Cell phone calls in public places. Where do YOU draw the line?

Question

It seems like you can't go anywhere without someone walking aimlessly about with a cell phone in his/her hand. S/he drives with a conversation going on the phone. Dates interrupted by calls that could truly wait. I've seen nurses being asked to "hold on a sec" and overheard conversations that I really shouldn't hear, and were wayyy too much information for me! Other countries find this offensive, we are unique in this way. Do you think cell phones in public are appropriate? Where would you draw the line?

Answer 1

I too am fed up with the inconsiderate actions of people abusing the technology. Where I do and have drawn the line is in the restaurants. I been in sections away from the crowd with a date so I can talk with her, only to some jerk plop in the adjoining booth and start yakking away. On more than just a few occasions I have turned around and asked them to quieten down. Their responses have been everything from ignoring me to wanting to fight.
Simply incredible. They have to post signs in movie theatres, courtrooms and hospitals reminding people to turn the phones off.

Answer 2

I think the 'hey, I am going to be ten minutes late, talk soon' sort of calls are OK... after all, that is what a mobile phone is really for.

Holding personal conversations (and why do people feel the need to talk so loudly, and look so offended when you look) in public places, especially when it breaks your communication with another person for a long time, is really rude...

I was having dinner in a restaurant with my b/f a while ago, and there was a young lady there, clearly arguing with her partner (doing the whole shouting, crying thing too) at her table, with all her friends sitting round watching her. It was embarrassing for us, her friends, the waiters...

phones should be used, not abused in public

Answer 3

I don't have a problem really with the walking down the street cell phone conversations because that's pretty much like two people having a conversation actually walking down the street.
Talking on your phone in a loo is just weird.
Talking on the phone in the movies is just plain inconsiderate.
PEOPLE WHO CHANGE THEIR RINGTONES AND GO THROUGH ALL THE OPTIONS LISTENING TO ALL THE RINGTONES REALLY FREAK ME OUT! (Sorry, had to vent on that one) WHY do that in a public place? It's soooo annoying!
The worst, I think, is when people do it in hospitals because it can mess with the electronics of the equipment. Someone could die because you couldn't shut up.
And on planes. I've repeatedly had to ask people to turn their phones off on a plane because that really messes with the electronics. I was once sitting next to a man who during take off was discussing with his wife what they were going to have for dinner when he got home!!! WHY???
Anyway, that's my venting session.
And thanks for the good question.

Answer 4

I don't think many cell phone users have cell phone etiquette. Most conversations can wait and should. Just because you are in public and bored doesn't mean you just start calling everyone you know. Keep that at the house.

Answer 5

How would you like to be riding on a bus and 6 people if your lucky are jockeying for a position to see who can be the loudest and none of them are having an intelligent conversation worth a damn,and the new ones that get on the bus are still talking while they are paying their fare at a volume level the same as when they were at the bus stop,figure that one?

Answer 6

I draw the line when i am on a date with a person, and that person's cell phone rings all day long!

Answer 7

I don't use my cell phone when I am dealing with someone face to face or when I know I am about to, PERIOD.

Answer 8

cell phones cause brain tumors