Cell Phone manners

[Azuremen]

I got into a talk with a friend of mine about being polite when using your cell phone. I am on the school that you don't use it in places where people must listen to you, such as restaurant, buses, the train, and so on. She tends to think it is just fine.

Of course, brief calls to find someone or tell them you are at such and such place are fine, I am mostly referring to those that have conversations on their phones.

 

[Formula1Driver]

I think it is pretty rude to have a conversation at a restaurant, I think it is like you are being completely inconsiderate to the people sitting at your table with you and the people around you. And I don't really like having phone calls in front of other people, it is for me and I don't think they need to hear what I am talking about. Especially at a restaurant where alot of other people can hear you.

On the streets or other places where it is kind of open and a public place I think it is fine to talk on your cell-phone.

 

[Giancarlo]

It depends on how loud you are, and the type of conversation you're having (dude bro, let's get wasted and slam some b*tches tonizzight).

 

[YSSMAN]

Personally speaking, anywhere near a dinner table is uncalled for unless its an emergency. People should have the decency to get up and walk away for a minute as not to disturb others. And yes, texting is just as bad.

Otherwise, generally speaking, I don't mind it. As long as you're talking about moderately appropriate things and aren't overly loud, I don't see why I can be all that angry about it. Unless its on a BlueTooth headset... Then it bothers me.

I'll use the phone when I'm waiting in line for something, but the minute I have to actually function as someone in society, I hang up... Thats the right thing to do. I hate having to help a customer in my store who doesn't hang-up the phone when they're in my line. It drives me crazy!

 

[Joey D]

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. I also hate text messaging as well when people do it during class. They claim it doesn't make any noise and it's not hurting anything, but I hate the clicking sound the keys make and the vibrations the phone makes when they receive a message is quite annoying as well.

If I get a call and I'm somewhere where I should not be on it I either step outside or let it go to voice mail. The only time I really make calls on my mobile is at home or in the car. And if you send me a text message that's grounds for me to punch you because text messaging is the stupidest feature in the world, you already have you mobile in your hand, you can dial my number...plus it's like 25 cents or something if you do it to my phone.

 

[YSSMAN]

And if you send me a text message that's grounds for me to punch you because text messaging is the stupidest feature in the world, you already have you mobile in your hand, you can dial my number...plus it's like 25 cents or something if you do it to my phone.

EXACTLY! I can't stand it either!

My ex used to text CONSTANTLY, hell, even when we were making out she would stop and do a friggin text. I can't stand kids these days...

 

[V1P3R]

I'd have my preference on how things should go but there are too many times I'd be a hypocrite. Even then I'm better about it than the avg. idiot that does it.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Well the CTA trains are so loud that I think you have to be screaming to let the other person hear you, unless the train is going slow, but half the time it is. I think on the train it's better to text.

 

[Keef]

And if you send me a text message that's grounds for me to punch you because text messaging is the stupidest feature in the world, you already have you mobile in your hand, you can dial my number...plus it's like 25 cents or something if you do it to my phone.

What? Texting is so much easier than talking, especially when I'm driving. Plus it's quiet and doesn't bother other people. I can easily have a completely private conversation without disturbing everyone around me, even if I'm right next to them.

 

[G.T]

In a restaurant it definitely is rude. Not only is a visit there supposed to be focusing on whoever you go with, you will be annoying other people around you.

On public transport, it isn't so bad, but talking for minutes on end about personal things is annoying. I really don't know why they don't wait until they're at home to talk. And the fact mobiles cost a fortune to speak so long. In one instance this woman was on the phone while paying for a bus fare (no thankyou or anything), and talked for the 15 minutes I was on it.

 

[Duke]

Of course, brief calls to find someone or tell them you are at such and such place are fine, I am mostly referring to those that have conversations on their phones.

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.

I live in a college town and I hardly ever see a person walking along by themselves that doesn't have a phone clamped to their head. It makes me wonder if they would all go insane if they were stuck with their own thoughts for 20 minutes.

 

[Giancarlo]

I hate having to help a customer in my store who doesn't hang-up the phone when they're in my line. It drives me crazy!

