Inspired by the HD thread: Cell Phone Usage in Public Places

[OceanAnnie]

The Home Depot thread reminded me of a few times lately, where I've been shopping and came across people using cell phones.

1.) A man was shopping and having a conversation on speaker phone while he was browsing. He was loud. The speaker phone was loud. Everyone heard both sides of the conversation. It was ridiculous. I wanted to be like Violet from, Willy Wonka and tell him to, "Can it, you twit!". I heard all kinds of stuff I didn't want to. I wondered if the guy on the other end knew he was on speaker phone.

2.) The other incident was a young man, in a small shop carrying on a loud, long conversation with someone. I didn't want to hear about that either, but I wasn't going to cut my shopping short because of this guy. He was talking about all kinds of personal stuff. At one point my eyes met with another shoppers and we just kind of had that raised eyebrow moment. Nothing said, totally understood.

What is with people and cell phones? Do they forget they are around other people? The stuff people say!!! Have you had anything similar happen?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I once heard a woman in a department store fitting room having a very loud, very personal conversation while I was trying on clothes. It sounded like she was accusing a man of cheating on her. Her language was very colorful and she was really ticked off. I went back into the fitting room after about 15 minutes to try on more clothes and she was still at it! Didn't she consider that people might be listening?

I also don't get people who expect you to be quiet just because they're on their phone. My son and I were in a grocery store once and came up behind a woman who had her cart parked in an aisle while she was talking on her phone. We stopped in front of the crackers and I was asking my son what kind he wanted to take in his lunchbox. The woman gave me a dirty look like I was interrupting her call. I wasn't aware a grocery store was a phone booth. Am I really not allowed to speak in a regular tone just because she decided to take a phone call? Ugh!

 

[Poohbear123]

I had a customer get angry with me because I didn't answer her when she was saying "Hello" about 5 times, as she was on her Cell phone and I just thought she was talking ON it! When she said "Did you not hear me?" I said.."You talkin to me? I thought you were talking on YOUR cell phone, I usually don't answer ANYONE when they are on thier Cell Phone, cause I assume they cannot hear the "other person" on the line."

 

[Missy1961]

I'll never forget the first time I was in a public bathroom & someone was using their cellphone--I thought they were talking to me (we were both in a stall so we couldn't see each other)!

Now, it's just the rude people on the train. I understand that sometimes you have no other time to talk to someone, but that doesn't mean you should talk for the hour long train ride. And you really don't need to talk so loudly.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I just don't know how the people don't have a clue as to how loud they are or what they are saying for all to hear. The guy on the speaker phone passed by me, and I wanted to say, "I agree, Mike. Don't do it. It would be a bad move.". I bit my tongue, but I was laughing inside, at the thought of his shocked face.

 

[phillmolly]

Last year I was at my nephews spring recital and the woman next to me would not quit talking on her phone! She talked the whole time my nephew was on stage, but of course as soon as her kid came out, she told the person on the other end that she had to go! I was so irked! About a minute into her childs song my cell phone rang, I had it in vibrate in my pocket. I answered it and told my husband that I couldn't talk to him becasue I was at the recital and that I am not that rude.

 

[runwad]

I'll never forget the first time I was in a public bathroom & someone was using their cellphone--I thought they were talking to me (we were both in a stall so we couldn't see each other)!

.

hey this happened to me to at work. I would answer then they'd say something that didn't make sense and i'm like what? what?..finally the coworker said i'm on my cell i'm not talking to you...hhhahahaha

and you know how things echo and are loud in a restroom. geez what was i to think, who talks on their phone to someone when they're doing their business? I was shocked when I thought she was having a conversation with me. I was so embarrassed over that...but its pretty funny now thinking back on it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I just don't know how the people don't have a clue as to how loud they are or what they are saying for all to hear. The guy on the speaker phone passed by me, and I wanted to say, "I agree, Mike. Don't do it. It would be a bad move.". I bit my tongue, but I was laughing inside, at the thought of his shocked face.

I would have. I have, as a matter of fact. I'm normally relatively polite - but when I hear what seems to be a one-sided conversation and I'm the only other person in hearing range, I can only surmise that other person is talking TO ME. So, I respond - at as close to the same decibel level as possible

 

[bicker]

1.) A man was shopping and having a conversation on speaker phone while he was browsing. He was loud. The speaker phone was loud. Everyone heard both sides of the conversation.
...
2.) The other incident was a young man, in a small shop carrying on a loud, long conversation with someone. I didn't want to hear about that either, but I wasn't going to cut my shopping short because of this guy.

The same thing happened to me, last time I was in Target, but the difference was that both people having the loud conversation were standing next to each other in the aisle.

Overhearing loud conversations is annoying. This has nothing to do with cellphones or not. Indeed, at least with a cellphone, if they're not using the speaker, then you only are burdened by one side of the discussion.

As it is, such petty annoyances are rampant. I reserve my frustration for things that are a little more difficult to ignore.

What is with people and cell phones?

My question, exactly, but I don't mean it in the context you do, but rather what's with people and their antipathy towards others using cellphones? Again, rudeness is rudeness, and there is far more regular rudeness out there than cellphone rudeness. The attention folks seem to draw to other folks' cellphone usage seems out-of-proportion with the true extent to which that is actually a source of annoyance in our society, AFAIC.

 

[OceanAnnie]

The same thing happened to me, last time I was in Target, but the difference was that both people having the loud conversation were standing next to each other in the aisle.

Overhearing loud conversations is annoying. This has nothing to do with cellphones or not. Indeed, at least with a cellphone, if they're not using the speaker, then you only are burdened by one side of the discussion.

