Do you think that I was rude?

Question

My son came for a visit and we went out to eat. His girlfriend kept calling him while we were out eating, she must have called at least 20 times. Very annoying and loud ring tone, vibrate did not work on his phone. Other customers in the restaurant started commenting. When the phone rang again, I grabbed it, answered and told her that we were trying to enjoy our visit and turned off the phone. The next day she called me and screamed at me that I had no right in answering or turning off "her" phone. Was I wrong? I dont think so, but what would you have done?

My son had repeatedly told her not to call that we were out having dinner, yet she kept calling

Answer 1

They both were extremely rude. I had a similar incident and after asking him to respect our time together and to turn off his phone and his refusal, I did turn it off. Cell phones make people so inconsiderate of others, I do have one, but I respect others and turn it on vibrate when I am around others and do not answer it unless it is work. I answer then say I will call them back if it is not urgent. If it is important, I do excuse myself from the people that I am with, walk off and take the call and end it as quickly as possible then I apologize for my rudeness. Next time he comes for a visit, ask him to leave his phone in the car, both while in your home or when you go out to eat

Answer 2

I think you were borderline rude - But I put more blame on your son. First, it is common courtesy to turn off your phone when you sit down to dinner. By letting it ring TWICE let alone TWENTY times - he majorly screwed the pooch on this one. I too would have been upset if someone in a restaurant I was in acted like this. Some people only get to eat out on rare occassions and when we do - we don't want rude cell phone users and screaming children to interrupt us. I think you were at your wits end when you did answer the phone - but as a mother you had every right to say what you did. Again, if your son could stand up to this obviously pushy woman and told her that he would have called her AFTER dinner, this whole thing would have been adverted. UGH>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Answer 3

You were not rude at all. This girlfriend was, for repeatedly calling, and your son was for not turning it off after the first or second time (or even turning it off before going to dinner). Unless he was on call for anything truly important -my dad was a doctor who sometimes was on backup duty and I also know a couple volunteer firefighters online, they of course can't turn off their phones- he should not have let it come to this. There is an 'off' button on these things, teach your son to use it so you don't have to!

I hope your son comes to his senses where his choice of girls is concerned... he doesn't need a possessive jealous b*tch like this.

Answer 4

In my opinion it was your son's place to ask his girlfriend to quit calling and turn off the phone. I do completely understand your frustration. Since your son did not stop his girlfriend's intrusion then you had the right to ask the girl to stop it. The only thing by you doing this now you have friction between the two of you. My question is what is your son saying to his girlfriend about you. He obviously wanted to be with you but not enough to stand up to his girl.

Answer 5

I would have told my son to turn off his own phone. Since he already asked her not to call while you were dining out, by continuing to answer the phone HE was disrespectful of you. Then when she called and screamed at you SHE was disrespectful of you. I would have called my son and told him that I would not tolerate being treated like that. I may not be able to teach his girlfriend manners. But, I could still teach my son the consequences of being disrespectful. If he's that pussy whipped by his girlfriend then maybe HE belongs in his parents doghouse.

Answer 6

Geez. What a ruthless ; disrespectful biitch. You did the right thing. I would have done the same exact thing, if it were me, in your shoes. My future daughter/son in law, better not pull those stunts on me like that, or they'll know they won't have a place in my daughter/son's intimidate family, we are not uncivilized pigs. I can't believe she had the nerve to call you back and yell at you, how old is she? She is acting like a five year old. I'd buy her a coloring book/ Barney video cassettes and tell her to entertain herself with that. In, fact, tell your son to talk to the biitch and make it clear that what she did was beyond disrespectful, and next time, you won't be so "nice."

Answer 7

If your son wanted to ignore it he would have. I'm not saying your wrong because I most likely would have did the same thing. However it was really his place to tell her.

How old is he? Did she buy him the phone since its "her" phone?
Does your son yell at her when she doesn't answer the phone?

Alot of reasons could be for her behavior. She may have caught him cheating before , or she could be pregnant, kind of sounds like a hormonal thing lol

Next time id ask your son to plz ask her to call back after bit. Or bring her with him so you can get to know her, and see why she behaves in this way. There are usually reasons why someone behaves in that manor. But like I said I would have did the same in that situation most likely.

Answer 8

You did fine. Maybe next time son will turn off his own phone when entering the restaurant? Like a theater, they are simply inappropriate in some places. And remember, cell phones are a CONVENIENCE... not a necessity! Treat them as such, like a tool and not a leash.

Answer 9

You were right it what you did, but wrong in how you did it. She also was wrong for calling constantly after your son told her not to, she was especially out of line for calling and yelling at you about turning off the phone. BUT, couldn't you have asked your son to turn off his phone? Or if he needs his phone for work purposes, turn the volume down and use the caller ID?

Answer 10

proper etiquette when entering a nice restaurant would have been to shut the phone off before entering and being seated.I It is never your place to decide who someone speaks to on their own cell phone or when. You and this girlfriend were both in the wrong and hopefully you both learned something from this experience. You were right to be annoyed.