Lists: The Tyranny of Cell Phones
Remember lists? That’s right. It’s time for a new entry. Read about my list posts here, then comment and add your own thoughts to this one and any others coming up. At the end of the month Random.org will choose a winner from everyone who added to a March list to receive an autographed novel. Remember, please stay away from politics, religion and general snarkiness. This is not the evening news.
Cell phones. They’re everywhere, aren’t they? Maybe they shouldn’t be. Let’s list all the places cell phones don’t belong. Remember, keep it clean.
Places and Times to Keep Your Cell Phone in Your Pocket:
1: On dates. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a young couple sitting together at a restaurant and one of them is talking on a cell phone to somebody else. Usually for a majority of the meal.
2: When you’re having an evening out with your children. Of course if the people above actually marry, there may not be enough private moments to worry about creating a family, but just in case. . . Nothing’s sadder to me than watching a child sitting at a table with a parent who’d rather talk to somebody else.
3: While pushing a baby stroller, or grocery shopping with a baby or toddler. Okay, I get this. I have four children, and I remember being lonely for someone with more than a 50 word vocabulary. But come on, this is exactly the moment when you teach your children about the world around them. Can you help them name colors or find the tuna fish when you’re talking to somebody else?
4: In an airport van. I was once a captive audience while a man fired one of his employees, loudly and with glee. This is why women should carry Mace.
5: In the airport itself, sitting next to other passengers who are waiting to board. Sadly one day I learned more than I ever wanted to know about the inner workings of a Red Cross chapter, complete with names, employee problems, and more personal information too, well, personal, to mention here. Guess what? People are listening.
Now it’s your turn. What did I miss? Am I wrong? Let’s talk–but please, not on your cell.
Congratulations to Pat Matejcek, whose comment was chosen to win by random.org from all the list comments in February.
While you’re pushing a shopping cart in a grocery store! Especially when you are using an earpiece and you are speaking loudly!
In a Bible Study especially if your the one conducting it. You may be a Pastor or an official in the church. But if you are teaching put it on vibrate….check and see if it is an emergency and then put it away if it isn’t…better still could you just turn it off for the hour you are teaching.
Turn off your cellphones at concerts. It is always announced at the beginning of a concert, but I’ve heard them go off anyway. Concerts get recorded. My orchestra director recently posted on Facebook that when he was in the audience, he couldn’t believe how many people were reading their e-books, playing electronic games, texting on their phones, etc. I saw that for myself at an All State Band concert a couple of weeks ago. Put them away people and enjoy the music!
A cell phone should not be used anywhere that is impolite to talk aloud. There is a way to talk on a cell quietly. Put your hand in front of your mouth and phone. Carrying on a cell phone conversation while checking out in line at any store is particularly rude. And, Emilie, the person talking about the Red Cross was breaking the Code of Ethics they signed when they became affiliated with the Red Cross whether employee or volunteer. Shame on them!
In the library. I used to work in a library and every time someone came up to check out and they were on the phone I would wait to check them out until they were off of the phone. I would just keep their books closed until they noticed nothing was happening. A lot of times they were unhappy with me, but I always thought…they were being rude.
Anywhere in public with an ear piece. I hate when people do that, I always wonder if they are talking to me or nuts. Lol…
In public restrooms!
Amen.
During a wedding ceremony.