Agreed. The point of the thread is I was annoyed.

As it is, such petty annoyances are rampant. I reserve my frustration for things that are a little more difficult to ignore.

Well, it wasn't so easy to ignore for me unless I chose to leave. Which I didn't do.

My question, exactly, but I don't mean it in the context you do, but rather what's with people and their antipathy towards others using cellphones? Again, rudeness is rudeness, and there is far more regular rudeness out there than cellphone rudeness. The attention folks seem to draw to other folks' cellphone usage seems out-of-proportion with the true extent to which that is actually a source of annoyance in our society, AFAIC.

Bolding mine. Red mine.

I don't have an antipathy to cell phones. I have one! I happen to run into quite a bit of discourteous behavior of people using them.

 

[jazzielady]

OK, I have a story that is just plain funny. Several years ago we were in DC with our daughters. They were still pretty young, so there wasn't a lot there they were interested in, but we did the DC Duck tour to give them an overview of the monuments and what they were and so on.

After we came out of the Potomac (got to see some black helicopters chase away some boaters who came too close to the garage where they keep the President's planes - very cool), the driver, who could have done stand up comedy, passed out duck quackers. You blow in them and they sound like ducks.

One of our instructions was to "quack" anytime we saw someone walking down the street talking on their cell phone. It was hysterical. We got at least 5 people to hang up their calls because of our "quacks"!

 

[HM]

Some people just have to be connected to someone else at all times, it seems. I can't believe how many people I see out getting exercise (walking) talking on their phones. And people who have mindless conversations in waiting areas on their phones.

One day I counted how many drivers were talking on their cell phones as they passed my car. 1/2 of them!!!

 

[NMAmy]

I've heard some really juicy conversations in Target. One woman was REALLY graphic about her date the night before.

The talking is annoying but what bothers me most is the aimless pacing that cell phone talkers do without realizing it. They'll stop at the bottom of a crowded stairwell to make a point. They'll be walking slowly along and suddenly do an about face--slamming right into the person behind them. Speaking on a cell phone seems to foster a lack of awareness to one's surroundings and the other people who may unknowingly wander into the talker's vicinity.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Some people just have to be connected to someone else at all times, it seems. I can't believe how many people I see out getting exercise (walking) talking on their phones. And people who have mindless conversations in waiting areas on their phones.

One day I counted how many drivers were talking on their cell phones as they passed my car. 1/2 of them!!!

Kind of like people need to be connected to someone on a chat board all the time, having mindless conversations

I have to agree with Bicker on this one, I don't understand the anger towards people having a conversation on their cell phone.

It is a conversation, whether they are on the phone or the other person is standing there. You would be able to overhear the conversation either way.

At least with a cell phone, you only have to hear one side of it.

When you talk to your kids in the store, people can hear you. When you meet a friend and chat in the aisle of a store, people can overhear you. People converse, that is what they do. When you are in a waiting room with a friend, do you keep completely silent or do you have the natural inclination to converse? What is the difference if somebody is talking in the waiting room on the phone or with a friend who is there?

If somebody in that small store was having the same conversation with the other person there, you would still be subjected to hearing the conversation, you would just be hearing both sides.

I think what gets people's panties in a twist is that they can only hear one side of the conversation and that doesn't satisfy one's curiosity.

I do agree that people tend to talk louder on a cell phone than if they were standing next to the person.

But it is a conversation between two people. People are social animals. Can't see the big deal of it.

 

[HM]

I am not angry about cell phone use or users at all (though others might be). I just don't get why people have to be on them constantly.

I also don't have to be online constantly. I jump in here a bit each weekday when taking a break at work, but as far as using the computer during other down times, I don't. I rarely use the computer at home.

 

[Grandmax3]

I really dis like when you are in a confined space and the people are loud on their cellphones.We were in awaiting room and had to be there with about 20-25 people. several people were on the phone and having reasonable volumes for their phones. one lady got on her phone and was just hollering into her phone ,we were are given knowledge about her medical problems in acute detail. finally I told her we were not interested to have such knowledge and and she got huffy and told the person that some one was complaining and did not get off the phone. Several people were glad I had said something. She did lower her voice.

 

[bicker]

I have to agree with Bicker on this one, I don't understand the anger towards people having a conversation on their cell phone.

Sometimes I wonder if the issue is, in the general case (i.e., no speakerphone), is that some folks resent not being able to hear both sides of the discussion.

Just kidding... (I think... )

I am not angry about cell phone use or users at all (though others might be). I just don't get why people have to be on them constantly.

I don't get why people have to go on and on about football. ... about their soap operas. ... (and so on)

 

[krcit]

I didn't see anyone on here getting angry or their 'panties in a twist'. Just a few observations that it's annoying when someone is jabbering on their cell phones at high volume. I find it annoying. I don't let it ruin my day or anything but yes, it's annoying to me.

 

[starrzone]

What I find irritating is when people use their cell phones in an area that has signs promintently posted that say "No cell phone use allowed". Our gym has those in the changing room, and one day when my mother and I were changing after our workout, a woman sitting between us whipped hers out and started talking. I managed to have a loud converation with my mother, right over her head, about nothing at all!

 

[MichelleVW]

Last year I was at my nephews spring recital and the woman next to me would not quit talking on her phone! She talked the whole time my nephew was on stage, but of course as soon as her kid came out, she told the person on the other end that she had to go! I was so irked! About a minute into her childs song my cell phone rang, I had it in vibrate in my pocket. I answered it and told my husband that I couldn't talk to him becasue I was at the recital and that I am not that rude.

I would have said something to her if she talked while my kid was on stage, and answering your phone at the recital even if you just said " I can't talk" is still rude.