We are getting more and more inseparable with our cell phone. We feel naked without it. Can’t leave home without it. Can’t possibly survive without it. But when does it become rude to use your cell phone in the presence of others?
I was at Chili’s the other day, and there was a couple to my left. I noticed that the guy was on the phone constantly yapping away about something that apparently got him mad. (No, I wasn’t eavesdropping, he was just so loud anyone around could hear.) He has not put his phone down ever since they sat down. From the annoyed look on the girl’s face, I could tell that she was clearly bothered, irritated, and losing patience. She shook her legs, switched arms on the table, sighed, and looked at him critically, waiting for him to hang up.
I thought to myself, Wow, that’s pretty rude. (Do you agree?)
You’re on a date, with a cute girl, and you’re totally neglecting her (possibly his girlfriend) as if she wasn’t there. Or she’s not that important to deserve your attention.
OK, fine, you must take an important call - a business call, perhaps. But you shouldn’t take any longer than a couple of minutes. Maybe your boss wanted to reschedule a meeting for the next day. That can be arranged within 2 minutes. Maybe your mother was sick and she needed you to pick up some meds from a nearby pharmacy. 2 minutes. Your friends changed their minds about which bar to go for the weekend. Two minutes. It’s not that hard.
Unless it’s a life-threatening emergency, there is no reason to be on the phone that long while you’re in the presence of others, especially when you’re on a date. What does that really tell someone? That you’re inconsiderate, insensitive, and lack etiquette. Simply tell them you will call them back later. The phone call you can make later, but the girl in front of you might not call you again.
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I totally agree! I hate it when people walk around with their cell phone constantly at their ear, and ignoring the person they are with. I see it all the time. So rude!
If I had been the girl, I would have walked out, I don’t care how cute he is. If he’s that rude and insensitive, he’s not worth my time. I’m obviously not worth his.
Yeah, it is rude. I would turn off my cell phone in front of her and leave it in the car. But if her cell phone goes off it’s a turnoff for me. I would be thinking, Oh gawd is she going to tell me her friend is in the hospital and she has to go? I’m kidding that’s never happened to me.