I don't have a problem with cell phones in restaurants, per se.

 

I do have a problem when someone won't stop their conversation to place their order when a server comes to the table.

 

Having been a server, and knowing the timing involved in providing great service to several tables at one time, it is rude to the server to ignore them when they come to the table. At least tell them that you're not ready.

 

I've seen and been with people who complained about service, but never bothered to get off their phone to let the server know where they stood in their decision making.

A side issue, probably worthy of another thread, but why is it rude to be on a cell phone in a restaurant having a conversation? I know cell users at time can be rather loud, but I've sat next to plenty of tables during my lifetime where the "live" conversations were as loud if not louder than the phone conversations. To me it makes zero sense to ban cell phones in restaurants. I can see telling people on cells to quiet it down, but then again, then again, its been a rare situation where I obvserved restaurant people to ask live conversations to quiet it down. Is there a double standard? Is there a snob factor acting as the driving force behind the ban of cell phones?

 

I was once travelling on a train and I had a gentlemen tell me to turn down my walkman and I posed this same question (bolded above) in my head when he told me this. There were 50 other people around us that you could hear entire conversations, but my headphones you could barely make out a beat... why would that bother everyone so much more? I think it is a psychological thing in that you cannot hear what is going on the other end of the line (or headphones).

Everyone in our family has a cell phone and we also have a land line. Cell phones are a great way to keep in touch with teenager's. The youngest son got his cell phone when he turned 16 and got his driver's license.

I have both.... I work for a land line phone company, and really want to keep my job... So keep your land lines, please!!!

I can't think of one person in my immediate family over 12 thats doesn't have on.

I have given this a lot of thought and analyzed it the same way you have. Why does it bother me to hear someone on their cell phone when it is no louder than any other conversation?

 

The reason is because we are only getting one side of the conversation and it is usually an obviously unimportant call. It is impossible to use your cell phone in a crowd without looking like a rude jerk.

 

I got my first cell phone in 1992 and it was mounted in my wife's mini-van. It was for safety only as she was carting around our young family.

 

Now we have 5 cell phones and I have 4 Verizon Wireless Broadband cards for internet access on laptops (some are for work).

 

Text messaging is an awesome way to keep in touch with my kids but I enforce limits on the phone usage. We were driving down the highway one day and my 15 year old was furiously texting away. I asked him who it was and he replied, "I don't know...someone." I responded that the phone is mine....I pay for it and he is close to seeing it fly out the window. He then told me who it was (and it was innocent) but I still grounded him from it for a week. My kids know that their phones (and email and IM) are subject to my review at anytime. They can live with that or do without them.

 

Personally, my cell phone is for my convenience. I used to take my wife's call regardless of the circumstances but she now knows to text message me and I will respond.

 

If it is not the perfect time for me to talk, I will not answer it. Leave a message.....I will call you back.

 

Beautiful post. :thumb:

 

 

The only person in my family who does not have a cell phone is my brother. He's 28 and probably one of the few people in that age group who does not have one.

We have 5...1 each for me, the wife, and 3 kids, 2 in high school and 1 in college. We also have a land line. Geez, we also have satellite tv with 5 up and running, 3 desktop computers and a laptop, 2 fax machines, wireless internet, every game system know to man, personal copier, scanners, DVD with every tv, CD burners, DVD burners, vhs players, etc, etc,....unbelievable!! I had never thought about until now but we have moved in the era of the "real" Jetsons!!!

I have a cell phone, my wife has one, my 12 year old son has one. By 10 year old daughter does not have one yet. I do also have a land line, because my home is in an area that does not have great cell service.

With two kids active in sports it is essential to keep track of what one is doing in basketball or baseball while the other is in golf or basketball AT THE SAME TIME and the parents have had to go separate ways to take them.

No cell phone here. I am thinking about breaking down and getting one for when one of us (me or Mrs. O.R.) are in the car in case an emergency should arise though. I would want a simple one, no text message, camera or any of that stuff.

As for driving round with a phone attatched to one's ear, which seems to be the normal now I really wish that it would be against the law.

I have witnessed I don't know how many near accidents caused by people on a cell phone while driving.

No cell phone here. I am thinking about breaking down and getting one for when one of us (me or Mrs. O.R.) are in the car in case an emergency should arise though. I would want a simple one, no text message, camera or any of that stuff.

As for driving round with a phone attatched to one's ear, which seems to be the normal now I really wish that it would be against the law.

I have witnessed I don't know how many near accidents caused by people on a cell phone while driving.

 

Interesting. Mike McConnell addressed that very issue this weekend and your contention in his view is incorrect.

 

Accidents have been on a DOWNWARD trend, according to him, for the past 5 or 6 years.

 

If cell phones and talking on them while driving was such an cause of accidents, it would only make logical sense that more accidents would be occurring as more and more people GET cellphones.

 

But in reality, the opposite is actually going on. The roads are getting safer and safer despite your contention that these new gadgets are making roads unsafe.

No cell phone here. I am thinking about breaking down and getting one for when one of us (me or Mrs. O.R.) are in the car in case an emergency should arise though. I would want a simple one, no text message, camera or any of that stuff.

As for driving round with a phone attatched to one's ear, which seems to be the normal now I really wish that it would be against the law.

I have witnessed I don't know how many near accidents caused by people on a cell phone while driving.

 

 

One of my sisters has a cell phone that she's had for about 10 years, I think. It's an relic, relatively speaking. :lol: I don't think she's used it more than 10 times in 10 years. :lol:

 

My parents have a cell phone, and it's always funny to see my mom or dad react when it rings. :lol: They can never figure out where the ringing is coming from, until they've missed the call. :lol:

 

But, they have it for emergencies, which lately seem to be increasing. :creepy:

No cell phone here. I am thinking about breaking down and getting one for when one of us (me or Mrs. O.R.) are in the car in case an emergency should arise though. I would want a simple one, no text message, camera or any of that stuff.

As for driving round with a phone attatched to one's ear, which seems to be the normal now I really wish that it would be against the law.

I have witnessed I don't know how many near accidents caused by people on a cell phone while driving.

 

I would recommend getting one for emergencies for either you or your wife while you are driving. You can get a cell phone pretty cheap without all of the bell's and whistle's. My Mom has one!

I've got a cell phone(Razr) with a Bluetooth headset(highly recommend) & a land line.

Guess what My Ringtone sounds like?