Sometimes I’m at the doctor’s office, at the library, or even at the grocery store and see an unused power outlet. My phone is dying. I feel weird plugging in, but I feel even weirder asking for permission.

  • MisterChief@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Phones charging use such little power I’d really be surprised if anyone cared. It really depends on the place. A library I would have no issue plugging in anything without asking. I can’t say I’ve ever been at the doctors and considered charging my phone though I may ask out of courtesy if I did simply because I like my doctor. Overall I’d say it wouldn’t be a big deal either way.

  • TanknSpank@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    If it’s a public place and you have legitimate business starting there for a while, I don’t see any issue with it. Eg. Doctors waiting room and you have an appointment, restaurant and you’re dining there, etc.

    If it’s someone’s private home I’d ask first.

  • T156@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Something small like that, you’re fine. They wouldn’t really care, or even notice the bill.

    The problem comes if you either start unplugging devices to plug in your phone, or you plug in such a ridiculously large load that you start tripping breakers, but that comes more with space heater, or car charging territory.

    Phones are perfectly fine, and in some places, like the library, that is what they’re meant for, to let people charge their phones or laptops while they work.

  • RoyalEngineering@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I don’t think it matters with a phone/laptop or other small device.

    If you plugged in a Tessy that might make some people unhappy.

  • hiyaaaaa23@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    Imho, it’s a bit like a water fountain. You wouldn’t ask before filling up your bottle. In both cases you as an individual are costing the business pennys.

    The only place you mentioned that I personally wouldn’t do it is a store, but that’s mostly because to charge your phone you kinda have to sit by the outlet and I personally see stores as places of movement where hanging out is discouraged. You are supposed to buy something and leave.

    But for doctors offices, you’re probably fine, and libraries you 100% all g.

  • zumi@lemmy.sdf.org
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    1 year ago

    Not rude at all. I wouldn’t even ask for a phone charge.

    Just don’t plug your giant bitcoin miner in.

  • Candelestine@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Dr office, no in the waiting room, yes in the exam room. Library, no. Grocery store, yes. Any more?

    • i_love_FFT
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      1 year ago

      Airport? Shopping mall? Restaurant? Parking lot? Stadium? Your friend’s house? The office? Classroom? Museum? Cinema?

      • Candelestine@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        No, maybe, yes, no, no, yes unless you know better, no, depends how old you are, maybe, no so long as its off/silent.

        Also, I’ll note in case anyone forgot, the original question was not “can you?”, but “is it rude?” Which are two different things.

      • PixelPassport@chat.maiion.com
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        1 year ago

        Edit: I got it backwards, meaning these are what I’d consider acceptable places to charge your phone.

        Airport? Yeah but use a no-data charging cable.

        Mall? I don’t see why anyone would care about that.

        Restaurant? If it’s under your table or very close by.

        Parking lot? Do they have outlets?

        Stadium? Where would they be charging it at a stadium, maybe where the bathrooms and concessions are? If it’s out of the way I don’t think that would bother anyone.

        Your friends house? Yeah unless they’re running an off-the-grid setup or something.

        The office? Yes fuck the man.

        Classroom? I assume they can charge it somewhere while in class, I’ve been out of there for a while though.

        Museum? Eh, feel like it can wait.

        Cinema? No.

    • rockyTron@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I’ve definitely plugged in the exam room, they leave you to wait for 10-15 minutes I can get 30-50% charge while waiting.

  • Pseu@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    From a (US) financial perspective, a phone charger takes about 5 watts of electricity. At $0.010/kWh that’s $0.0005/hr (or ¢0.05/hr) of charging. This is utterly negligible.

    For reference, a worker at the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr would be paid that much after 0.25 seconds of working. It’s not even worth paying an employee to tell you to not plug in, which would probably take at least 15 seconds.

    Naturally, some businesses may want to discourage people from loitering, but more often than not, they probably want your business (library, grocery store, coffee shop &c) or understand that reality happens.

    • Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It depends on the charger. Fast charging can pull around 20W (1 second of minimum wage worker time, so maybe worth it if they ask very quickly), and PD allows for wattages over 100W, which would cost 1 cent per hour or more, though you’d still leave on your own long before then because your device will be charged.

    • linearchaos@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      In really high traffic places like poorly supported airports, it does tend to wear out the outlets which is a bit more money over time.

      Realistically, most places can afford to provide charging facilities. I’m still carrying a battery pack with me though.

  • Chickenstalker@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Will you drink a can of Coke™ lying around a stranger’s house without asking? No? Then, ask for permission as a matter of etiquette unless there are signs specifically saying it is ok to use them.

    • crilen@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Big difference to a random coke and a flow of constant power that literally costs less than a cent to charge a phone.

    • Chozo@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Yep, super easy to ask. “Hey, is it cool if I charge my phone here while I wait?” I’ve never had anybody tell me “no”. Assuming you’re not also asking for a cable or something, I don’t think most people mind at all.

  • Hazdaz@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I wouldn’t bother asking if it’s a 15 min charge for your phone. If you are there for 3 hours, then maybe consider asking.

  • zeppo@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    If you don’t have to reach or lean over someone, sure. Obviously if you do that would require saying ‘excuse me…’ or asking them to plug it in for you. An open outlet, anyway, is always fair game. If someone needs to use it after you start… they can say something.

  • ShoePaste
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    1 year ago

    I’ve literally moved tables in doctors offices to plug my phone in and no one’s ever said anything. The library those outlets are yours. Charge away.

    • LinusWorks4Mo@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      yeah me too, I always just move other people’s furniture around and even shoosh the occasional pet away if my phone is in need, no one ever said anything either. they might look funny but that’s probably bc my farts smell