Cell Phone manners

[Dave A]

I usually keep it short and simple and I would prefer others do too. Conversing quietly and at length would be fine, but unfortunately no one ever does - they always put on their really loud phone voice so that you're forced to hear half of a random stranger's conversation as if it were personally directed at you. That's incredibly annoying.

Spot on the money, people using their phones in general doesn't bother me, it's the people that talk so loudly I can hear them like they're next to my ear.

Ofcourse there's a time when you should keep use of your phone to a minimum imo, at a restaurant for example I'd have my phone on silent and any calls I get will either be ignored and replied to later or very brief. I don't mind other people making calls though I think it's ignorant to be out with people and then spend more time on the phone than speaking to the people your out with. But all that I can put up with, it's the fact most people don't understand the idea that I'm not interested in thier conversation and that you can talk on a phone at an acceptable volume.

 

[JCE]

I hate people who used cell phones in any public place. I don't give a **** about you or your life, so why should I have to be FORCED to listen to you on your damn cell phone? Its the same as people who have their windows down and their radio way too loud in their cars...I don't care what music you like so don't FORCE me to listen to it. Both are distubing the peace and these people need to be ticketed/cited. PERIOD.

 

[exigeracer]

So speaking with the person next to you on the bus is completely intolerable?

 

[JCE]

So speaking with the person next to you on the bus is completely intolerable?

There is a difference. If the person next to you wants to talk and you want to talk that's fine. Because, that's VOLUNTARY. If the sod next to you talks to his wife about what groceries to buy and you are forced to listen to it than that is INVOLUNTARY.

 

[exigeracer]

Someone is talking to their friend who is sitting immediately next her on the bus. This is out of the question, absolutely revoltingly rude?

 

[JCE]

Someone is talking to their friend who is sitting immediately next her on the bus. This is out of the question, absolutely revoltingly rude?

Observe a normal person talking to their friend sitting next to them in public and someone talking to someone on their cell phone and come back and ask me that question.

*edit*
Ohhhh I get what you originally meant. I misunderstood what you meant by "speaing with the person next to you". However, I still think there is a difference.

 

[Dave A]

I understand exige's point, if two people are conversing on the bus and you're on a seat near them then you're still listening to their conversation involuntarily short of having headphones in and music on in which case the chances are someone else is listening to the faint tinny sound of your music coming from your head phones involutarily. What I would rather have and what I find accepatable are two different things, I'd rather people didn't use the phones on the bus if I'm on it after a long days work (not been in that situation for a few years), but just beacuse I'd rather that doesn't mean I don't think they should should be allowed. It's like saying I'd rather watch Manchester United, that doesn't mean no one should watch Arsenal. It's the level of volume that comes off them that's the issue imo. If they're on the phone and just talking that's fine. But if they raise their voices, that's inconsiderate.

 

[exigeracer]

Two people sitting at the table next to you in full conversation is just background noise in a public space. Acceptable?

One person sitting at the table next to you in full conversation on their cell phone is just background noise in a public space. Unacceptable?

The difference is in the second case, you cannot understand the full conversation. There is no other difference.

 

[Orion]

It's not the cell phones, it's the people. I don't understand why they have to ****ing yell "I'll be there in 10 minutes!!" They are so ****ing loud and it pisses me off. I don't mind cell phones, but loud ass ring tones and loud ass people makes me sick. And I deal with this **** everyday at work!! > Especially those dumb ****s that uses speakerphone. Not everyone wants to hear your damn convo.

Ohh lol I voted Yes.

 

[Joey D]

Talking on the phone has been shown to similar to having a few beers and heading out to drive.

This thread is not a texting while driving thread... we already have one of those basically. I don't want this thread to turn into one of those again, okay?

Mythbusters did an episode on they, did they not?

 

[Casio]

I use my phone anywhere and anytime I like because that's what I bought it for. I spend half my day at work texting on my phone. And like Keef I'll text while driving too.

 

[Sage]

Conversing quietly and at length would be fine, but unfortunately no one ever does - they always put on their really loud phone voice so that you're forced to hear half of a random stranger's conversation as if it were personally directed at you.

Ditto that. And that doesn’t just go for phones. When I’m at a restaurant, I don’t care if you’re talking to your friends sitting across from you or you’re talking into your phone – what I care about is volume. If you’re talking loudly to your friends, then I want you to shut up; if you’re talking loudly on the phone, then I want you to shut up. It just so happens that for most people, it’s easier to forget that they’re using their obnoxious voice when they’re on the phone.

And to the special idiots who turn on speakerphone in public places: go die.

 

[Slicks]

It's not what you're doing, but the volume at which you're doing it, and the company that you're with while doing so.