Oh that's definitely the worst, i really used to hate that at my old job.

 

[HACKr]

If you can't use it in public places, then why have a mobile phone?

 

[Roo]

What? Texting is so much easier than talking, especially when I'm driving.

I'm going to assume that when you say "driving" you mean "sat in my car" and not actually moving? Texting whilst driving is even worse than talking on the phone - at least when you're talking you can keep your eyes on the road.

Personally, it takes me on average about 48 hours to reply to a text or call anyway, so I can afford to let it ring until I'm not in a postion to annoy everyone.

If you can't use it in public places, then why have a mobile phone?

Emergencies?

 

[Joey D]

What? Texting is so much easier than talking, especially when I'm driving. Plus it's quiet and doesn't bother other people. I can easily have a completely private conversation without disturbing everyone around me, even if I'm right next to them.

People who text and drive should be shot.

 

[Small_Fryz]

Your poll is wrong.

Resturant is totally different to a train or bus.

Resturant = no

Bus or Train, i dont care as long as its not that loud. but its no different to normal people talking amongst them selves.

For the record, i barely ever use my mobile.

 

[Roo]

People who text and drive should be shot.

Thank you for getting to my point whilst I was failing to be eloquent. 👍

 

[SolidSnake15]

People who text and drive should be shot.

No they shouldn't, just let them hit a telephone poll so that they have to pay insurance and traffic tickets. Or let them get hit by a 10 ton semi when they run a red light.

Back to the main topic, I think it is very rude to talk in a restaurant. People go there to eat some good quality food with family or friends, not to hear you laugh as loud as humanly possible because your friend told you a funny joke over the phone. (It's funny that most people I see talking on cell phones in restaurants have an incredibly loud and very annoying voice.)

Using the phone on the bus would be OK if you do it quietly when nobodies sitting next to you. But if there is some one next to you, leave in your pocket.

 

[Keef]

I'm going to assume that when you say "driving" you mean "sat in my car" and not actually moving? Texting whilst driving is even worse than talking on the phone - at least when you're talking you can keep your eyes on the road.

That's the problem. When you're talking you are required to listen (one operation) and respond (a second operation), which makes for at least 3, including driving and whatever other driving-related operation you may be doing.

However, when I'm texting I read the message once and respond whenever and however I feel like it, casually pressing buttons I've memorized whilst rarely taking my eyes off the road. I can hear everything going on around me and I'm not going "Eh...what? Sorry I can't pay attention cause I'm driving...wha..eh say that again? Sorry I'll call you back," or "Oh hi! How are you doing I'm so into this conversation my brain can't handle inputs from my eyes, hands, feet, and ears while deciding what to say and then moving my mouth and formulating wor...TREE!!!"

Texting is far easier than talking on the phone while driving.

 

[wfooshee]

What? Texting is so much easier than talking, especially when I'm driving. Plus it's quiet and doesn't bother other people. I can easily have a completely private conversation without disturbing everyone around me, even if I'm right next to them.

I had hoped this was a tongue-in-cheek reference to this thread, until I found Keef's first post there:

I text while I drive. I got in a wreck one time, and I was paying full attention. The old lady I hit didn't even know it was me when I came to the window to check on her. Now that is paying attention.

Bottom line is that I can still function while talking or texting. I prefer texting, actually, because I don't have to strain to understand what the person is saying over the sound of my car.

Now, he doesn't say that he was texting when he had his accident, but he doesn't say otherwise, either.

Texting while driving --- make that doing ANYTHING while driving (reading, looking at a map, working the GPS, looking up phone contacts) is beyond stupid. While driving, people's lives are your responsibility, and you have NO RIGHT to put them at risk.

If anyone I know is injured by someone whose phone is found in text mode, I'll be making some phone calls of my own.

Bottom line is that I can still function while talking or texting.

No, you can't.

If you seriously believe this to be a true statement, then you do not have the correct level of situational awareness when you drive. You aren't scanning far enough ahead, you aren't checking your mirrors, you aren't watching side traffic, etc. etc. In the other thread you make 2 references which demonstrate this: You talk about things you couldn't see around the blind, wet corner. Therefore you were too fast for conditions. You also mention that you could easily back out of your driveway in front of another car. There's absolutely NO WAY you could do that if you were the least bit aware of what was going on around you.

