Why do people insist on using their cell phones in public?

Question

Movie theaters, restaurants, grocery store check-out lines, you name it - some idiot will be there yammering away

I think that is absolutely rude and totally unacceptable behavior.
I never use mine when other people are around.

People got along just fine before cell phones were invented.

I hope more businesses continue to install cell phone jammers.

Yes mobile phones are mobile - but don't use them around other people. Nobody wants to hear your conversation!

Answer 1

Yes, I absolutely agree with you. It is not only rude and unacceptable, it is absolutely annoying and a total abuse of technology. I thought that I was the only one who hated this. I am so happy to read that you also feel the same. Another irritation is ring tone, can people not use the silence or vibrate mode when in public and ignore it when they are talking with someone in person? Man...I just cannot judge if technology is a bane or a boon to the society.
Wonderful question....keep it coming.

Answer 2

This is apparently a major pet-peeve of posters on yahoo, as this is the second one in as many days to be posted.

My philosophy is; if you are talking out loud in public, then I can listen. I do so, actively, like I am part of the conversation, commenting on everything they say. If someone else is with me, we will talk about what the cell phone user is saying. Surprisingly, many people SHUT UP!

Mobile phones are wonderful, they are there if you NEED to contact someone, or be contacted. However, there is a time and a place for their use. It is NOT in the market, theater, restaurants, stores, or any other place where other people are not only able to listen, but, may also be annoyed with the conversation.

What I can't understand is why they can't just say, Hey I am doing XYZ right now, can I call you back? or let it go to voice mail, then you can listen to what the other person wanted. But these conversations about absolutely nothing are the most annoying!!!

Manners have gone down the toilet. People are rude, loud and obnoxious. They all want it NOW, no need to being polite, courteous, or nice. You want to talk to your friend, to heck with everyone else, just pick up the phone and dial away, no matter where you are, or what you are doing. We are isolating ourselves more and more everyday.

Gone are the days when strangers spoke in the market, or in line at the bank. All those missed opportunities to meet new people, to explore the world outside your little universe. Its very sad, very sad indeed.

I agree and do hope more businesses install cell phone jammers, I for one would choose those establishments over others.

Answer 3

I see your point about movie theaters, check out lines, and other areas where the person would be disturbing someone by talking (theater), or where the person is demanding the attention of someone else, and then keeping them waiting (check out). However, I do think that while cell phones may, at most times, be just a convenience, there are other times when they are important, such as if you are having an emergency, or if someone else has had one and needs to contact you. For this reason, I don't think that cell phone jammers should be used. However, I think that strategically placed signs in areas where excessive chatting would be inappropriate may help keep rude chatter to a minimum.

Answer 4

I don't think it is the public thing that bothers me most. I don't really care and it doesn't really bother me to see people on their cell phones, it just depends where. I work at a grocery store and it does get annoying when you try to tell someone their total for their groceries and they are on their phone. Restaurants and grocery stores are also not good places to use cell phones. But like.....IN the grocery store wouldn't be bad, just in the lanes. I always just talk to them like they are not on their phone because there are usually other people waiting and I don't have time to wait for them to get off of their phone :)

Answer 5

I agree with you. Blessed are the days when I did not have a meal, vacation, late night relaxation interrupted by my husband's lousy clients that think he is on-call day and night. But noodle-lashings go to him (and those) that are so addicted to the phone, they HAVE to have it on all the time.

But I am queen phone jammer. I insisted that our last vacation would NOT be interrupted by in-laws or clients by shutting the phone off. Before he had this stupid phone, he would just have to wait until he got back to work before he found out about something. It still went smoothly.

edit: I realize that the phone is necessary for business, but for chrissakes, let him eat---he answers the phone because he is too afraid to piss off a client, but gosh, when he says, "let me call you back later" AT LEAST after the fifth time,they should relent and say :"okay, thank you"--GOSH---who is controlling in THAT case?

Answer 6

Yup I also think using one's cellphone in public is rude. It is quite pompous and arrogant to do so because it tends to attract attention, intended or not. Another thing is that yes, a phone is a status symbol but flaunting it in public invites people with um, incontrollable "hand skills" to eye you as a potential target to get um, "benefits" from.

Answer 7

I don't know. Most things are not that important that I have to be reached at the grocery store. I can understand them being used for emergencies..like the school calling a parent if a child is sick but talking it up socially in public is rude.

Answer 8

i take advantage of my cellular telephone for emergencies purely! not in any respect might want to stroll as a lot as a counter making use of one... I call in at the same time as i have were given a significant delay and a mandatory appointment, those who call in at the same time as the practice is 5 minutes late scare me... what kinda existence ought to they lead at the same time as the human beings at homestead are gazing the clock so heavily they understand to the very minute once you're coming homestead, makes me imagine of massive Brother, ok not on a authorities element yet one among those administration from relatives between themselves it is scary too. If human beings ought to honestly understand to the perfect 2d at the same time as yet another adult is coming homestead, if an adult won't be able to opt for for himself what cereal to purchase if the emblem on his shoppinglist is bought out without calling homestead, etc, etc... i might want to freak out if I were married and my husband might want to both attempt this or anticipate me to! fortuitously i do not ought to take care of human beings on the phone a lot, often it is basically stuff I be conscious round me -except my boss, who'll p.c.. it up and walk off contained in the midst of a communique. yet I do imagine it is rude, surely!

Answer 9

Wow, you guys are idiots. Frankly, I don't care if it annoys you. If I am in a grocery store or other public place and a friend calls me and we have something important to talk about, I'm gonna talk on my cell phone. If it bothers you so much, just ignore me.

There are some places where cell phone talking certainly isn't appropriate...places where you need to be able to hear everything clearly...like a theater. Talking in a theater is definitely rude. But in a grocery store or a restaurant? Sorry, but if it bothers you in either of those places, then it's mostly you being anal and control-freakish instead of the other person being rude.

Answer 10

That's kinda the point...
I will admit, it bothers me in some places: theaters, bathrooms..."private" public places. But other that that, it makes thing much more efficient if you can be on hold or discuss the sport stats with your buddy while sitting in line at the grocery store.

You need to relax. Learn to be tolerant of other people. If someone is not hurting you or otherwise inhibiting your ability to live, breath, shop, etc., there is no reason to be offended.

Its called a "public" place for a reason. If you don't like the public, shop online.