[To jam or not to jam--Canadians take on the issue of silencers.]

by Ruth Walker, Toronto -- "If you've ever wanted to shove that jerk over at the next table - yapping into his cellphone - into his own personal cone of silence, this will sound like an idea whose time has come: The Canadian government is considering legalizing cellphone silencers - currently restricted to police and security forces - for a wider circle of users.

"Silencers could be used to restore theaters, cinemas, restaurants and other public spaces to the relative calm, if not silence, they knew before cellphones came into wide use. Ottawa has invited all interested parties to submit their views and comments on the issue by July 12.

"The prospect of stilling the warbling and bleating of phones in restaurants, theaters, houses of worship and other public spaces may sound heavenly.

"But many experts see silencers as a technological solution to an etiquette problem - and not as simple as it may seem.

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