Speaking (not shouting) on the phone in a public space is perfectly acceptable to me. This includes restaurants, public transit, and most other public spaces.

However, having a loud, drawn-out conversation in a restaurant is very inconsiderate. Go outside if you must indulge yourself. I also personally dislike it when I'm with company - Friends or family - as a group and one or more people are are having conversations on their phones or texting every five minutes. It says to me that "Hey, I'd rather speak to or associate with the person on the other end than you". If you're just giving a quick message ("We're going here. Meet us.", "We're late - Be there in twenty"), then fine. Long, loud conversations not only disrupt your interaction with those around you, but also interrupt interactions that are independant of you.

Texting while driving is a definite bad idea. I tried it once at a stoplight, and never tried again. Simply talking on the cell is more distraction than most people can really handle.

 

[Stevisiov]

I use my phone anywhere and anytime I like because that's what I bought it for. I spend half my day at work texting on my phone. And like Keef I'll text while driving too.

I just bought a big speaker attachement for my ipod, I can use it anywhere and anytime right...

I don't think its rude to use my phone in a public place, perhaps in a resturant not on the bus. I don't have any conversations on my phone which span over a minute, most last all of 10 seconds. I prefare to call than text but I keep both too a minimum.

 

[Vasco]

I use my phone anywhere and anytime I like because that's what I bought it for.

Exactly! Like someone else in the thread said, what use is a mobile phone if you're not going to use it in public? Restaurants would be a no-no for me, but public transport is a perfectly fine place to use it (as exigeracer pointed out).

 

[PLmatt91]

Honestly, I don't care if it's rude or not, because other people around me do it all the time too.

I was at the diner a few days ago and my friends called me, so I'm on the phone for at least ten minutes, but I wasn't yelling or any thing. That's fine with me, but if people just yell on the phone or have obnoxious laughs, that's where I change my thought.

 

[Roo]

And like Keef I'll text while driving too.

Again, what's so important that can't wait until the end of your journey?

 

[YSSMAN]

And to the special idiots who turn on speakerphone in public places: go die.

Boost Mobile and NEXTEL users take note: The next time you have a fight with your boyfriend in my store over the two-way, you get to play catch with a 40lb box of blue jeans...

 

[Joey D]

Boost Mobile and NEXTEL users take note: The next time you have a fight with your boyfriend in my store over the two-way, you get to play catch with a 40lb box of blue jeans...

Agreed. When I had my Nextel I just used it like a normal phone when someone bumped me on it.

 

[Philly]

Boost Mobile and NEXTEL users take note: The next time you have a fight with your boyfriend in my store over the two-way, you get to play catch with a 40lb box of blue jeans...

I don't think I could use the phone like that. We're not all from New York, after all.

And it's rude to use it in public transport? Never had any idea.

I use it from time to time in restaurants, depending on who I am with and how important it is.

 

[Wolfe]

I rarely use my cell phone for anything more than brief calls for information or arranging to meet somewhere, regardless of whether I'm at home or in public. I always have it set to vibrate, because I never have to worry about it ringing during class or a movie (plus, if someone calls I can quietly slip it out of my pocket to see who's calling), and over half the time I wouldn't hear it in my pocket anyway. I speak into the phone at the same volume I would use in ordinary conversation.

I'm not averse to using the phone while driving -- it doesn't distract me any more than having a conversation with a passenger, and it doesn't impair my driving any more than having to hold something else in my hand (like a drink). In fact, I often lose focus of the conversation because I'm concentrating on something that is happening on the road. Never the other way around.

Texting is stupid, it annoys the hell out of me when someone sends me a text.

 

[Philly]

Texting is stupid, it annoys the hell out of me when someone sends me a text.

Nope. Texting has to be one of the best inventions for a cell phone.

 

[Wolfe]

Nope. Texting has to be one of the best inventions for a cell phone.

The way I see it...

If you're in a place/situation where you aren't allowed to use a phone, then you probably shouldn't use your phone.

If you're in a place/situation where you can't excuse yourself to make a phone call, then you probably shouldn't use your phone.

If the person you want to contact is in a place/situation where they aren't allowed to use a phone, then their phone should be off or silent and you can leave them a voicemail.

If the person you want to contact is in a place/situation where they can't excuse themselves to take a phone call, then their phone should be off or silent and you can leave them a voicemail.

If you want to send someone a message that takes 10 times longer to write than it does to say, and will probably cost one or both of you more money than it would with an ordinary call, then use text messaging.

 

[Philly]

I hate voicemail with a passion. It takes much longer than pushing one button and reading a text.

