It really gets on my nerves when people put down cell phone users. I know not all are curteous, but when people go on and on and on about how horrible they are, how they need to just get rid of them, etc. and make it sound like they're sooo superior b/c they don't use one, it annoys me. Or when they go on about how people should stop talking on their cell in the store. Sheesh - do they also resent someone having a conversation w/ someone else right in front of them? There's not much difference btw that and them talking on a cell phone. Let's just all walk around silently. I've never understood the need to talk bad about people who obviously like their cells. I love mine. I like being able to talk to whomever I want when I want, to my kids, to know when they're sick and I have to get them, to take pictures whenever I'm out w/o toting a camera, to text, to check my email, etc.

Ok, rant over.

__________________
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

I'm the opposite - I get annoyed at people who are so proud of having given up their landlines. I wouldn't mind it so much if they were 'in the book'. My kids will want to ask someone to come over to play, to go to the pool, to whatever... and we'll have no way to get hold of them. They talk about how convenient life is for them, and it's all well and good until I need to get hold of them and can't unless they gave me their number.

I don't always have mine with me, so I can't just get their number while we're standing around at the pool and put it in my own phone.

I don't mind people having them or liking them or using them. I just know that there are some kids we haven't been able to invite to impromptu parties and such because it was their only means of communication and we didn't know their numbers...

I agree w/ you about that, but then I think since I have kids, I have to have a land line. I need to know that they can get me no matter what. And plus, only oldest has a cell.

__________________
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

Ya know, I hadn't even thought about what would happen if, say... the child of a cell-only family had an accident at someplace like the pool. They'd waste valuable time trying to locate where the family lived and drive to their home because they couldn't just look them up and make a phone call.

I usually have my calls forwarded from my landline to my cell if I'm going to be out and think the kids or the adults who are in charge of them (teachers, etc.) might need to reach me.

I just have a Tracfone and really don't use my cell all that much. DS is in HS and he has a pay-per-day plan that gives him unlimited texting. He never, ever, ever talks on it! lol

DD is in MS and she has a Trac. She doesn't keep it turned on so it's of no use for me to call her, but she uses it to call *me* when she needs picked up from somewhere. She's a very atypical 13yo in that she just doesn't seem to feel any great need to have a cool phone or to use it 24/7. Go figure!

I have no problems with people using their phone whenever.....EXCEPT for when they are rude to people about it. And by that, I mean, I have been in line with people in front of me in the grocery store or at Target, in a restaurant, etc. who are on their phone just chatting away, never say a word..not hello, not good bye, not thank you, not anything....and just keep on yakking away on the phone like the clerk/cashier is a robot or piece of furniture. That to me is the epitome of rudeness.

__________________
"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

I personally thing usage of cell phones as gotten way out of hand, for me personally I of course carry mine all the time however if it rings I and I am in a public place I will only answer if , if its my kids my dh or my parents anyone else can wait. I do find it extremely rude also when someone is in a public place and talking so loudly and going on and on . I guess I look at it like this it would me like if these people were in my home and listening to me talk on my phone its just rude, however in these times I am grateful that I can reach or be there for my family members, but not to abuse it in all way peace catherine

__________________
in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

Somehow most on cell phones can't stop talking at appropriate times, they can't do a register transaction, much less safely drive. I do speak generally, however, it has affected me. (and I do have a cell phone)

When two people are having a conversation in person, the other person recognizes what is going on and usually stops (while a register transaction is going on) or (sees something in traffic and alerts the driver) The cell conversation is typically louder than when people are face to face, as well. There is a difference.

Churches should not have to have large signs upon entry stating "cell phone etiquette" nor should physician's offices have to have signs reminding you to shut them off.

Just think how much productivity is lost at work because now everyone thinks they are entitled to talk whenever they want since the phone is on their hip. I can't stand it when I am ignored as the custoer while the employee is chatting away on their cell phone. But say something, be it me or the supervisor and the employee gets indignant!

I also think we are going way too fast in life if we have to have it for everything under the sun. I don't buy the being busy. No one is any busier than anyone else. In fact, a lot of people I know are just busy being busy. It's become a status thing just to say it and try to live it.

dl

What I do think is absolutely crazy here in California now is this; As of July 1st it is illegal to use your cell phone while driving unless you are using it hands-free (not saying that is a bad thing at all--I agree with it) BUT is is NOT illegal to text while driving. Of the two I personally believe it is much more dangerous to text while driving than talk on the phone because you can talk without taking your eyes off the road---not so with texting. And, out here in CA at least, look in every 4th car and you will see someone (usually a younger person) texting while driving. Crazy!

