phone party

I walked past this ad on a phone box this morning, quite a smart ad for the army based on their campaign about whether you're up to being an officer.

But in my early morning not quite awake state I initially thought that BT were actually suggesting that this was a good phone box for a tough call, which I thought was a really good idea. And actually I still think it might be. As phone boxes get less neccesary most of the time what if they were re-imagined as great places to make specific sorts of calls?

You could have a 'tough calls' box with posters and advice about how to make difficult calls, perhaps with a hot button to a counseling service and free vouchers for a consoling cup of tea once you've made the call.

Or a 'celebration calls' box with balloons and party music and optics and a little video camera that'll record your moment of triumph.

Or. Or. Something else. You get the idea. Maybe not.

I find this is often the way ideas come. (Good or not). You misunderstand something in the real world (I often get ideas from mishearing words), your brain instantly extrapolate something from that misunderstanding and, in doing that, creates a new idea. So hurrah for vagueness.

Comments

[allison]

I think your idea for repurposing phone booths as a private space for difficult conversations is fantastic.

Add soundproofing and a person could let loose in a way one cannot or a least should not on a cell.

Good call.

[anthony]

I have found myself in phone boxes while on my mobile twice in the past year...

once because I couldn't hear who I was talking to cos of traffic noise, so I ducked into the nearest phone box

and once because I was arguing on the phone and quite embarassed

it was very comforting being inside them - leaning on the phones, fidgiting with the cable and coin return tray. like the old days.

I suggest we create boxes on each corner without phones in for this purpose. Also people on their mobiles dont look where they're walking!!

[Carol]

I like visiting backwards and forwards (across the pond).

I like being foreign. I try hard not to understand what's the what. "Mind the Gap" still seems profound to me.

My first thought on seeing your photo was "I don't make those hard calls, and I should". I had no idea it was an army ad, not important either.

It's Monday tomorrow. Make that tough call.

[teeveedubya]

funny, that's how i often get some of my best ideas too. misinterpreting something that leads to something i never would have "normally" thought of.