Are we hearing the ring tone’s death rattle? In a culture that prizes individuality above all else, what do you do if you haven’t got what it takes to generate your own? You buy some, of course, which is why there’s been a vast market for unorthodox ring tones for cell phones. So, it would be intriguing if the ring-tone craze were to recede. And a brief item in the Los Angeles Times’ trend-conscious Calendar section says it’s doing just that, in L.A. and elsewhere. (Hat tip to ArtsJournal for flagging the item.) “L.A. is ringing with the boring sound of standard-issue, or ‘native,’ ring tones,” says the paper, and it cites some research indicating that the trend is a national one. The item goes on to say, “People who once downloaded ring tones by the dozen say they’re skipping those tinny tunes to save money, save time and save themselves from embarrassment.” If people start deciding they want to “save themselves from embarrassment,” all sorts of consumer categories could be transformed. Meanwhile, an abeyance in intrusive ring tones is a nice start. —Posted by Mark Dolliver

March 6, 2007 | Permalink

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Comments

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What the hell? I love personal ringtones. I got the theme of the Exorcist, 2 from Halloween (Michael lurks and main theme), the theme from Jaws and The Omen.

So screw the "trend-conscious," ringtones are here to stay. They're perfect for anyone who does't want to be part of the pack.

Individuality rules!

Posted by: Bobby | Mar 6, 2007 2:27:52 PM

ummmm...want to not be part of the pack? Turn off the damn ringer altogether and use Vibrate. ringtones are juvenile and idiotic.

Posted by: | Mar 6, 2007 4:07:56 PM

I don't see how the personal ringtone / song ringtone will ever die. It's a tween /teen - soon to be adult - culture. All the phones that pass through our house regularly, consistently have new ringtones: although we have also had instances of "I don't think that's my ring."

Posted by: Everyone Loves Your loud music, that gets louder and louder | Mar 6, 2007 7:06:06 PM

"ringtones are juvenile and idiotic."

---Hey, just because you like the typical "ring ring" tone doesn't mean everyone has to use it.

A ringtone is an expression of oneself. We don't all listen to the same music, so why do that witn ringtones? And when you spend $200 on a slider (more original than the Razr), you want to personalize the motherfucker.

As for vibrate, please. When I go to the movies, I turn off the phone, that's the decent thing to do! If there's one place you shouldn't be talking on the phone, that's the place.

Posted by: Bobby | Mar 7, 2007 9:36:53 AM

"If there's one place you shouldn't be talking on the phone, that's the place."

Wow. Thanks to the restraint and selflessness of people like Bobby, I don't have to listen to strangers' private conversations in my office, public restrooms, yelling over crowds in bars & restaurants, or in any other place where they feel they need to break up with their boyfriend for the eighth time, discuss their pain and itching, or regale friends with tales of mom walking in on them masturbating...again.

Bravo, you people who don't feel compelled to use your cell phones simply because they're there. Bravo.

Posted by: not a slave to my phone | Mar 7, 2007 10:52:06 AM

What are you talking about? I don't discuss personal stuff on my cellphone in front of everyone. Why are you implying I do?

As for other people that do, guess what, you don't need a cellphone to do it. You can use a landline or your office phone.

Also, NOBODY'S PAYING ATTENTION. America is a highly individualized society where for the most part, everyone minds their own business. That's why punks using bad language at a public bus are ignored, there are no longer any standards of behavior in public whatsoever, as long as you're not naked, you're invisible.

Posted by: Bobby | Mar 7, 2007 2:22:33 PM

Punks using bad language here are ignored, too, "Bobby." Your $200 "slider" is a WHAT?!

Posted by: Your Mom | Mar 13, 2007 1:07:05 PM

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