__________________
"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

Wow, jenief, that IS the most stupid law ever! Can't remember what channel I saw it on, but about a year ago I saw a special about a teen that was a compulsive texter (hard to believe there is such a thing, sigh). The camera crew followed her around as she did this while she drove. It was very scarry to think that these people are on our roads. She had several close calls and they even hooked her up to one of those 'driving machines' to show her how horribly she drives while texting (of course she crashed in the simulator). They proved that she had been very very lucky and yet she still wouldn't stop texting and driving. Her mother was the one that signed her up for the special as she was literally in tears because her daughter wouldn't quit driving and texting (um, take her keys away or to the morgue for a visit?). It was a real eye-opener for sure. I believe what you say about it being such a problem in California, as apparently all of this girl's friends drove around while texting also. I'm sure it's a problem pretty much everywhere nowadays as it seems all teens love to text. Where is the common sense in our young people these days! For that matter, where is the common sense in the government that passed that law?! I'm sure other states will follow with the same laws. Lets hope they include texting. Geez, a no-brainer.

I have nothing against people who use their cell phones in public but I think it would be more polite if they kept their use of their cell phone in public limited.Using it only for important issues or emergencies.If the person who calls you on the cell phone doesn't need anything and just wants to shoot the breeze ,say your busy and that you will call back when you get home or other not so public place.

__________________
May you be blessed

We were in Celebration, Fl at the Columbia restaurant this Spring. A man and woman were at a nearby table. She talked on the phone for at least 2 hours while the guy ate dinner by himself. Eventually, she got up and left and he just sat there. I hope it was a first date so he didn't waste any more time on her.

__________________
Lyn Clarke

I agree. I think that rather than mindlessly taking all calls, we need to practice the same sort of etiquette that we use in our homes when the landline phone rings and we have company. We tell the caller on the other end, "I have company, I'll call you back" sort of thing (and then write yourself a note to return the call!!!).

I'd do the same thing in the line at a cashier. I'd not pick up if I was approaching the cashier (unless kids/DH) and then I'd hold back from getting in line. If I was already in a conversation, I'd say, "if we need to talk some more, I can call you back in a few minutes". All of this can be done before getting in line!!!

It's courtesy and respect for those that we are face-to-face with that seems to be missing. As jeanief said so well, the cashier is not a robot or a piece of furniture.

I use Tracfone as well so it is well known amongst my friends and family that my cell phone is for emergencies only.

I go crazy when I see people at the store with the blue tooth things in their ears. It seems that since our driving law went into effect in July that EVERYONE has one glued to their ear.

Why??

Is a bluetooth a permanent attachment to the ear? Is it surgically implanted?

I can see wearing it in the car, since the new law. But do you really need to be walking around with it in your ear EVERYWHERE??

You can, I believe, use a cell phone the "normal" way, even when you do have a bluetooth. Correct?

So why not remove it when you are at the grocery store, fair, or school functions?

As snarky as it sounds, my family counts people with the bluetooths in their ears as a source of amusement. Yes, I just admitted that.

My family, a family of 3, uses a total of "1" pay-as-you-go cell phone. Yep - 1 phone for the 3 of us.

I have the cell phone 98% of the time. DH has it around 2% - maybe. We had 2 at one time, but DH couldn't get used to carrying his own phone. So we got rid of it.

When my son is a "teen" (as he says), he will get his own pay-as-you-go phone. And will be responsible for how it is used.

And I won't even begin to rant about people who talk loudly on their cell phone about private matters - so loud you can hear them 3 aisles over at the store.

__________________
"Yesterday my life was duller, now everything's technicolor!"

Thank you Jaded. I am an avid cell user and a lot of it is for my job. I have a job where I have to contact clients. If they call me I have to take the call. Otherwise it could end up being a situation where I have done everything in my power to locate someone and they call when I am unable to take the call well then I lose that case.

Also as I said in the other thread it really is curious that people are not annoyed by hearing two sides of a conversation i.e. listening on a conversation in a restaurant or other place but they are so annoyed by hearing only one side of a conversation that they constantly put down cell users.

I put my cell number down as the number to contact me by. I drive around the county for work and am often not home during the day.

I love my cell phone and the only way I am ever going to stop talking on it is when you pry it out of my dead cold hands.

__________________
"Parents without the internet should have their children taken away"Peggy Hill
"Well, sometimes when something is funny to everybody, it's really not funny at all." Peggy Hill
"I am a beautiful woman. Hey what are you lookng at? I said beautiful not skinny. I'm not delusional you know" annadrose

Why Dolly? Why is it okay to walk along with my neighbor, Mother, sister, friend, husband and have a conversation with them but it's not all right to talk to someone on the phone. If I am not yelling or swearing what is the difference? I may be stupid or thick but I don't get the difference.

