Online Media Cultist

New York, my homeland, is considering legislation that would levy a $100 fine for pedestrians who listen to a mobile audio device while crossing the street.

This, in my view, is cruel and unusual punishment for the iPod set. Sure, it’s possible that listening to Slayer at 900 decibels might prevent you from seeing that Mack truck just before it splits your dome, but isn’t that your decision to make as a pedestrian? Doesn’t the pedestrian “always have the right of way,” even if they’re lost in la la land?

I’m more liberal than not in my political leanings, and I like to think that means respecting the rights of individuals. For the most part, the vast majority of people listen to iPods responsibly: while walking about town, on the subway, crossing the street, and so on.

At some level, people must govern their own actions and act responsibly outside of a set of legal strictures. While I’m not a lawyer, I’d love to see a legal mind argue against this bill with counter-legislation that makes it illegal to listen to the radio above a certain volume level (anyone remember the “red line” on the stereo from one of the opening scenes in Say Anything?).

Engadget has a hilarious picture of a chalk outline of a presumably murdered ipod here.

In sum, to quote Gizmodo: “This has got to be the dumbest ban I’ve ever heard of.”

I’m a web cultist, as I proudly declare on the side nav, but I’m not really much of a gadgets person. If someone plops the latest whiz-gizmo in my hand, I’ll usually check it out and declare genuine enthusiasm, but I’m not of that core tech-geek cares-how-the-mechanics-work demeanor that is essential to flip out over the latest hardware and mechanical design achievements.

That said, the hubbub over Apple’s new iPhone cannot be ignored.

So for all of us non-gadget cultists out there, I would love to see someone write an easily digestible piece about:

* what the best mobile communications devices are (and iPhone certainly seems to be up there!)
* what that means in terms of setting up phone and mobile access plans
* what it costs
* and how to get out of current contracts to get on board with the cool kids!

Further, a “nonpartisan” web-based service that for a small fee helped you figure out exactly the best mobile phone to meet your needs and then aided you in the process of switching over would really perk up my e-ears.