GeekSugar

Geek Out: Do You Listen To Others' Cell Phone Conversations?

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:02:09 -0700

Today's geek out comes to you courtesy of an anecdote posted by SilverFang9899 in the Cell Phone Rant Group. It wasn't so much the cell phone story itself, about a woman screaming and crying on her cell phone - "It sounded as though her boyfriend were breaking up with her" - but a bit that SilverFang wrote about her own reaction.

She wrote: "It didn't really bother me, as I take perverse pleasure into listening to people's phone conversations, but if I were [her], I would have put my window up!"

To see what I think of this 'perverse pleasure', just read more.

I have to confess that I totally relate to the perverse pleasure bit. No, I'm not a weirdo eavesdropper, but I'm just sayin': If you're ranting and raving on your cell phone in the aisles of Walgreens or the quiet bus, I'm probably going to listen. Especially if it's interesting.

Likewise, I expect that any public cell phone conversation I have is fodder for the unfortunate people near me who have to listen to it, and I try to remember that when my phone rings and I'm not alone.

Fess up: do you ever listen in?

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Cell Phone Rant: The Old Ignore

GeekSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:00:07 -0700

Usually our cell phone rants have to do with people being on their cell phones at the wrong time and place, like while you're in the ladies' room, ordering food, etc., but here's an offense many of us do at some point, even if you're totally texting in the right time and place: The Ignore.

Have you ever been hanging out with someone when they're text messaging or on their cell phone, and it's like you're not even there?

They might not think they're being rude because they're not mid-conversation with you, but there are some people who will mentally check out because they're texting, and even though you know they can hear you, you can't get into a new conversation at all because their head is only on their phone.

I have a friend who does this - he gets a text and suddenly disappears. I can see him - I just can't talk to him or get him to respond until his text session is over.

To see what else I have to say about the Cell Phone Ignore, just read more.

And there are also cell phone conversations. Even when you keep it short, sometimes you can tune out the person that you're with so much so that they feel invisible. Another person who shall remain nameless has a bad habit of picking me up in her car while she's already on the phone - and though I don't need her full attention, I know that if I say something, she won't hear me at all.

Most of the time, it's repeat offenders, and I know it sounds vague, like I'm criticizing people for giving all their attention to one task at a time, but it's more about how certain people will completely ignore you if you suddenly do need to say something.

It's not even like they'll give you the sideways glance acknowledgment of, "I know you need to talk to me, but this is important," it's as if they're not even there. Or worse, like you're not even there.

Do you know any ignorers?

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Cell Phone Rant: On the Phone at the Pharmacy

GeekSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:02:16 -0800

Spending an hour waiting for a prescription to be filled is not anyone's idea of fun, but it happens to all of us once in a while. It happened to me recently, and as I sat in the small waiting area, I people-watched the pharmacy line (and read People, of course).

What had me surprised on this day, other than the length of time it takes Walgreens to get a prescription ready, was the amount of people who stayed on their cell phones while interacting with the pharmacist.

One customer talked so loudly while in line that another customer scolded him; this had no effect, though, since he continued his conversation as the pharmacist at the counter counseled him on how he should take the meds (a multitasker!).

To hear who else had to gab, just read more.

Another woman exasperatedly had to end her phone call at her turn at the window, when she realized she couldn't just ignore the pharmacist, and that there were, in fact, details to work out with the medicine.

I get it; we're all busy. But aren't the drugs you put in your body kind of worth all your attention? What if you missed an instruction because you didn't hear it while talking on your phone? This is one of those places you put the phone on hold - not the person who's dispensing your medicine.

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Cell Phone Rant: Why Texting Is Just As Bad

GeekSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:30:09 -0800

I suppose it would be OK to text in certain places that it's not appropriate to be using a cell phone; while you're in a drive-thru, or happily tapping away in the backseat of a taxi cab, but in most scenarios, it is just as rude to be clicking your thumbs through texts as it is to be flapping your lips on your phone.

