Why do people think talking on your cellphone in a restauraunt or in stores rude?

Question

It's just like having someone there with you and you were talking to them!

Answer 1

I don't think talking on your phone in a store or a restaurant is rude, if you are by yourself, you are not talking loudly, and are polite to the waitstaff. I am a server and I find nothing ruder than approaching a table and being dismissively waved away because someone is on their phone. Those are also the same people who expect you back at their table within one split second of hanging up. If you are out with other people you should NEVER talk on your phone. It is the epitome of rudeness as your are ignoring whomever you are with. I had a table the other day and it was a couple, and the guy was on his phone for the entire meal while the girl just sat there. It made him look like a jerk, and her a pushover. Why not just stay home if you arent going to socialize?

Answer 2

It would be fine to chat on your phone in a public place if 1. You weren't with someone else and 2. You weren't being waiting on, checked out or receiving assistance of any kind. It is the most annoying and rude thing to me when people feel the need to chat away on their cell phone at the dinner table when they're with others or when they feel the need to chat while they're checking out at the grocery store etc. It's rude and I don't know what people are thinking. Pretty much if you feel the need to talk and carry on a phone conversation you're telling the person you're with or the person who is helping you at the store that they aren't worth your time. It really just shouldn't be tolerated.

Answer 3

Because it IS rude... It's nothing like having that person there with you.

I'm no miss manners or anything but I have a major problem with people talking on their cell phones when they should be paying attention to what's going on around them.

The people around you did not ask to hear about your cat's hairball or whatever the topic dejour is... Take it outside or to a private space where others aren't forced to listen to your coversations about what a ho-bag so-and-so is... It's just common courtesy and sense!

If you MUST talk on your cell phone in a public place- make it brief and return the call later if need be.

Answering/talking on your cell in a restaurant is just plain bad manners... Something you should know better than to do... It sends a message that the person you are with means less to you than some phone call which could probably wait!

In public we edit ourselves very carefully but for many cell phone users that courtesy goes right out the window... I used to work as management in retail and would refuse to help anyone on their cell phone if they came to the register or asked for assistance unless the call was related to what they were looking for...

I don't need to hear about the mundane details of your daily happenings and I wouldn't make you listen to mine so why must I be subjected to it nonetheless? You wouldn't devluge the details of your day had you just been standing infront of me or having a random conversation with me would you?

Answer 4

Talking in a public place on a cell phone is rude. Your phone conversation, although important to you, is not to the other guests in the restaurant or to the other shoppers.

It is not just like having someone there with you. If it was, they would be there with you in person.

If you have something important to say, step out of the restaurant or store, and have your conversation, then step back in.

I find it incredibly annoying and rude to have some talking away on the phone and disrupting my dinner or my shopping time.

Keep your cell phone turned off in public places, unless, you are waiting for the hospital to call or something like that (an emergency).

Answer 5

Talking on the phone at a table in
ANY restaurant is unacceptable.
That person is going against the natural flow of things.
For instance, a waitress is hindered from doing her job
because she cannot take care of you
yet you are taking up her table so she is ultimately losing money, which means you are getting on her bad side
and you are only setting yourself up for low-quality service.
Also, if anyone else is sitting with you at the table,
they either:
A. sit in silence
B. talk quielty with someone else but is annoyed because
they feel they are competing for attention against you.
So your best bet is to take all calls
either in the front lobby or outside.
If you are wandering about in a store by yourself,
then it is okay to talk on the phone.
After all, you're only trying to keep yourself company!
But once you get to the counter to purchase something
or if you approach a sales person for help,
then it is best to tell the person on the phone
you will call them back at a more convenient time.
And as a rule of thumb,
anytime you're with someone else,
it is best to save all cals for later.
If someone calls you while hanging out
with family, friend, or co-worker,
exlain that unless it's an emergency
and they NEED to talk to you real quick,
you will have to call them back later.
The point is this:
When you try to talk to two people at the same time,
no matter where you are or what you do,
it is confusing and frustrating for the other person.

Answer 6

No it's not. People sitting around a table all take part in a conversation. A person on the phone talks only to the person on the other end of the line. Everyone else at the table feels they have to be quiet for the phone conversation.

Answer 7

It is rude, people talk very loudly on cell phones and at times hold the other people up from doing their jobs because they have to wait for you to finish your call. No one really wants to hear your personnel business, if they did they'd ask you to put it on speaker phone. It's not the same as having someone there talking to you unless you have a hearing problem and your talking loudly for the whole earth to hear.

Answer 8

Because it is rude. It's annoying to other people who go to a restaurant to eat, and in a store because it's annoying to the clerk and the other customers. It is NOT like talking to someone who's there with you because the other people can't join in the conversation you're having with your cellphone.

Answer 9

I think it depends on the situation and who you are with. Having someone in the group talking on their cell phone I feel is comparable to leaning over and whispering secrets in someones ear.
If this isn't someone with you. It shouldn't be a big deal. Every body looks like they are talking to themselves nowadays. With the ear pieces.
Places you wouldn't normally speak very much. Churches, funerals,concerts, etc. I believe it's a big no-no.

Answer 10

Its rude to talk on the phone especially if you invite the other person out. You are out with someone because you want to enjoy their company, so to sit on the phone while you are with them is extremely rude.