder id they’d still want us now?.
I’ve been over at the Rachel Maddow site, listening to Izra Klein fill in. Good stuff today.
Blurbs from the Right Wing Pundits ranging from “biggest tax burden in the country” to “biggest tax burden in the universe”…Sheesh!
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:03 am
Jm
It’s not about not understanding the law.
Digging rabbit holes a bit early, aren’t you?
Adam
July 3rd, 2012
8:04 am
And since the government does such a poor job of allocating and using Medicaid money,
Curious but, which government are you talking about when you say this? State or Federal?
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:05 am
Jm
“To pay for the expansion of Medicaid, financial resources will have to be taken from everyone else
A good portion of thos people live at the margin”
What will be taken from those who live at the margin?
Jm
July 3rd, 2012
8:07 am
Paul
You might also want to learn how MLPs work, which make up a big part of Chesapeake “income”
http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=CHKM&ql=1
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
July 3rd, 2012
8:07 am
“And since the government does such a poor job of allocating and using Medicaid money, it is probably a net loss to the system”
aaaaaaaaaaand, once again, the facts just don’t support JM –
http://www.kff.org/medicaid/upload/7306%20ten%20myths%20about%20Medicaid_final-3.pdf
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:07 am
Jm
Your 8:02
More on point: saying ‘but it’s the law” as a response to addressing a shortcoming in the law is rather like a person saying “my car gets only 10 mpg when I stomp on the gas on around-town trips” and someone else explaining why that happens by saying “but it’s a car!”
10 Companies Making The Biggest Political Donations: 24/7 Wall St.
July 3rd, 2012
8:09 am
24/7 Wall St.: With the U.S. presidential election heating up, 24/7 Wall St. decided to examine public companies’ political contributions in the current election cycle. The donations include monies given to political parties, candidates, and political action committees. The figures are staggering and have prompted many to ask whether money can buy a seat in the House, Senate, or even the presidency itself.
The Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, the Romney Victory Fund, and the Republican National Committee raised more than $76.8 million in May alone. This one month does not include what Romney and his supporters raised for the primaries, or the growing amount he will need as the presidential election shifts into high gear. While President Obama has raised more overall, his campaign and the Democratic party only raised $60 million for his re-election effort in May.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/02/corporate-political-donations_n_1644375.html
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:09 am
Normal
“Blurbs from the Right Wing Pundits ranging from “biggest tax burden in the country” to “biggest tax burden in the universe”…Sheesh!”
They do intend to make hyperbole the new national drink, don’t they?
Mick
July 3rd, 2012
8:12 am
Good morning fellow americans…the republic is still standing and despite the desperate rantings of some that the sky is falling, here comes another 4th of july as we move toward another pivotal election. Really, all you naysayers and fainting couch residents – get a grip!!! Enjoy the celebrations, freedom is as strong as ever, it’s just more expensive…
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
July 3rd, 2012
8:12 am
“They do intend to make hyperbole the new national drink, don’t they?”
if it wasn’t for hyperbole, they’d have no rhetoric left!
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
July 3rd, 2012
8:13 am
“Enjoy the celebrations, freedom is as strong as ever, it’s just more expensive”
which is why freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:13 am
Jm 8:07
Now what you’re doing is like a person saying to a doctor “that person died because you didn’t give him antibiotics” and the doctor says “let me explain to you how disease and infections occur.”
How plainly can I put this?
It’s not about how the tax laws are now written to benefit a particular industry.
It’s about, //as the headline to the article stated// that those laws are from another time, no longer have the effect they were intended to have with nearly 100% of drilling operations hitting paydirt and that it’s a multibillion-dollar sweetheart deal.
So… please don’t come back with “this is how much it costs to drill a well and these are the write-offs the law allows.”
stands for decibels
July 3rd, 2012
8:16 am
Jm @ 8.01, those living at the margin are going to be COVERED by Medicaid now.
Those who are doing a bit better might wind up losing a bit of a tax break here, and paying a bit more for something else there. I’m sorry, but after hearing variants of “47% are FREELOADERZ!!” non stop for years now from the right, this sudden claim of compassion for them rings pretty false.
Mick
July 3rd, 2012
8:17 am
Three fingered fellows named shorty, they ain’t got nothing to lose, iko iko…good afternoon usinuk, another day in paradise….