And texting is silent. That means you can use your phone in places where maybe you shouldn't. It also makes it easier to use in noisy places and things.

 

[Casio]

I just bought a big speaker attachement for my ipod, I can use it anywhere and anytime right...

You go anywhere and are forced to listen to crap you don't want to listen to. Go into any Supermarket and they have some crappy music playing. If you can't handle people having conversation then maybe you should go be a recluse or something. Sitting on a bus listening to someone speak behind you on the phone is no different to sitting on a bus and listening to 2 people speaking with each other behind you.

Texting is great for situations when you're in a place where it's impossible to hear on a cell phone. Try making a call at a nightclub, pub with a band, my mates cars, my work and you'll spend so much more time saying 'WHATT?!' then you would writing something.

Whilst driving, it's not that hard to text, as Keef says if you text a lot it's basically like typing, you don't have to think at all. Checking what a text message says would take no more time than it would to say, change a CD in your car, which people do all the time. Maybe changing CDs should be outlawed?

 

[Duke]

Someone is talking to their friend who is sitting immediately next her on the bus. This is out of the question, absolutely revoltingly rude?

If they are shouting at each other at the decibel level that most people seem to require to make themselves heard through a cellphone, yes.

If either the live conversation or the phone conversation is at a discreet, reasonable volume, then no.

However, talking on the cell phone IS different than talking to a live person next to you, even quietly. Because the cell takes your attention much farther away from your immediate area than a personal conversation would. Also, the person on the other end of the cell is not in your situation, and is much less likely to suspend yammering for a few seconds while you negotiate some tricky bit that requires your attention. So anyone holding a long involved conversation on a cell phone is FAR more likely to get in the way, brush rudely past others, stop dead in the middle of an aisle, not let you reach the shelf, etc. etc. etc. In short, people walk like they drive when they are distracted by a phone. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves badly.

 

[Roo]

The way I see it...

If you're in a place/situation where you aren't allowed to use a phone, then you probably shouldn't use your phone.

If you're in a place/situation where you can't excuse yourself to make a phone call, then you probably shouldn't use your phone.

If the person you want to contact is in a place/situation where they aren't allowed to use a phone, then their phone should be off or silent and you can leave them a voicemail.

If the person you want to contact is in a place/situation where they can't excuse themselves to take a phone call, then their phone should be off or silent and you can leave them a voicemail.

If you want to send someone a message that takes 10 times longer to write than it does to say, and will probably cost one or both of you more money than it would with an ordinary call, then use text messaging.

Phone me and say "meet me at 8.30" and I'll forget almost as soon as the conversation ends. Text me, and I'll look at it when I've forgotton and then get there on time. Ish.

Maybe changing CDs should be outlawed?

Whilst driving? If my personal experience is anything to go by - and it's the only thing I've got to go by - then yes. "Sorry I nearly hit you, I was trying to put a CD in the stereo without snapping it." Oh, thank you so much.

And neither you nor Keef answered my question:

Again, what's so important that can't wait until the end of your journey?

 

[Gil]

If people call me while I'm in public, and want to talk about stuff that I'm not comfortable taking about in front of others, I just take the conversation away from the group, finish as quickly as possible and get back to the group.
In my line of work, it is often important for me to take a call that I would rather not.

And if I get a text while I'm driving, I'll see who it's from and call them back.
Usually it's my wife or kids with a "Marco?" So I just call back, makes it so much easier to drive straight.

 

[Danoff]

It's rude to talk on your mobile while out in public places, if you want to have a long drawn out personal conversation do it at home...not in the supermarket.

Heh, I did exactly that the other day - using my bluetooth. I had a long drawn-out conversation at the supermarket.

What else am I supposed to do at the supermarket? It takes about a thousandth of a braincell to pick out food. I figured I might as well do something else productive with that time.

In short, people walk like they drive when they are distracted by a phone. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves badly.

Does this mean that since I drive fine while talking on the phone, I should feel free to use it anywhere?

 

[Casio]

Again, what's so important that can't wait until the end of your journey?

Last week I was driving and my phone rang, I answered it and it was my friend who was hysterical on the phone because she'd had a bad car accident and didn't know what to do. People can call you in emergencies, and although it does happen rarely I'd rather not risk not knowing that my friend was in trouble then wait until I got home which could be hours.

As for texting, I'll quite often be driving to meet up with friends and they'll text me telling me where they are or where I am. It literally takes me 3 seconds to reply, "I'm at (X-Location) I'll be there in 10" or something like. If I was going to call them, I'd have to get my phone, find the number, dial it, wait till they pick up, etc, which would take a lot more of my concentration.