I don't mean to be ageist, but there's a younger demographic that I've encountered that thinks this is OK - I say this because I found myself chewing out my 20-year-old sister several times (I still love you, baby girl) over the long weekend for texting.

Yes, I know that younger people (man I sound SO old) text more often than they talk on the phone and maybe starving college students can't afford pricey smartphones to email on - I get the practice, but not the dependence.

To see the places I have given my sister the stink eye for texting (including the movies, the most sacred of cell phone abstinence), just read more.

Stink eye delivered: At the dinner table (really?), in a movie theater (come on), and (my fave) while we're having an intent conversation, just the two of us. In an effort to keep our sisterly bond intact, she gamely apologized, but I knew she'd have those texts flowing the minute she was free to, when the old-lady big sister looked the other way.

And so I urge you, on behalf of the geezers who don't understand why you are always texting, indulge us and don't text anywhere you would feel weird talking on a cell phone.

Got a good cell phone or texting rant? Join the Cell Phone Rant Group!

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Cell Phone Rant: Is It OK to Talk in a Taxi?

GeekSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:00:49 -0700

OK, Cell Phone Rant group members, I've got a sticky subject on cell phone etiquette. It's pretty cut and dry where not to be on your cell phone, lest you're judged as rude or worse, icky - the drive-thru, ordering food, and yes, the bathroom - but are there places where you're receiving a service that it's OK?

I'm talking specifically about taxi cabs. Live in a city, and you're bound to take a few rides. The thought came to me the other night, when I got in a cab alone and had to let my boyfriend know that I was safely on my way home.

I kept it short because I wasn't alone inside the car, but besides being physically there to drive me, the driver didn't try to engage me in conversation. Our only exchanges were when I got in the car, to tell him where I needed to go, and at the end, to thank him when I paid.

To see what I think, just read more.

So I'm conflicted. While I would never want to discount anyone's importance by talking on my cell phone as if they weren't there, it's not as if I'm ignoring him or making him wait for my instructions or payment. But on the other hand, I'm still uncomfortable having longer than a quick, informative call.

However, I know many people who use the time in the back of a cab to use their phone to catch up on returning calls or pass the time.

So, tell me what you think . . . is talking on your phone in a taxi cab kosher, or just as rude as anywhere else?

(P.S. Got a good gem to rant about? Join the Cell Phone Rant group now!)

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Cell Phone Rant: Express Your Movie Theater Phone Rage!

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:00:55 -0700

TeamSugar user Foofie recently shared some advice in the Cell Phone Rant Group for those of us who are bothered when people talk on the phone or text in movie theaters: speak up! Foofie says:

If I tell the cellphone user to put it away and they don't, I simply go to the usher and tell them that I saw that person trying to record the movie with their cellphone and I get them booted out. Yes, it's not very nice but I feel justified in my doing so.

I have to hand it to you, Foofie, and anyone who speaks up to tech etiquette offenders. There is a time and a place.

Got a rant for the Cell Phone Rant Group? Join us and vent to your heart's content.

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Cell Phone Rant: The Guy Making Your Food Is the Rude One?!

GeekSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:00:22 -0700

TeamSugar user Jyramiah added a great anecdote to the Cell Phone Rant Group: What would you do if the person on the cell phone being rude called you rude for trying to help her?

It started with her working at a sandwich shop when a customer entered and got in line while talking on her cell phone. When the counter person tried to take the her order, what do you think the customer did? Said "hang on" to the person she was talking to and made the order? Told the person on the other line she'd call him back after she left the place of business?

Nope. The customer on the cell phone told the person on the other end of the line that the guy trying to help her behind the counter was being rude. By trying to do his job and help her. If that's not galling enough, when the customer with the really important phone call got to Jyramiah at the register, she had the nerve to complain about the sandwich guy being rude by interrupting her phone call. To hear what Jyramiah said to her, just read more.

