Can you get off the @#%&!!& phone for 5 minutes????

[Angelhalo]

I will say that I am one of those people who do make phone calls on my way home from work. One main reason is, I can't have my phone on at work so I have to return calls while on my way home.

I also am on the phone constantly at work so when I get home I hate having the phone near my ear. My friends don't get it but I had always been that way. I do have the hands free bluetooth though.

I personally though don't care what people hear if I am in the store, however I try not to have real personal phone calls while shopping. However I rarely go to the mall so it might be in shoprite, but I try to be brief.

MY biggest pet peeve however is at the movies when someone has their phone ringing loudly and they answer it and have a full on conversation. THAT is worse than talking in line.

I'm with you so you're not alone. I talk in the car a fair amount. It is often the ONLY time I have available to return any calls. I've never been in an accident while on the phone. I don't lane drift, and both hands are on the wheel which is more than I can say for a lot of folks who aren't on the phone.

I don't have loud conversations in stores but I will call my husband from the grocery store if I have a question. Thats what the flippin' phone is for. LOL!

I'm honestly not bothered by people in general using their phones and frankly don't understand where all the hatred of it came from. As long as people aren't being rude, or being unsafe then I don't care when or where they are using their phones. I even have friends who use their's with me when I can tell they are in the bathroom and *gasp* I am not grossed out or offended, and I don't mind if I hear other's talking on them when I'm in the bathroom. I never use mine in there, but it sure doesn't bother me when others do. I go to the restroom to relieve myself not for some sort of silent sanctuary. If they don't care that I am overhearing their call then why should it bother me? It's not as if I am sitting there intently listening. I just do my business and move on.

Don't use them in the movies, don't use them when you're trying to conduct a transaction with someone, don't become so focused on the phone that you can't drive...other than that use your phone to your heart's content. Why the heck should it bother me?

I guess I just really don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[legalsea]

I believe that many of these people that incessantly use their cell phone while away from home (driving, shopping, etc) use them as an umbilical cord to stay attached to their family or friends (‘safe’ people) while out in public.

Hence the person who has a general fear of being out in public or away from their home (agoraphobia or such) can stay attached to the home-base or to a familiar, safe person. The phone literally serves as a life-line.

Or, the person who has an anxiety that they may have to interact with someone they don’t know can try to avoid that situation by staying on the telephone (“Look at me! I’m busy on the phone! No time to talk to you!”). Many people have social phobia.

I imagine that some still believe that having a cell phone is a form of social status. I bet that some of those people you see using the telephone are not actually talking to anyone.

I remember when, in order to have a mobile telephone in your car, you had to have an antennae installed on the roof or trunk of the car. I once saw, during that period, ‘phony mobile phone’ antennas that you would stick on your car to make people think you had a mobile phone.

 

[PeterPan09]

The saddest thing I have ever seen was at MK last year. There was a little girl, in full Princess regalia dancing to the music they play on Main Street in front of the Castle. Just happily reacting to the environment around her. Sadly, her mother missed the entire thing because she was OTP with someone back home-"Oh wow-well, the weather is good, yeah...we're having a good time. Did you talk to her yet? Oh and what did she say when you told her that?? You should have told her that she had some kind of nerve saying that to you. She thinks she's all that.."

Please...parents...put down the phone and watch your children at Disney. Someday that little Princess isn't going to be 4 anymore and you will have missed it in order to get the gossip from home.

 

[Lionqueen2]

Last week DH and I were in a restaurant and seated diagonally across the aisle from us was a group of four adults. One of the men in the group of four make a call on his cell phone and put it on speakerphone with the volume turned way up. People all around could hear the entire conversation between the group and whoever was on the other end of the speaker. The whole thing was so loud that DH and I had a hard time hearing each other and we were seated side by side in a circular booth. This group conversation went on for about ten minutes until the man in the booth behind them asked the group to shut down the speakerphone. The group seemed offended, but the rest of us were so grateful that we could now hear our own conversations.

 

[princesshannahsmom]

speaking for the other gender I am disgusted when the same occurs in the men's restroom. I've actually listed to guys walk in , "tap a kidney" , and walk out while carrying on a phone conversation the entire time. I feel sorry for the person on the other end of the call - did he think so little of him/her that he gave what he was doing during the call no thought.

My boss does this to me. It is disgusting and embarrassing! He will be talking to me while he is on a break from a meeting and blah, blah, blah and all of a sudden I hear that tell tale echo and sure enough, I hear his business happening and him still talking the WHOLE TIME. It drives me insane.

The other thing he does is take his dictaphone in there with him. Really? Are you freaking kidding me? You can't stop dictating long enough to take care of your personal business? I hate when I get to those sections on a dictation. I cringe each and every time.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I imagine that some still believe that having a cell phone is a form of social status. I bet that some of those people you see using the telephone are not actually talking to anyone.

