Cell phones in public. Is anyone here bothered by them and if so why?

Question

And what situations bother you the most? Should something, if anything, be done about it?

Answer 1

Cell phones should be on vibrate when you're dining out, whether you're inside a fast food restaurant or sit down, like Denny's or TGIFriday's. If you have to leave the phone on & you get a call, be polite & go outside with the call. It's raining or too hot? Too bad. Tell the person you'll return their call later, unless it's the sitter about your child.

While driving, people should use headsets. There are so many options available & ALL states should make it a law requiring their use for safety. AND if you're caught not using it, the fines should be $1000 like littering is. Or, even better, let your voicemail answer for you. When you get to your destination, retrieve your message(s) then.

I can hear the excuses now. "I run my business from my cell phone." AWWW too bad! Think back to the days BEFORE cell phones & people who had businesses were out of the office & would check in for messages. "I have to be reachable at all times." For what?! Have we become so self absorbed that we can't disconnect for a little while?

I have a cell phone & I use my headset EVERY single time. If I'm careless & forget it at home, then I DON'T answer it in the car. I'd rather let a call go then cause or get into an accident while fumbling with my phone. I've driven right past local police & sheriff cars too. They usually give me a thumbs up when they see I'm using a hands free option.

Cell phones have become a part of life. I get that. I do my best not to leave home without mine & my headset. It gives me security knowing that I have it if my car breaks down, I get into an accident or if something else happens.

People have also forgotten their manners while on their phones. They've become rude, insensitive & downright cruel. I wish I had $5 for every single time I've been cut off, raced past, seen someone run a red light or stop sign that's on his/her cell phone. I'd be as rich as Donald Trump. Why $5 not $1? Inflation inflation inflation!

Answer 2

Nope.... with the obvious exception of places where you expect quiet, such as the movies, live theater,a library, a concert, or a comedy club. That is the ONLY time I have problems with it.

As far as general public-- a store, a park, public transit, walking down the street, etc... Why should it? How different is it from overhearing a regular conversation, other than the fact that you can only hear one side of it. I mean, are people THAT nosy that they have to listen in on both sides of a conversation?

If cell phone use falls into the second category (general public, silence not expected), nothing should be done about it... just ignore it or walk away from it. If it falls into the first category (where silence IS expected), tell an usher (or attendant, or whatever applies) and they will take care of it.

I always put my phone into meeting mode (similar to silent) when in one of the situations in the first category. In the second category, what's the big deal???

Answer 3

For the most part, I accept that cell phones are part of the highly technical background of our generation. For some, they are an absolute nesessity. For others, cell phones are a mere convenience.

People who hold cell phone conversations in public should be no more intrusive than folks having a face-to-face talk. Most of us, passing by will just ignore them. The same should apply when passsing by someone speaking on the phone. That conversation is none of our business.

To get back to your question, besides the dangerous habit of people allowing themselves to be distracated while driving, my pet peeve is those folks who feel they have to raise their voices while speaking on a phone, almost as if they are trying to make themselves directly heard over the great distance. These people make if very difficult for others to ignore them. The rest of us don't want to hear thier business while trying to attend to ours.

Those people don't seem to "get it." It's as if they think, "If I can't hear the person on the phone, then I have to speak up too!" It does not work that way! Yet if someone were to call this to their attention, the speaker would probably tell them to mind their own business.

Answer 4

It depends, I carry my cell and it is used most of the time in public for, I am here, I will be home at............

But sometimes, my son calls, he is living 1200 miles away. When a 20 year old calls Mom, she wants to talk to him.

I think people need to realize that you don't need to yell on a cell phone, and if you are with other people or distrubing other people that it should be cut short and continued at another more appropriate place and time.

Several years ago, I was on bus trip with above mentioned son. We were crusing by a car and all of a sudden, and I have no idea how, their cell phone conversation was being broadcast through the speakers on the bus.
They were discussing their sex lives.

If people realized that their conversation are not confidential at all, I wonder if they would stop it.

Answer 5

I never, ever had a problem with cell phones until this ringtone craze began. I absolutely hate it. I have no problem with a guy walking around carrying on a cellular conversation, hell, I do it all the time. The ringtones are what absolutely kill me. They are sooo loud and most of them are just completely obnoxious. I dont mean to sound like an old tightass, I'm only 22 for Gods Sake, but I just despise loud ringtones. At work they are especially annoying. In my office, I spend a great deal of time on the phone and everyday, this dudes phone goes off charts. He has his ringtone set to "Crazy B*tch" by Buckcherry. Note only do I hate c*ck rock, but how do you think it looks when people on the other end hear "BAMP! YOURE A CRAZY B*TCH, BUT YOU F*** SO GOOD I'M TOP OF IT!!"? Its a trifecta of bullsh**.
1. I hate that dude, we'll call him Ralph.
2. I hate loud obnoxious ringtones.
3. I hate Buckcherry

Its almost as if I'm being surrounded by death and damnation. Up until these past few weeks I've never actually contemplated suicide, now it doesnt seem like a bad idea. What an a**hole.

-J.

Answer 6

Yes I am bothered by some use of cell phones in public.

When people are driving like they are drunk because they are talking on a telephone. Or the person that is rude and just HAS to answer his phone when he/she is in the middle of doing something. And the generally loud person with whom truly does not need a cell phone because you could hear him from hundreds of miles away with out it.

Answer 7

It's hard to avoid cell phones in public. I am only bothered by them when it comes to the point where it is disrupting and preventing EVERYONE around you to carry on a conversation with others or if it is an interference to the public in their tasks or responsibilities.

Answer 8

It depends on how 'extreme' a person takes it. The other day at lunch, I saw a guy that had 2 cell phones on his belt, 1 in his ear, and a pager. And he didn't look like an ER doctor. Sorry, but that's over the top.

Answer 9

i hate when people are paying for something and they are on the phone. they struggle with their wallet, can't put in their pin number, then hang out IN THE PAY SPOT after they are done! Then when they finally do get off the phone, they complain because something was on sale but didn't show up as on sale on the receipt.....

that bothers me...it happened this week.

they should have a sign that says if you are on the phone you won't be helped.

Answer 10

yes
people are so alienated from each other it makes me sick.
But also, when I'm in line at the grocery store and the person at the checkout counter is on her phone ranting on about how her boyfriend slept with another dude but still loves her... I dont want to hear it. Just pay attention to what you're doing PUT DOWN THE PHONE and get the hell out of my way.