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Keller @ Large: Why Cellphones Should Never Be Used On Planes

BOSTON (CBS) - There is plenty of competition, no doubt.

But in the pantheon of really bad ideas, is there any question that the push to allow cellphone use on airplanes is right at the top of the list?

What could possibly go wrong?

Imagine every mind-numbing conversation ever inflicted on you by a clueless pedestrian or seat-mate on the T or at a ballgame, stuff like this: "Yeah, YEAH, we're here at the game, YEAH! Woo-HOO, I'm waving, can you see me? Anyway, you won't believe what she said! YEAH! First, Debbie said, 'well, I don't know.' Then he says 'well, if you don't know, than I don't know.' And next thing anybody knows, they're BOTH YELLIN' at each other! Can you hear me ok? OK, I'LL TALK LOUDER!"

Now imagine that or worse as the soundtrack to your six-hour flight.

It should be obvious that this cannot be allowed to happen, but late last week, according to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. aviation officials indicated they are "leaning toward eventually allowing in-flight calls from airline passengers," with a couple of qualifiers: it'll be up to each airline whether or not to permit this, and they will have to tell you they allow calls before you buy your ticket.

Therein lies a possible antidote to the insanity of the regulators who are considering allowing this.

If you've ever taken the train down to New York, you know that you have to hustle to grab a seat on the quiet car, where cellphone use is banned. Don't tell Amtrak, but if they charged extra for quiet car seats, many of us would gladly pay up.

And I'm hoping that's what will derail cellphones on planes, a massive backlash from the marketplace.

Better in this case to let money talk, than to let fools with phones talk us all to death.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

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