Cell Phone Indiscretions

Cell Phone Indiscretions:  Do You Respect Others?

There is a certain type of etiquette I expect from those using a cell phone. The main idea here is when you are talking on your cell phone, look around to make certain you aren’t bothering anyone else.  That would take care of it all right there.  The only issue with that is many really don’t believe they are offending anyone else.  They don’t realize how they are being rude.

There is no reason to talk on your phone while you are in close proximity to someone else, unless you are on a conference call.   This applies to being out in public or in the privacy of your own home.  For example, if you are seated in a restaurant or standing in the checkout lane there is not a reason to have a conversation on your phone. It is just plain rude.  If you recognize the number to be that of the school your child attends,  or your aging parents who never call,  you do have the option of calling them back once you are outside of the establishment or inside your car. A couple of minutes isn’t going to matter to the person who called.  That is the reason for the answering system on your phone. 

Speaking of talking on the phone in your car, it is acceptable as long as no one else is in the car with you.  My husband thinks this is ridiculous.  He doesn’t see a problem with this.  My problem is he is a loud talker.  Well, he is a loud cell phone talker,  when talking with anyone other than me.  When he leaves a message for me, he whispers.  It’s almost as if he doesn’t want anyone to hear him.  Interesting since the message he usually leaves is “Call me back.”  Any other time look out.  He really cranks up the volume when talking with his hearing impaired mom.  Couldn’t it wait?

 It is amazing how many people don’t find cell phone curtesy to apply to them.  Cell phone rudeness knows no boundaries.  I’ve witnessed cell phone indiscretions in both young and old, male and female from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.  As a matter of fact an incident occurred over the weekend that I feel I must share.  Are you sitting down?  

I was sitting down in a restaurant in the lovely city of Nashville.  Nashville, Indiana.  My family and I drove to Nashville for a little shopping.  We stopped for lunch.  Right before leaving the restaurant I stopped off at the restroom.  The restroom had 2 stalls and 2 sinks, not a large area.   Upon walking in, there was a middle-aged woman on her cell phone.  She proceeded to walk into one of the stalls while she was on the phone.  No, really!

I couldn’t help but overhear part of her conversation.  She was talking with her son.  Seriously??  Yes, she was using the restroom while carrying on a casual conversation with her son.  It wasn’t even my son and I was embarrassed.  The poor kid.  I finished up and almost decided not to flush right as I heard her “finish up.”  At that point I thought , “To heck with it all,” and flushed.  So, I flushed, she flushed and then we both washed our hands.  She was still on her phone.  Yuck!!  When I left the bathroom the shock and horror left me completely incapacitated. 

As my husband has recently stated, “Nothing surprises me anymore.” Is it just me or does this bother you too?