Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Cell Phone Etiquette

I don't know about most people but when I go into a doctor's office if I do not turn off my cell phone, I will at least silence it. In fact, most offices have signs stating that they would like for you to do so. I call this not only common sense, but common courtesy.

As I sat in the office of my OBGYN this morning waiting to have my 31 week check up, some young girls walked in. One of these said girls had a baby with her, so I'm guessing she was there for her postpartum check up. She and her friend walked into the waiting room of this office and were conversing very loudly about another girl. When they walked in and realized that they had caught the attention of the other 10-15 people in the office, they piped down but only for a moment. When they sat down, one of their phones rang. I couldn't tell which one because they sat on the other side from me and there was a half wall seperating us. First of all I had to listen to their annoying ring tone and once she answered the phone she spoke very loudly for the whole office to hear. I was trying to read an article in a magizine and in the background I learned all about her relationship with her boyfriend and how he'd pissed her off last weekend. I cannot stand to hear someone else's phone conversation no matter what the subject, but especially not when it is a teenie bopper speaking nonsense!

After these girls got called back (they were seeing a different doctor) a young couple came in and they began to play with their cell phones. Apparently she was having text wars with some of her friends while he scrolled through his ringtones. By the time I got back to see my doctor I was about ready to strangle someone. I think if his phone would've rang while he was examining me, he would've been the lucky one. Thank goodness he has the courtesy to turn off his phone.

My advice to you is that if you're reading this and you go into a doctor's office, or any other confined space especially when said confined space is most likely to have a pregnant woman inside you'd better turn off your cell phone unless you want it permanently inserted in your ear or my choice of any other of your body's orifices!

12 comments, add yours here:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

uh oh. tish is getting older. oops... that's how i feel too! ha ha ha

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Akelamalu said...

Some people are just downright rude!

Barb said...

What's really sad is that it has to be explained to them. Over and over again.

Mo and The Purries said...

This morning I had a husband and wife arguing with each other while at the same time arguing with their grown daughter on their cell phone - they kept passing the phone back and forth, so it was a big old 3-way argument.
Very annoying.

Linda said...

I so totally agree with you on this! People have become so rude when it comes to cell phones; I am beginning to think that they should just check them at the door.

Tawnya Shields said...

I wonder what these people with their rude cell phones would do if someone actually snapped and stood up and told them off pointing out their rude behavior? I wonder just what would happen? I suspect a standing ovation. If I get the gumption to do this one day I will be sure to let you know.

Travis Cody said...

I'm with you on this one.

Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis) said...

And they all said AMEN!

Matthew S. Urdan said...

Great post! Thanks for the kind words and digg this morning. Much appreciated.

If I could make a suggestion...after you make a post, digg the post yourself and submit it to digg. That way when entrecarders come by to drop on your post, all they need to do is click the digg button rather than having to spend time submitting the post for the first time. If you write a post, you should be the first one to digg it every time. I guarantee entrecarders will be more willing to digg your posts that way.

Have an awesome holiday!

Desert Songbird said...

Ugh. Since when do people think that their phone conversations interest me in the slightest? Whenever I get a call, if I'm in a public area, I leave the area or speak very softly and tell the caller I'll call them back. If I'm waiting at the doctor's office, I turn off my ringer. Geez. How difficult is it to turn off a ringer, people?

Matthew S. Urdan said...

Hey, just back to see if you had a chance to see WALL-E yet!

All, it's Sunday and I'm catching up on comments for the week. This is in response to your comment on my post: Almost Wordless Wednesday: Pixar's WALL-E.

Linda--WOW, thank you so much for the kind words, the superlative, and the validation.

Jennifer--I actually refer to Short Circuit in my review. Johnny 5 was hilarious. The difference between Johnny 5 and WALL-E though is that WALL-E can't talk. Johnny 5 had clever dialog for his humor. WALL-E just has expression and gestures--which is far more difficult to do--especially to animate. Let me know what you think of WALL-E after you see it.

Sizzlingpopcorn--Thanks Jean! No doubt...You know, there's always the possibility of Best Picture as well--Beauty and the Beast got a nomination...WALL-E is better.

the bushie--it's dramatic, but very lighthearted. Make sure you stop back at MTMD and let me know what you thought about the movie after you see it.

Henson--You are so right! Have you seen WALL-E yet? I'm anxious to know what you think, especially considering our recent discussion on animated films.

tashabud--Yeah, well, when I love something, I glow. Kind of like ET's Heartlight. ;) Let me know what you think after you see WALL-E!

Crazy Working Mom--You won't be disappointed. Why don't you go see it today? The night is young. Do it now.

Cheers!

Matthew S. Urdan said...

All, it's Sunday and I'm catching up on comments for the week. This is in response to your comment on my post: Declaration of Independence.

Henson--Thanks for sharing that...like I said to you earlier this week, I had the chance to see the Declaration of Independence on Display at the National Archives. It was one of those moments in life when you're so close to something so important it's not just like touching history, but it's like a wormhole connection to another place and time--while in the course of major world events, very few will be able to recognize their importance at the time, but through the the proximity to just a document like this, it really takes you to that moment in time, to that place, to that moment that really changed the world in the most significant of ways.

Crazy Working Mom--Et tu!

Len--like I said earlier to you, I can't imagine how difficult it must be for our troops in Iraq. They really must be wondering what they are fighting for, because it's not their freedom, our freedom, or even the Iraqis freedom. I really wish we could bring them home and they could enjoy the fireworks--even on a 98 degree night.

Mrs. Mecomber--great point...Especially after the breakup of the Former Soviet Union, there are a lot of countries in the world out there a lot younger than we are, even if their culture might still be a little bit our senior.

Kimmie--anytime you want to talk about Detroit just let me know. I'm heading back to Detroit this Thursday for four days. I'll also check out your blog. Ken's stuff is amazing. I'm glad you found your way here via Ken.

Cheers!