They make too big a deal

[frani]

I was just watching the phone ep where they call Don Drysdale and I just couldn't get over the big deal Ward made about them using the phone for something other than necessary phone calls. I mean I understood the part about the big phone bill but then Beaver was trying to call Gilbert and his line was busy and Ward and June were making it seem like he had committed a crime or put in a false fire alarm or something. A little over the top, I think.

[bandito]

i think ward was trying to teach beaver the value of money and making prank calls is not a very good thing to do.:crazy:

[BrandonS]

I don't really recall how much $9 was worth in those days (I was a child), but considering the inflation since then, it was probably a pretty useful amount of money.

[frani]

you see, i understood about the money thing, but then ward and june started lecturing beaver about how inconvenient it is when you are trying to call people and the phone is tied up and june was saying that an important call might be trying to get through when you are fooling around on the phone. that's the big deal i was talking about.

[BrandonS]

Yeah, that struck me as a little excessive too. It was starting to get a bit silly. On the other hand, I guess I'd rather live in a family or environment with an extremely strong code of ethics, than an extremely weak one - at least as long as it wasn't really excessive all the time. I agree with your analysis, but then again, one thing I really like about the show is how firm Ward and June are about right and wrong. If they go a bit over the top once in awhile, I forgive them.

[lukes42]

Ward and June make a big issue out of the usage of the phone. I know there are quite a few good examples where they always have to know who called the boys, and what they were talking about. I mean, when it came to the phone, they had absolutely no privacy at all. I'm surprised they can even use the phone when Ward and June are away. I think they make the phone issue too serious. Boys will be boys. :)

[UncleBilly]

I grew up in the early 60's and I remember it was a big deal in our family too about the phone. Long distance calls had to be kept short (because of the cost)and you had to call though the operator just like on LITB. For local calls we had to be considerate about how long we stayed on because we had a party line and the other family might also be wanting to make calls.
How things have changed....now with cell phones you have free nights and weekends to call all over the country! And many homes have 2 or more phone lines for phones, modems and dedicated fax lines.

[bandito]

i guess back then not tying up the phone was a big deal today we have call waiting (2) lines ect.

[BBF]

One thing I noticed was that they said Gilbert had a party line. I was just thinking...having a party line would SUCK!

Oh, and btw, I agree that maybe ward and june went a little overboard on the phone thing, but I still saw where they were coming from.