I think it is extremely rude to use cellphones in places such as you described as eating out...and I think that cell phones should be banned from such places or atleast put on the vibrating option and the person would have to go to the restroom or outside to hold a conversation so not to disturb other persons with the bleeps and bloops , the ringing, the obnoxious rap music or the conversation in general. My sister once worked at Kroger as a cashier and had many customers that would be talking on their cell phones while standing there...my sister would say..."your total is $47.98 mam"...the customer would continue to talk on their phone...my sister would repeat..."that will be $47.98 mam"...the customer would finish their conversation then look at my sister and say..."Oh, how much do I owe?" By this time...my sister would be so mad that she would just point at the register/amount owed instead of repeating it a third time to the rude customer. To be honest...I have very little patience for something like that, so hopefully I wont snap and tell someone just what I think if I come to be in a simular situation. And as Paul Harvey would say..."Good day"

i hate cell phones used in a restaraunt or a public area where there is no privacy.

My husband has to have one for work, but he'll get up and leave to go outside to take care of business.

I turn mine off or put to vibrate when i am in a doc office, bookstore and other places i deem rude to share my concersation.

IF i do happen to get caught and answer i apologize to those around me and make the conversation brief.

From the police blotter last week:

"I (the officer) was dispatched to 41A at 64West due to an accident with injuries...I asked the defendant what had happened. He stated that he had a phone call, looked down at his phone and when he looked up, he rear-ended a vehicle."

By the way, he was also drunk.

Just less than an hour ago we had to dodge a driver with their head bent over holding the phone between their ear and shoulder. They swerved way over the line on a curve.

I use cell phones extensively but there are limits. Oops, gotta go, my cell phone......

Cell phones are nice to have but I agree with you Mer there is a certain etiquette that should be used when using one. Never at the table! Looking forward to your next blog.

No, you're right, Steve. That was her first post.

Welcome on board Meredith.

I too find cell phones and their abusers annoying. Why would you sit down to share a meal with a friend to catch up on old times and then relegate them to "second class" by talking all through your shared dinner to a third party.

I think I had one date with "Mr. Impressive". He asked me out to dinner. We agreed on a time and place, so we might get to know each other better. Between the ordering of our drinks and appetizers and their arrival, he had received and placed three calls (the service was NOT that slow.) I sat silently playing with my napkin waiting for our time to talk. We ordered our main course, and he received a fourth call - that was it! I placed my napkin on the table and said good-bye. He excused himself from the phone call and asked where I was going. He said he thought we had a date. I said so did I, but if he'd give me his cell phone number I call him back when I got home.

Many abusers convey the perception that their needs and wants are more important than everyone else. I think another blogger may have referenced it as the "I" syndrome. It is just one more indication of the "death of civility." Conversation (face-to-face, not faceless info bites on a phone or computer) is becoming a lost art. It is good that you are teaching your children that art. I know they will become masters/mistresses of pleasant conversation.

Look forward to your next post - "running with scissors", but be careful you could put you eye out. (Wink and Grin)