by JLJ » Wed Mar 09, 2022 9:21 pm
As I recall, the upset over Brent was that he wasn't just ignoring rules and carrying a cellphone, but was using a device which had as its primary function (and Brent thought of it as its only function) playing music, which it may have been able to download, making it a communication device of sorts, but not one capable of conventional person to person commuincation without special adaptation, which I don't believe Brent's device had. I am fairly confident that everyone conceded that there was no indication at all that Brent had made any attempt to use it for ordinary interpersonal communication or, as I recall, that it was even possible to use it, as it was, to do so. It was taking Brent out of the race over a technicality of that sort, plus the "see that's what happens to cheaters" by feeble minded sensationalist journalists and those who follow them that vexed many people.
Brent behaved gallantly and accepted the race officials' decision without further objection, but many thought that he was not the party at fault and that the exclusion was made on the basis of a device that might technically fall within the letter of the rule, but definitely did not fall within the functions that were allegedly being prohibited. It would have been easy, if officials were really trying to clarify the issue for everyone, to tell everyone. Check with ___ specifically about any device, including radios, etc. that you have that might be able communicate at all for any purpose, including weather reports, downloading music (and whatever else such devices do) to get a definite ruling on that device.
It's also my recollection that many others in the race were astonished that Brent's device led to expulsion from the race and dumped similar music downloading and playing devices that they, also, had believed to be permitted.