Comments on: Survey Reveals Regional Mobile Phone Etiquette

One of my biggest cell phone annoyances at work is the large number of people with annoying ringers (e.g., rooster cackle) that leave their phone on at their desk while they are elsewhere.

Another major annoyance is when people at the head of a long line in a store, coffeeshop, etc. further slow things down by continuing a phone conversation while the person serving them is trying to ask them necessary questions.

The most extreme case of cell misuse that I ever witnessed was a woman in a coffeeshop whose first transgression was holding up the line as mentioned above. She then proceeded out the door with her coffee. She got in her illegally parked car, put her coffee cup on the dash, put the cell phone between her head and her shoulder (still talking), lit a cigarette (still talking), grabbed the steering wheel with the hand holding the cigarette (still talking), picked up her coffee cup with the other hand (still talking), and pulled out into traffic without signalling (still talking).

I suppose it's a regional thing, but usually in a restaurant/library etc, when someone's phone rings, they wrap a coat around it, sit on it, wrap their hands over the speaker etc etc in a futile attempt to mute it. They then look all sheepish and are blushing and embarressed but after the phone has finished ringing, they place it back on the table, ready to ring again. I don't think that the average cell phone user is aware of silent/vibrate modes or that you can hit a button to mute a ringing call.

Of course, everyone and their brother seems to have a Nextel down here...the new trend seems to be teenage girls who have a Nextel and are on their parents' rate plan and they yak with their friends while sitting at the mall's food court about all manner of gossip and lewd sexual behavior...ugh!

Anyone who has worked in an office knows about the problems of speakerphone abuse. Cell phone abuse is an extension of this to everywhere that a cell phone works.

As far as the ringer, I always turn mine off in theatres, libraries, and other place where it would be out of place. When the ringer is on, I use "Old Phone"... it fits right into most environments where I have it turned on, and is amusing rather than annoying. Most people will **** their head to one side, then laugh when they realize what it is. I leave it on in church because NO ONE would dare call me during those hours! Not on purpose, it's just that I usually forget about it, and the few people who do have the number know better than to call at certain times.

Personally, I only use vibrate AND I talk EVERYWHERE public conversation is acceptable. Grocery store, bank, sidewalk, coffee shop, night club, restaurant... If the fact that you can't hear the other side of the conversation bothers you, too bad. And don't bother me when I'm on the phone, just because you can't see the other person or my phone doesn't mean that I'm interested in talking to YOU. Trust me, if you were talking all alone on the sidewalk I won't come near you, so leave me to my conversation.

Hippocrates, good one. Funny guy. Seriously, that was funny.

No, really.

-Bosco
NX80v + Wifi + BT + T616

Oh come on. The only good thing about getting old is that it allows you to abuse the young! What's the purpose of old age if you can't become spiteful? Ha!

Besides, alec (I can see him gritting his teeth -- hey, kid, those will be dentures some day! My God! Mrs. Brady wears dentures?!!?) knows I'm just winding him up. He has to keep sharp for the next ska invasion.