Jyramiah gave her an earful:
Customer: "That young man was very rude."
J: "Well what did he do, ma'am?"
C: "He kept interrupting me while I was on the phone."
J. "Well you shouldn't be on the phone when you're ordering anyways. Sorry to say, but that is more rude than what he was doing. And if you have a problem with it, you can call my higher up. Here, let me get you his number. I'm sure he'll be happy to hear how people are treating his employees."

Good for you, J!

Got a rant for the Cell Phone Rant Group? Join us and vent to your heart's content!

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Cell Phone Rant: Drive-Thru Revenge

GeekSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:31:00 -0700

The Cell Phone Rant Group is there so you can vent about someone who infuriated you by being on his or her cell phone at an inappropriate time, because rarely do we have the wherewithal to go, "Hey! What you're doing is rude!"

Well today, TeamSugar user kaylamom2000 is my hero, because that's what she did. She spilled her guts in the Rant Group about a day where she was working a drive-thru, and a customer who was driving through refused to get off of his phone.

Kaylamom2000 says that when the customer pulled up to pay, "He had the nerve to hold up his hand and tell me 'Just a minute'! He continued to talk. My manager came to the window and he did the same thing with her."

To see how kaylamom2000 handled this Chatty Cathy and became my idol, just read more.

"After three minutes of different people trying to get his attention, including the district manager . . . I yelled at the top of my lungs out the window: 'Excuse me if we interrupted your convo, but you are interrupting our workday on your damn cell phone!"

Ha, you know, you probably wouldn't normally get away with yelling at a customer if you weren't standing there with your manager and district manager, but I think that guy learned a valuable lesson about wasting other people's time.

Has anyone else ever told a cell phone offender how their rudeness made them feel? Also, for other great cell phone rants, please join the Cell Phone Rant Group and vent to your heart's content - you might end up on the geeksugar home page!

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Confession: I am a Cell Phone Rant Offender

GeekSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:00:13 -0700

Forgive me, geeksugar readers, for I have sinned. You see, I began the Cell Phone Rant Group as a means to call out the mobile phone rudeness of the world, and yesterday, I totally broke a commandment: Thou Shalt Not Talk on the Phone While at the Cashier.

When Cell Phone Rant Group contributor kiddylnd shared her cashier rant, I totally agreed. And I still agree! It was a booboo that I will try to never repeat. As kiddylnd says, you should give your full attention to a cashier, but hear me out! To read my confession, just read more.

I had just left the gym and had my iPhone earbuds in and was getting a rare quick chat from my normally busy sister. On my walk home, I spied a Walgreens and remembered I was fresh out of shampoo and conditioner, and this was the last Walgreens I could go to on my walk home.

Still talking to my sis, I seized the opportunity for clean hair and grabbed my supplies. When I got to the counter, instead of clicking off, I just tried to barely talk - my silly logic was that if I wasn't so obviously on the phone, it wasn't as bad and I wouldn't offend the cashier as much!

I know - excuses, excuses. Now that I have admitted my guilt, I hope I can be forgiven, and I hereby sentence myself to cell phone karma: I will not roll my eyes the next time someone divulges the dirty details of their last date on the bus.

Do you have any cell phone rant offenses to confess?

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Cell Phone Rant: Potty Talk

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:00:58 -0700

So far, the Cell Phone Rant group seems to be a cathartic place to unload all your frustrations with the rest of the oblivious cell phone world - in fact, I have even read a couple stories with my mouth agape, and it's pretty hard to surprise me!

My fave new cell phone rant comes to us from MartiniLush, who encountered a gabber in the place we expect a little privacy: The Ladies' restroom.

MartiniLush says: "So, I am at work one day last week and run into the ladies room to do my business. From the stall next to me, I hear someone talking and I am thinking 'wtf?'"

To see the rest of MartiniLush's story, just read more.

". . . Yep, she was on a cell phone, having a rather personal conversation. . . all the while people are coming in and out, flushing, etc. . . I couldn't believe it!"

I don't know who I feel weirder for; the people like MartiniLush who had to listen to the conversation while trying to use the restroom in peace, or the person on the other end of the call, who heard the flushes!

Get the story and comments here, and don't forget to join the group!

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