__________________
"Parents without the internet should have their children taken away"Peggy Hill
"Well, sometimes when something is funny to everybody, it's really not funny at all." Peggy Hill
"I am a beautiful woman. Hey what are you lookng at? I said beautiful not skinny. I'm not delusional you know" annadrose

I think part of the difference is that so many people treat their public cell phone conversations as though they were private at-home, in-the-car, etc conversations. I work retail and have heard some pretty amazing/disgusting/inappropriate things being discussed as the person roams around the store or even stands right in front of me while chatting on their cell. Some people are truly oblivious to their surroundings and it just doesn't seem to occur to them that describing their sexual experience from last nights date in the middle of a clothing store might not be the best thing

The texting also really gets to me. I've had people hold up the line in the fitting room because they can't look up from their phone long enough to pay attention to what is going on around them - same thing while ringing them up at the cash register. And as far as driving and texting goes, there was a group of five girls killed 1/4 mile up the road from me when the driver of their suv drove head on into a tractor-trailer truck. There had been a text message sent from the driver's phone just seconds before she drove into the truck.

I love my cell phone and I don't expect people to never use them in public but it sure would be nice if more people paid closer attention to their surroundings and considered the appropriateness/safety of what they are doing.

They need to add no texting to part of the driving law, though it should be a common sense thing but apparently people dont get it. like all the silly warnings they have to print on products, dont eat the hemmoriod cream, dont drink the gas ......

__________________
Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:
http://bookcrossing.com

My other favorites
www.wheresgeorge.com
www.geocaching.com

My phone is with me whenever I leave the house. I have a school aged child with health problems. I'm not turning it off in the grocery store, dr's office (I put it on vibrate and keep it in my pocket, only answering it if it was the school), etc. Dh's phone will need to be surgically removed when he dies.

__________________
I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

I think it comes down to manners and respect.
It doesn't bother me a lick to see someone in the food court eating their lunch and quietly talking on a phone. Or walking through the store speaking on a phone quietly. But the same applies to a couple people sitting in the food court speaking quetly. It's when people have no manners and are oblivious to everyone and everything around them.
Two examples.
1. My SO and I are eating lunch at a local restaurant. Two women lunching together, each speaking loudly on phones, are asked politely by the hostess to please lower the volume of their voices and they would for a few minutes. Then go right back to speaking loudly. One gal barked "Hello" in answering so loudly that even her lunchmate was startled. Finally after about 10 min. of this, my SO, a take charge kind of guy, goes to sit with them.
He asks loudly if they are real estate agents and of course sensing a possible client they affirm that yes they are. He asked where their office is located and they handed him business cards. He then asked if he could come by in the morning and eat his breakfast at their desk.
They were dumbfounded. He assured them that he certainly would never do business with them because he would not want his transactions to be discussed in front of everyone in a restaurant. And that he felt sorry for their clients to have such clueless agents working for them. This was met with a round of applause by our fellow diners. The women left in a huff.

2. In a fine dining restautant for a dinner with friends. There is a table of 8 seated near the back we are near the middle. The big table was so loud that the 4 of us could not hear each other . The maitre'd repeatedly asks them to please lower their voices. One other table asked to be moved away and one got up and left. Management finally asked the large group to leave. And of course they couldn't understand what the problem was. Wake up folks this wasn't the local sports bar. And these people were not kids, they were in their 60's.

Unfortunately society in general has become very "me" oriented and less mannerly. I think there will always be those that don't see their actions the way others view them.

__________________

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

We were eating out one nite n a very nice restaurant and the lady behind us was on the on her cell telling someone the results of a operation someone had just recently had. this person she was talking to didnt understand what a colostomy was so she went into great details , on the cell, with others sitting around eating, about what it means to have a colostomy! sure made eating a little hard when she finally said" she now has to *&^% in a bag thats glued to her side"

__________________
·´`·.(*·.¸(`·.¸ ¸.·´)¸.·*).·´`·
«·´¨*·.¸¸. Jo ¸¸.·*¨`·»
«·´`·.(¸.·´(¸.·* *·.¸)`·.¸).·´`·»


Please leave feedback for me here.
http://www.mycoupons.com/boards/g-l/...-littlejo.html



gretchengirl@gmail.com

See, THIS is what I'm talking about. It's THEIR ear, so why do you care if they're using it or not?

__________________
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

I like being able to talk to whomever I want when I want,

THIS is why so many people put down cell phone users. It's because the rude, selfish ones talk when THEY want and don't care if it's discourteous to others to do so.