Cell phone rant

[Westernbiker]

Why is it that people seem to wait till they get inside a restaurant (or any other public place) to talk on their cell phone? Take it outside I don't want to hear your conversation! (Must be that they were not brought up with any manners) I just came from lunch and there was a guy talking on his phone in the booth in the other room from me and I could hear him as plain as if he were sitting right across from me. He was talking on the phone as loud as if he were talking to someone across the street. I am pretty easy going but there are a few things that get to me and this is one of them. I am not always the most tactful person in a situation like that so I did not say anything I just moved to a different table. But it did get me wondering what can be said to such a person that would be tactful, politically correct, nice all that crap? Got any advice for the next time? Or should nothing be said to such a person and we just need to live with it?

[Bobbo]

I don’t hear too many people talking loudly on cell phones, but those Nextel walkie-talkie type phones would drive me nuts!  Having a quiet lunch or dinner, then I hear those things go off at full blast volume!  Com’on, dude!  You’re not at the construction site anymore, turn it down!

[Big Rig]

Shut the F UP!!!  

I run into this situation a lot....I answer their questions until they get my point.    

Some times things do not always stay so calm...  

I have tried being polite several times...usually guys get it and move outside. WOMEN....they will giive you lip...

Good luck...

[Chrisj CMA]

Yeah...I specially hate the ones that are like walkie talkies.......the phone beeps real loud then you yell into it, then it beeps again real loud and someone else is yelling back.........well, it sounds like yelling compared to how a normal cell phone conversation usually is.....and these pople walk through the store or restauraunt beeping and yelling and acting like theyre in their living room or something...I hear ya buddy it gives me a pain I cant locate too

[Jess from VA]

Write on a napkin.... " Dear Sir, perhaps you are not aware there are people in this restaurant paying for a reasonably quiet meal.  Your cell phone conversation volume reminds me of my basic training drill instructor (bless his heart).   If you could you please tone it down (or even better take it outside), we all would be very grateful.  Thank you for your anticipated cooperation."   Drop it in front of him, with a smile and no conversation.  Of course, this presumes he can read.  Be prepared for a dispute however.

You could also ask a waitress to speak to him..... this may be something that comes up regularly, and they may have some SOP with it.

I have never liked restaurants, for this very reason... long before cell phones.  I rarely waste money at them, and when riding I go to fast food places (only time I use them) where I can watch the bike and I'm in and out in 10 minutes.  I do not attend hour and a half lunches with riding groups either.

With me it is not "ride to eat, eat to ride."  

[Joe Hummer]

Haven't really had the problem with cell phone...but I work in a cubicle city and the people around me can get loud at times.  One particularly annoying kid likes to make himself sound more important by talking very loudly on the phone.  I got tired of this and handed him a post it note...on that note...I wrote...  "Inside Voice Please".  He has quieted down since then...for the most part.  When I have had enough again...he will receive another note. 

Joe

[rainman]

not had no trouble with cell phones........but on the other hand going into a restaurant and you have sitting behind you or in front of you a group of folk's say like from Japan, India talking in their language in a loud voice just makes me want to get up and drag them out the door. have done it but boy would i like to, but boy would i like to

[Marcel]

Remember Cell Phones do cause BRAIN CANCER.

Your revenge not realized.

Semper Fi

How would I

[Westsider]

if they are really in my '"sound space"?  i just start talking to them  like im on the other end of the line...they give me  the look and usually depart the area.. happened at work a few times so far works good....

[Cliff]

Those same people are the ones who will sit and converse with their tablemates loud enough for you to hear all the deatails from across the room...... grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[bogator]

 wow, what I do is--------look them in the eyes and start answering each time they stop talking ---just like your on the other end of the phone------most of the time they looook at you like  --but keep it up and they will move , sometimes outside ,sometimes to the toilet--works for me .---then I laugh my hinny off.

[Varmintmist]

What is really fabulous is when 4 ladies sit down near you and every one of them makes a call and then they out yell each other.

I am to important to answer a cell phone in a public venue.

[Big IV]

In NC  you could smoke in restaurants until recently which means our restaurants are divided into smoking and non-smoking sections.  Now they just seat you wherever in the restaurant. I'm hoping that we can reclassify the sections into cell phone and non cellphone users. Let's herd all the talkers together on one loud side of the restaurant by the bar. That would leave the rest of the place for talking to people that are with you in the restaurant. We need to inact this while the businesses are still divided!

[Big IV]

Those same people are the ones who will sit and converse with their tablemates loud enough for you to hear all the deatails from across the room...... grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

That I'm fine with. I learned lots about the Boone area Methadone clinic from the toy aisle of Walmart. It is interesting what two adults will talk about while not watching their kids pull things off the shelf. If they're discussing it in public then I'm going to listen.

[Bobbo]

In NC  you could smoke in restaurants until recently which means our restaurants are divided into smoking and non-smoking sections.  Now they just seat you wherever in the restaurant. I'm hoping that we can reclassify the sections into cell phone and non cellphone users. Let's herd all the talkers together on one loud side of the restaurant by the bar. That would leave the rest of the place for talking to people that are with you in the restaurant. We need to inact this while the businesses are still divided!

Maybe a statewide ban of cell phones in public places?!