Learn to drive, not just steer. The reason you're surrounded by glass is so you can see what's out there, and not run into it!

That said, I have no trouble with hands-free phone use in the car for most people. Voice dialing and Bluetooth means you do not need the phone's display, so you can keep your eyes outside where they belong. Talking on the phone in that case is no different from talking to passengers, in my mind. But if you're texting, your eyes and attention are not where they have to be.

 

[Tornado]

When you text, you are REQUIRED to look at the phone. I don't care how good you are at memorizing the buttons. You need to look at the phone to know what the person is saying. Texting while driving is f%$ing retarded.
Talking on the phone at least does not require you to avert your eyes from the road at all.

 

[Roo]

That's the problem. When you're talking you are required to listen (one operation) and respond (a second operation), which makes for at least 3, including driving and whatever other driving-related operation you may be doing.

However, when I'm texting I read the message once and respond whenever and however I feel like it, casually pressing buttons I've memorized whilst rarely taking my eyes off the road. I can hear everything going on around me and I'm not going "Eh...what? Sorry I can't pay attention cause I'm driving...wha..eh say that again? Sorry I'll call you back," or "Oh hi! How are you doing I'm so into this conversation my brain can't handle inputs from my eyes, hands, feet, and ears while deciding what to say and then moving my mouth and formulating wor...TREE!!!"

Texting is far easier than talking on the phone while driving.

In any case - and I forgot to put this in my original post - what the smeg is so important that can't wait the half hour or less your journey is likely to take?

 

[Small_Fryz]

When you text, you are REQUIRED to look at the phone. I don't care how good you are at memorizing the buttons. You need to look at the phone to know what the person is saying. Texting while driving is f%$ing retarded.
Talking on the phone at least does not require you to avert your eyes from the road at all.

I dont do either, but txting is way worse IMHO

 

[Azuremen]

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?

 

[Turbo Lag]

Texting while driving is f%$ing retarded.

👍

I absolutely hate people who talk on their phones on trains. The piss me off to another level altogether. They tend to talk extremely loud and about random things which I really dont wanna know about. It also happens when the train is extremely packed on a hot day. I just wish like crushing their phones, its so bloody annoying.

 

[OZZYGT]

even when we were making out she would stop and do a friggin text.

LMAO! Now THAT's messed up. Although I can't lie, I would laugh if I'd see that.

 

[dylansan]

My mom hates it when people decide to have a conversation on the phone in the middle of an aisle at a supermarket or store, and then completely block the aisle and are completely unaware that you are trying to get something, or to the other side. I agree completely.

And, yes, people who text while driving should be shot. You could wait until they hit something, but what if that something is a little old lady crossing the street, or a family of 5 in their Caravan?

 

[slidesquad#1]

With all the talking on public transport hate, is it because of the actual using the phones people dislike or the fact that most people have phone voices several decibels louder than their normal conversation voice?

If it's the first one, do you people also hate people talking to their mates on the seat next to them, because I really don't see the difference...

If I'm on a bus or train and my phone rings, I will answer. If the connection is good and I can talk normally, I will. Don't like it? Tough. Listen to the engine noise instead.

 

[Turbo Lag]

With all the talking on public transport hate, is it because of the actual using the phones people dislike or the fact that most people have phone voices several decibels louder than their normal conversation voice?

If it's the first one, do you people also hate people talking to their mates on the seat next to them, because I really don't see the difference...

If I'm on a bus or train and my phone rings, I will answer. If the connection is good and I can talk normally, I will. Don't like it? Tough. Listen to the engine noise instead.

Mostly the second one. Most of the time, they talk about useless subjects, and to top it off they talk a few decibels louder than they need to. They can easily talk at home or something. And its also just public respect. Also, to think of it, Ive never see a man do it, always some women.

 

[exigeracer]

It isn't rude to use a cellular phone while in a public place whatsoever. According to many people's logic, two people talking to each other is just as bad. Not having the ability to hear half the conversation is suddenly annoying? That's your problem, not the person talking.