Honestly, while the other situations you present - agoraphobia and social anxiety, along with one above (a poster's friend in an abusive marriage) are all existing possibilities), THIS - the social status 'explanation' - is the FAR more likely one in everyday life. It makes no sense, of course, what with practically the whole world except one poster in this thread who made a conscious decision to divest herself of the phone having them - heck, even I have a TracFone.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The group seemed offended, but the rest of us were so grateful that we could now hear our own conversations.

If I wasn't the one who asked the offenders to turn off the (speaker)phone, I'd have been the one to lead the applause! Good for him!

 

[PeterPan09]

My "favorite" are the conversations that are literally "ok, I'm walking out the door, pushing the cart now, heading to the car..." Really you are not that important.

The more I think about it..this is really the whole thing in a nutshell. These people who are providing a running commentary of every detail of their lives really do think that they are THAT important that someone must constantly be a witness to their amazing wonderfullness. That's also probably why they are so irritating to the rest of the world who could care less about them.

 

[WL Fan]

I've actually had to ask patients or their family members to get off their cell phones while I'm trying to triage them, in the ER. Sorry, but if you're well enough to be texting or talking on a cell while I'm trying to assess you, your chart most likely goes to the bottom of the pile when we're done. I don't wait nicely for people to get off of them, either. I ask once, and if it doesn't work, I ask the patient to finish their conversation in the waiting room, and bring the next patient in.

It's crazy.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I do not talk on the cell phone when with other people - I excuse myself. This includes when in a crowd or queue. To do otherwise is to be rude and inconsiderate (IMO)...

 

[MiniGirl]

I very seldom use my cell phone. Seriously. I'll go for a week or more without using it. However, yesterday, I was one of those people in the grocery store. I have been trying to get a surgery scheduled for over 5 weeks, and the scheduler finally called. There was no way I was going to ask her to call back or ask if I could call her back. I did however, find as quiet a spot as I could to conduct my business. I'm also sure that at times it sounded like a casual conversation.

I wonder if I had anyone rolling their eyes at me. LOL!!!

FTR, I do understand what you're saying, and am still amazed at how many people have this need to ALWAYS be in touch.

 

[agnes!]

I think one of the saddest things I see is when moms & dads are out walking with their kids and maybe even have their dog along...and mom & dad are constantly on the phone... kind of like that poster who mentioned the mom she saw after our recent snowstorms who was out with her kids, they were trailing behind, slipping on the ice and mom was forging ahead, chattering away on her oh-so-precious cell-phone.

It's so sad, their children's childhood will be gone in a blur of mostly-meaningless conversations. It will be a real-life epidemic of Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle".

agnes!

 

[MushyMushy]

This is totally my husband! We were walking through the grocery store the other day and through the first half of the store, he talked on the phone to his company, then through the second half of the store he conducted an interview. I wanted to sink into the floor! People were giving him dirty looks.

Personally, I hate talking on the phone. A big part of my job is making a lot of phone calls, but I let it go to voice mail when I'm out and about. I can always use the excuse that the calls are confidential -- which they are, but that's not why I don't want to walk around a grocery store talking.

I'm not without my faults though. You can usually see me texting away at any given time, or checking my Facebook messages -- not that I'm "so important," but rather I'm "so addicted." My friend had to tell me to put my phone away the other day... but I had to laugh because one of the texts I got was from HER daughter asking me to tell my friend to answer her phone. All the kids know that I'm always reachable.

 

[PlutosFriend]

Well, at least your DH calls, mine would say the heck with it and buy Dorito's instead

I hate the bluetooth contraptions even more. Yes, I have one for my car but it stays in my car. I will stay in my car to finish that conversation. I run into a lot of people that appear to be talking to you only to have them point at their head and give you a dirty look should you have the gall to answer them .

Some people are just so rude! This all irritates me too! I give dirty looks to the cell phone abusers who are blocking the aisles, talking WAY to loud, driving like SH**, etc. Soooo annoying!

 

[NotUrsula]

I've had patients talking on their cell phones while I'm trying to examine them. And I'm not talking about conversations like, "I was in a horrible accident and I'm at the hospital". No, never that. It's the "what-cha doing tonight? Word?" convo's I'm talking about. I just walk out and try back later. It's ridiculous.

See, in this situation I'd be telling them to put the phone down, and if they didn't, I'd take it and tell the person on the other end that the patient cannot talk right now.

Maybe you could use a tongue depressor to good effect?

Seriously, the hospitals around here don't often have to worry about this, because there is no signal inside most of the buildings. The imaging equipment seems to cancel it.

