What has my feathers all ruffled? It
is the gratuitous use of cell phones.
I’m the first person to admit that I
have a disturbing and unnatural attachment to my cell phone. It is an iPhone
and it has a pretty case that is a reproduction of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.”
It stays by my side at all times and contains cool music, my link to the
Internet, Facebook, every important phone number on the planet, and has the
most annoying robo-assistant to help with any question I have, but rarely gives
me the answer I am searching for. Frankly, I’m surprised I haven’t named the
blasted thing.
Now that I have confessed that bit
of information, I will say that I use my phone in public on occasion. It
usually isn’t easy because my carrier is behind in technology by about 15
years. So when I’m in the grocery store and I want to know if my son wants
green or red apples, I have to go all the way to the very front to acquire a
signal. It really isn’t worth it.
I also don’t have reception in any
other major stores or at my job. This means that I am off the grid if I’m not
in my car or at home which is fine with me because I don’t like to be bothered
while I’m shopping anyway. Please leave a message.
Apparently, this isn’t the case with
other individuals.
My family and I went out for a nice
breakfast at a local pancake place one morning not too long ago. It was nice
because we didn’t have to prepare it ourselves. Also, nothing beats having a
syrup selection that includes butter pecan and strawberry. No one needs that
much sugar in the morning, but smothering your pancakes with one of those after
diving into a massive bacon and cheddar omelet felt so right.
When we sat down, the problem was
immediately clear and seated directly behind us. He was well into his call
about, get this, weight loss. How incredibly inappropriate given the gluttony
that was about to occur at our table!
The guy’s daughter was sitting at
the table with him as he rattled on with his sales pitch about an effective
workout routine. My husband rolled his eyes. As a salesman, he hears this stuff
all day long.
I felt bad for the kid. If I’m going
to ignore my children while I talk on my phone, I at least try to do it in the
privacy of my own home where no one can witness it.
In line at the grocery store the
other day, a different gentleman was talking on his wireless headset. Those are
even worse because first you think the person is talking to you; then you think
they are crazy; and then you finally realize they are on the phone.
Most phone etiquette rules advise to
stay at least ten feet away from others while on your call and never to use the
phone in certain places like restaurants, elevators, and funerals. It is silly
we have to tell people this.
I almost miss the days when you had
to be at home to make and receive phone calls. Almost.
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