Adam
July 3rd, 2012
8:17 am
Seriously, in case it was missed:
NOT expanding Medicaid does NOTHING to reduce the amount of people who pay Obamacare taxes. In fact, it INCREASES the taxes drawn and DECREASES the spending.
It also f*cks a lot of people over. But it’s best not to worry about such minutiae….
stands for decibels
July 3rd, 2012
8:17 am
anyways, gots to go produce. Later, maybe, when Jay’s got something new for us.
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:18 am
USinUK
Gonna try something different for burgers this year. Several great burger joints around use a combination of chuck and brisket. Tyler Florence and others have written about all-brisket burgers: ideal fat content, great flavor, all the essentials of a tasty burger.
So I’m going to go pick up a 12-pound brisket and start grinding.
And wanna start a real argument this morning?
The other offering will be Nathan’s hot dogs, the best!
And deviled eggs and potato salad prepared the only true way…..
JamVet
July 3rd, 2012
8:19 am
Sorry you apparently don’t understand MASSIVE corporate welfare and socialism for mega-corporations. (capitalism for the working man.)
It’s OK, Jm, hopefully YOU get to pick up some of their tab.
Since you don’t want them to pay not just their fair share, but nothing at all…
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:20 am
Jm
Local paper reported Sunday that the average Texas family’s health insurance policy is inflated by $1800 a year to cover care for those without insurance.
Have you used that in your calculations about how much others will have to pay for ObamaCare? You know, add it up, then deduct the $1800 a year which will be no longer necessary?
Mick
July 3rd, 2012
8:21 am
paul
**The other offering will be Nathan’s hot dogs, the best!**
No argument there, prefer the casing ones though…
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:22 am
Adam
“Seriously, in case it was missed:”
Oh, I think the tv and radio mantra creators didn’t miss it.
They just ignored it.
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:23 am
Mick
Gonna have to look for those. And I like the shorter ones, not those long, skinny ‘fill the bun with some sticking out’ types.
I think they taste better. Same ingredients, different shapes, tastes different. Like with pasta. It’s just plain weird.
Jm
July 3rd, 2012
8:24 am
Paul
MLPs don’t pay taxes because the shareholders do directly via k1s
Yes, US tax law also encourages energy exploration. Shocker
Ok, have to go, sorry
Mountain climbing calls today
Mick
July 3rd, 2012
8:24 am
jamvet
Saw ringo the other nite with todd rundgren, guitar player and sax from toto, bass player from mister mister, and the keyboard player from the original santana lineup..yup, they played the greatest hits of each of those bands…just an incredible blend of music, I’m still humming some of those toto tunes…
godless heathen
July 3rd, 2012
8:27 am
Have you used that in your calculations about how much others will have to pay for ObamaCare? You know, add it up, then deduct the $1800 a year which will be no longer necessary?
Are illegals going to get insurance under Obamacare?
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:28 am
Jm
Enjoy, and be safe!
Mick
July 3rd, 2012
8:30 am
paul
I don’t know what mountains jm will be climbing in florida, the highest peaks in the state are the trash dumps…have fun jm, make sure to shower after…
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
July 3rd, 2012
8:30 am
“The other offering will be Nathan’s hot dogs, the best!”
did I hear something recently about Nathans not really being kosher or something like that???
I do dogs maybe once a year – but, when I do, they have to be slaw dogs from the Varsity (introduced Graham to the V’s Chilli Dogs last time we were home … he ate 6 of them)
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
July 3rd, 2012
8:31 am
Jm – ON BELAY!!!
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:31 am
godless heathen
That’s another thing, explicit prevention, that Republicans wanted and Pres Obama put in. So, as Jay put it, once Pres Obama gave Republicans what they wanted on illegals, the mandate, and a host of other particulars, they still opposed the bill.
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
July 3rd, 2012
8:32 am
“Pres Obama gave Republicans what they wanted on illegals, the mandate, and a host of other particulars, they still opposed the bill.”
AND accused him of not negotiating …
Adam
July 3rd, 2012
8:32 am
Are illegals going to get insurance under Obamacare?
OK so you can’t reduce the amount people overpay for other people down to $0, which I assume was your point. But do you see no net benefit in increasing the pool by putting more CITIZENS into it?
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
July 3rd, 2012
8:33 am
Morning all…..
I get to take Toddler G to his first real 4th of July fireworks show.
There us nothing better than his face when it lights up in wonder.
