Cell phones in restaurants
 

There is a recent post about hats in restaurants. I'm not sure why this is so bothersome to some as it is mostly seen in in golf course country clubs where folks have just come off the golf course. I find loud, obnoxious cell phone use to be much more annoying as it actually intrudes on your dining experience much more than hats ever will.

I agree! But, what really bothers me is the fact that the 'powers that be' are actually considering allowing cell phones to be used on flights -------- Imagine doing a long distance flight with someone next to you on their phone for most of the time.

Thank You Thank You Ditto :bigbow:

I am willing to say that a large percentage of people complaining about hats in restaurants are guilty of using cell phones in restaurants. I may be wrong.

perhaps we can kill two birds with one thread:shrug:

If they weren't on the phone having a conversation then they would be talking with the party they showed up with. Either way if they are loud then they are loud. It is what it is. People have no tolerance for things that are different than what they want or expect. The world has changed, accept it or pull ur hair out.

I say let them talk. It could be good news, could be bad news, most of all it could be the last time they get to talk to each other. You can't count on there being a tomorrow so enjoy today. Enjoy the limited time you have left in this world.

If someone is two or three tables away in a restaurant and wearing a hat it would not bother my enjoying my meal. If someone was two or three tables away talking loudly on a cellphone it surely would. Myself I think both are wrong

cell phone usage is just as much a pollutant as cigarette smoke.
They should either be banned from many public venues or allow the venue to have an electronic jammer present.

How many times has any one of us been in a doctors office, where there is a sign requesting to turn off the cell phones. And how many times does one not only go off, but the inconsiderate person just jabbers away. Is it me or do people using cell phones feel compelled to talk more loudly when on their phone.

We somehow all survived when our phones were tethered to the walls by wires.

There seems to be no common sense or courtesy with the majority of cell phone users.

If there was a personal, immediate area around me, cell phone jammer available, I would have one.....and it would be on 24/7.

How about the guy who brings his dog to the restaurant, keeps his hat on, talks loudly on his phone, complains about the meal and service, doesn't tip well, then goes back to the square and looks for the seat he saved two hours ago.
Did I miss anything ? LOL

:BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:

I'll take a hat over a cell phone any day. If you find such a jammer, let me know.

i think the last post just about covered the "major" issues we talk about. concerning the cells, if one must have a conversation, how about just stepping outside? if removing a hat in a restaurant is a common courtesy, than not interjecting one's phone conversations on others is also a common courtesy.

Now how reasonable is this?
If we all agree to politely notify the violators then over time it will be back to normal. Like most subjects requiring action instead of just words....it will never happen.....unfortunately!

This is definitely a generational thing. Young people today are generally not the culprits but more often are seasoned folks. I only speak for myself, but most of my communication by way of cell/smart phone is texting or other social media. For many people my age and down, it's the same story. Now, this is just my observation, but almost every time I've witnessed rude cell phone behavior it is from someone older. So please, don't jam my service!

I have been in The Villages about 4 years and eat out about 3 times a week. I have not noticed many people talking on cell phones at all. Quite a few seem to text but not talk.

I do agree it is very annoying to hear phone talk and would be real annoyed with a phone chatter in a plane.

Oh, got to go now - my phone is ringing!

Fully agree and now they are even considering their use on planes. That would prevent me from flying in the future.

Its addicting. I used to substitute at a HS and the school tried to ban the cell phones with detention, etc. to no avail. Now, while the teacher tries to teach about 50% of the students are on the phone quietly texting. It became a lost cause.

At one time you could buy jammers on Ebay, they were all coming out of China, but they are illegal, especially anywhere near to anything important that could inadvertently be impacted.

Cell phone jammers ARE available. Must be imported from overseas.
Possession of one is against the law, however, they are small enough
to be easily concealed. Out of sight, out of mind. Even if the average
cop saw one, he wouldn't know what it was.

And no, I don't have one.......:o:a20::girlneener:

The worse and most annoying case of cell phone abuse in a restaurant for me was a number of years back when in a dinner. I was no further than 6 ft. if that from a woman who was talking to a toddler, YES a toddler and using baby talk. Common, do we really need someone talking goo-goo, ga-ga, coochie-coo, etc. loudly - right next to you? Jeeze-Lousie!!

I've felt tempted more than once when someone was about to answer a cell phone near me to LOUDLY say... "HEY, IF IT'S FOR ME, TELL THEM I'M NOT HERE! Too bad we can't cut a loud juicy one on demand just for those behaving badly with cell phones!

Don't get me wrong. Not all cell phone use in a restaurant or plane is bad so long as they're courteous enough to keep it low keyed, short and necessary!

Riding your bike in the street back to the square , slowing everybody else up.