 

[AprilShowers]

OP, I agree with all that you said. But I have a confession to make..... A few weeks ago, I was the person giving someone on the phone a play-by-play.
I know, I know but it was my DD who was being VERY impatient about how long I was taking to get home.
My end of the conversation went something like this: "I'm leaving the grocery store right now, I know I said I would be home soon, but I'm putting the groceries into the car, yep....I'm GETTING IN THE CAR NOW!!! I'm going as fast as I can!!!"
People were probably irritated with me and thought I was an idiot. Sorry everyone!!

 

[TimeforMe]

I've actually had to ask patients or their family members to get off their cell phones while I'm trying to triage them, in the ER. Sorry, but if you're well enough to be texting or talking on a cell while I'm trying to assess you, your chart most likely goes to the bottom of the pile when we're done. I don't wait nicely for people to get off of them, either. I ask once, and if it doesn't work, I ask the patient to finish their conversation in the waiting room, and bring the next patient in.

It's crazy.

Wow--that IS crazy. I work in a school office and so many times parents will come in while talking on the phone to pick up their child. They'll say "hold on a minute" and look at us and say "I'm here to pick up Johnny Jones" and then turn around and resume their conversation. I now don't call for Johnny until mom/dad are ready to address me properly--not like a servant. If you can't go without the phone for the time it takes to pick up your child and address the person helping you, then tough for you. Ridiculous.

 

[C.Ann]

There really must be something wrong with me because I totally don't get this obsession with having to have a phone in your ear at all times In fact, it really bugs the heck out of me. Tonight I was at the bank at the teller window and a woman comes up next to me after just making a call and is trying to conduct her bank business.The poor teller had to wait until she could speak every couple of seconds to be able to help her. It's so rude to me. What on earth could be that important (I could tell that it was an inconsequential conversation) that it couldn't wait five minutes until she was done with her banking???? I really don't get it. The other night I was in a Hallmark store and this woman was having a very animated conversation with a friend she obviously hadn't spoken to in quite awhile. She kept somehow standing in front of the cards I wanted to look at all the while laughing, gesturing, talking loudly. PLEASE--I mean REALLY--must you have this conversation in PUBLIC????? Why do people do this?

To answer the part of your post that I bolded, "Because they can.."

Not only is it rude, but I'll bet that 99% of the time it is not an important or necessary call - contrary to what all of these folks would say if you called them out on it..

It's a sign of the times though - and is only going to get worse - so there's not much you can do about it - except "vent"..

 

[smidgy]

That wasn't even what I am talking about. It's when someone's in a conversation with someone at the table, not even attempting to decide what they want. Then they decide in 2 seconds after glancing at the menu and get mad at me when I don't immediately address them after they've spent 10 minutes ignoring me, the menu or both.

Sometimes I want to punch the customers. And it's usually these people I want to punch who leave terrible tips which makes me want to punch twice... and I'm not a violet person at all. It's a really good thing for school so I can get out of this business.

playing devil's advocate here, I have absolutely no problem with someone ignoring the menu while they speak with their dinner companion.l as I previously stated, it is a restaurant, not a fast food joint. as far as I'm concerned, my customers can relax and chat as long as they choose. I have regular cutomers who I know will not even look at the menu until they are served their second drink. and some want a cup of coffee or two after dinner, and then decide if they want dessert or not.
I will never rush my customers in order to "turn tables".
I was talking about the original topic, which was rude cutomers on their cell phones. those who want to order, then talk on therr phone instead. and expect you to wait. or to come back to the table pronto, as soon as they are off their all-important phone.

ps, I'm glad you are in school and getting out of this business. I enjoy serving my customers.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

playing devil's advocate here, I have absolutely no problem with someone ignoring the menu while they speak with their dinner companion.l as I previously stated, it is a restaurant, not a fast food joint. as far as I'm concerned, my customers can relax and chat as long as they choose. I have regular cutomers who I know will not even look at the menu until they are served their second drink. and some want a cup of coffee or two after dinner, and then decide if they want dessert or not.
I will never rush my customers in order to "turn tables".
I was talking about the original topic, which was rude cutomers on their cell phones. those who want to order, then talk on therr phone instead. and expect you to wait. or to come back to the table pronto, as soon as they are off their all-important phone.

ps, I'm glad you are in school and getting out of this business. I enjoy serving my customers.

Please don't misunderstand me. The full statement was "It's when someone's in a conversation with someone at the table, not even attempting to decide what they want. Then they decide in 2 seconds after glancing at the menu and get mad at me when I don't immediately address them after they've spent 10 minutes ignoring me, the menu or both." I don't mind when people take a while but don't get mad at me when I'm not there the SECOND you've decided.

I'm not all about turning tables over but 99% of the time, I have more than one table and therefore cannot FULLY concentrate on just that one table. Some people simply don't understand it.

I enjoy serving customers but there are just too many jerks out there and it's not worth a) the lack of money b) the way some people think of themselves as superiors given they believe that working in a restaurant automatically means I am uneducated and stupid.