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Its probably been discussed before but here is the issue, and there may be others. Is it rude to have extended, loud conversations on a cellphone in an area where people are congregated.
Now, I understand the technology has been around about 40 years now. We do not have to hunt down a telephone booth and fumble for change. We have gone from a bag phone that weighed a couple of pounds to a deck of cards that weigh a few ounces and fits in our shirt pocket. Its convenient, its there when we need it. Its no longer a phone but a data connection to the world, our map, our calculator, or camera and voice recorder.
It has brought with it issues like texting and driving, a light to wave at concerts and irritate others at the the movie theater. It also brings a one sided conversation that can be overheard by whomever happens to be close. The topics are never ending from 'Where are you" to "Which brand of beans should I buy?" Sometimes these conversations are necessary and its good to know your spouse is caught in traffic and you need to go pick up the kids.
However, when you are on the treadmill at the gym and you have a frivolous conversation with your 'bestie' for 20 minutes where everyone can hear you, is rude. If you really have to have an extended conversation, chit chat, business, talk about your hemorrhoids or otherwise, go somewhere private.
I mean, what if I opened a book and began to read out loud in Starbucks or some outer public place? Have you ever been annoyed by excessively loud music from someones car? Can you not shut the noise up? Cellphones are the same.
Well, we're talking about American use of cell phones I'd imagine, and any level of civility we used to expect is long gone. I see people who obviously don't consider their loud talking on their cell as a kind of rude behavior, instead, they appear to view the walking and talking to be such a thrill and also such a convenience, that they just can't help themselves to be a better person. I guess it's just one more example of how much we've changed as a collective of people who at one time were considerate of others..
Put yourself in the shoes of the others around you. Look at what they are doing, then imagine you were trying to do it, and someone was loudly talking on their phone.
If you don't know the etiquette, just use the golden rule. Seriously!
I'm really not that bothered by it. How is it any different than if two friends were talking in person at the gym?
The only things that would bother me, whether on the phone or in person would be:
1) Talking extremely loud
2) Talking where you should be silent, such as a movie, performance, seminar, church, etc.
The super extra bothersome thing is the speaker-phone conversation. Why do people do that? NO ONE wants to hear the other side of the conversation. I just don't get it.
If you are someone that routinely uses the speaker phone in public - please explain why, I'm curious.
I'm not bothered too much unless it's an actual setting where one shouldn't be using it. Personally I don't like talking on the phone and people hearing my business and if I am on the phone around anybody, I'm probably giving a lot of non-answers, some uh-huhs, or something.
I'm really not that bothered by it. How is it any different than if two friends were talking in person at the gym?
The only things that would bother me, whether on the phone or in person would be:
1) Talking extremely loud
2) Talking where you should be silent, such as a movie, performance, seminar, church, etc.
I agree.
Now if I was with the person and being pretty much ignored while he/she talked on the cell phone...I'd leave, just as I have walked out on dinner partners.
I used to think people were going crazy and talking to themselves until I realized the were on the phone via an ear bud.
Yes...I was in a public restroom one day taking a dump and all of a sudden the guy in the next stall started talking. It startled me. I said, "What?" Then realized he was probably on his cell phone.
Now if I was with the person and being pretty much ignored while he/she talked on the cell phone...I'd leave, just as I have walked out on dinner partners.
My wife also has strong opinions on phone etiquette. When her sister calls and if during such a call the sister says "oh wait, I've got to take another caller on "call waiting" then my insulted wife simply hangs up the phone. Whether cellphone or land-line, putting someone on hold is usually received (internalized?) as being put into second fiddle category which no one likes.
My gripe with cellphone USERs is at shows where some of these people just have to take pictures. Just another reason we no longer attend public events. They hold the phone up to their face and flare their arms straight out from their body -- and right into the face of persons sitting on either side of them. There is a way to do this with one's arms in a vertical position but too many nimrods haven't figgered it out yet. Hell, if you pay $300 for a ticket to a show then enjoy the show and buy the $20 DVD; no one cares to see your crummy pictures on a cellphone.
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Last edited by Mike from back east; 07-23-2023 at 12:36 PM..
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