A Blessing
 

Cell phones have been a blessing for us. It means that my husband does not have to be tethered to me 24/7. You see, he has lost the ability to talk because of a stroke. He knows exactly what he wants to say, but it comes out totally wrong...even nonsensical sometimes. He wears a medical ID bracelet with emergency contact numbers in it, including my cell phone. Caller ID alerts me if I need to answer a call or can just ignore it. My neighbors all know to call my cell phone if I am not home and he is and I am needed.

I know who calls just to chat, who calls to try and sell me something, and if it is a call within TV that I am not familiar with, I answer it because it could be about him. If it is not, I simply tell them that I will call back later or they can. Our medical alert system/alarm on our home phone also has my cell phone number in case of emergency. I keep my phone on vibrate when I am out and have it set to flash for an incoming call, etc. In restaurants or whatever, if I need to take the call, I step outside. When I have doctor appointments and he is not with me, I explain the situation and they are fine with it.

I agree with the unnecessary calls just to chatter. Those will wait. Emergencies will not. I do not text and drive (I am challenged enough just trying to sit on the couch and text) and am not a big fan of texting, anyway.

Please don't judge unless you know exactly someone's situation. This is the only way my husband and I can each maintain any semblance of independence. That is actually more important to him than me.

Hope this gives you a better understanding of the pros of cell phones in public.

You missed one thing...
 

You stepped in the dog's poop outside the restaurant....Ha!:girlneener:

He also slurped his soup loudly.

Yes you did. He drinks 4 beers and drives his car home over the golf cart bridge

You have good points, but I think it's pretty obvious, when someone is talking on a cell phone at a dinner table (yours or anyone's around you), what they are saying. And mostly it is unnecessary, non-emergency stuff that could very well wait for another time. Or else it's in a doctor's waiting room, talking to children/grandchildren, and you are their captive audience. And yes, they are loud.

Why not put your phone on vibrate, put it in your pocket or on the table, and then step out of the room if caller i.d. shows it's someone important you need to speak with?

Five of us were at dinner at Cody's. I knew one lady, and she had invited three friends I didn't know from PA to visit. We were all having a swell time till we got to Cody's and two of them dragged out their phones and proceeded to check their email and text people. I don't care who you are, it's just rude. I couldn't say anything because I had just met these ladies. My friend and the other person were not pleased. They were in a position to say something, but did not. Not everyone is confrontational.

Take your hat off and put your phone in it!

We were just at TooJay's. It was very crowded. I saw no men in caps and no one on their cell phone. I really don't think this is an epidemic. Much ado about nothing.

Sign a professor put up in class: "I know when you're texting because most people don't look down at their crotch and smile."

your situation and others like it are completely understandable and would be supported by us all.

We are addressing those who have no reason what so ever to have to gab in public, usually too loudly and with no concern for those around them.
They ALL know who they are!!

I couldn't agree more! Good Post!

Profound. Never thought of it this way.

It's just a simple case of manners. I obviously can't speak for all who posted here but I don't believe anyone is suggesting you should never use you cell phone any where any time in public. I think it's certainly more impolite to talk incessantly on a cell phone in a restaurant than wearing a hat. Clearly there are times necessary to talk and text on your cell phone in a restaurant, but many more times where courtesy to others would dictate you excuse yourself. IMO the most guilty have an extremely inflated sense of self worth.

Originally Posted by hema54 View Post
"I say let them talk. It could be good news, could be bad news, most of all it could be the last time they get to talk to each other. You can't count on there being a tomorrow so enjoy today. Enjoy the limited time you have left in this world."

They can still step out of the room so others don't have to "enjoy" the time they have left too!

If I must communicate while in a public place, unless it is an emergency, I either text or wait until I'm in my car. Why bother others?

I would rather see the hat on his/her head then on the table or the bar...I've seen that many times as I was a bartender for 30 years and that is so unsanitary and so are purses as they are laid down on dirty floors etc. and then they lay them down on a table or a bar...yuck !!!

I'm sorry but many need to get over it. Cell phones are a fact of life that will not go away. Deal with it. Dinner tastes the same whether the conversation at the next table is face to face or over a cell.

Well said!

No one cares if you're speaking in a normal volume.
At least texting they're quiet.

We ALL need to just be more courteous to those around us.

Quite the contrary, ambiance is an important part of a meal. The people who need to "get over it" are the arrogant ones who think they are entitled to their poor manners.

Whatever happened to "live and let live "? Tolerance would be so amazing. It's a phone call. Deal with it.

I am dealing with it. I'm expressing my disgust over arrogance and poor manners. And I'm entitled to my opinion without receiving rancorous comebacks.

In my opinion, your idea of tolerance sounds like chaos. What tolerance do those carrying on loud cell phone conversations in restaurants have for the people around them?