Hope each of you gets a bit of “wonder” this holiday.
JamVet
July 3rd, 2012
8:36 am
Mick, glad you enjoyed it.
I’ve watched some of the youtubes and it looks great!
Mick
July 3rd, 2012
8:40 am
jamvet
I believe he’ll be up that way in a few days…ringo is one funny cool man, not to mention a pretty darn good drummer…
Paul
July 3rd, 2012
8:45 am
You, too, Granny. Enjoy.
Adam
July 3rd, 2012
8:46 am
AND accused him of not negotiating …
It’s like “somebody goes to the restaurant, orders a big steak dinner, martini, all that stuff and then just as you’re sitting down, they leave and accuse you of running up the tab. That’s what they do”
Adam
July 3rd, 2012
8:47 am
The comments on that video are funny. People live in a bubble sometimes. His analogy was totally apt and only the Bush/GOP faithful think this explanation is somehow a loser for him.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
July 3rd, 2012
8:48 am
What’s all this talk about Nathan’s dogs? The Normal family is having porter houses. I cut the sirloin out for the ladies, and the men get the T-bone. Kids get veggie burgers…just kidding…
godless heathen
July 3rd, 2012
8:52 am
OK so you can’t reduce the amount people overpay for other people down to $0, which I assume was your point. But do you see no net benefit in increasing the pool by putting more CITIZENS into it?
Just asking. Article I read said 1/2 of the uninsured folks in the US were undocumented workers. I would guess the fraction in Tx to be much larger.
But if you don’t put enough healthy CITIZENS into the pool, then you won’t offset all the additional costs imposed on the insurance companies and we all just pay more and more.
Adam
July 3rd, 2012
8:53 am
godless: But if you don’t put enough healthy CITIZENS into the pool, then you won’t offset all the additional costs imposed on the insurance companies and we all just pay more and more.
OK, but isn’t that addressed by the individual mandate and other aspects of the law, even without the medicaid expansion?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
July 3rd, 2012
8:55 am
The current premiums or contributions we make to current healthcare plans via employer or direct will increase 30-40% during an after this crap bill gets up to speed. Insurance is a pool and since these carriers will have to write newbies at a loss in the aggregate, they will increase premiums for the balance of us…not to mention the underwriting strain to accomodate pre-existing conditions which is not insurance.
This does not include the 600b to 1 trillion of taxpayer expense per CBO…Get real people, when has the government ever been able to stick to a budget…???
kayaker 71
July 3rd, 2012
8:57 am
Blue Cross Alabama has published some figures on Medicare hikes. It appears that the present $96.40/mo will be increased to 104.20 in 2012, 120.20 in 2013 and will increase to 247/mo in 2014. Note that more than doubling the premium doesn’t start until after the 2012 election. “No tax increases for those who earn less than 250K/yr….. not one thin dime”. More lies.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
July 3rd, 2012
9:01 am
KAYAKER,
My point exactly..all these sheepish and blinded President Trillions groupies can’t seem to grasp this fact..not to mention the addition of a Trillion of so to deficit per CBO….Don’t even get me started on the impact on supply of providers…..
Jay
July 3rd, 2012
9:04 am
Stevie Ray, you’re making stuff up again.
The CBO says ObamaCare will REDUCE the deficit, not increase it by a trillion.
But you can continue argument in the freshly made room upstairs.
JamVet
July 3rd, 2012
9:06 am
F Blue Cross of Anywhere. Along with the other giant HMOs.
THEY are the ones who have created this disaster.
Once again, just so there is no mistaking how I feel about those thieves and what they have done to American families, they can all FOAD.
St Simons - we're on Island time, mon
July 3rd, 2012
9:19 am
Higgs boson particle found. Checkmate, talibangelical theocons.
Adam
July 3rd, 2012
10:25 am
Jay: Is there an analysis of the CBO report that says that that I can reasonably bill as coming from a non-partisan or conservative source?
Jay
July 3rd, 2012
10:40 am
Adam, there’s the CBO report itself.
In its March 2012 update — http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/03-13-Coverage%20Estimates.pdf — it notes that “CBO and JCT (Joint Committee on Taxation) have previously estimated that the ACA will, on net, reduce budget deficits over the 2012–2021 period; that estimate of the overall budgetary impact of the ACA has not been updated.”
Adam
July 3rd, 2012
11:41 am
Jay: Thanks.