Rude Cell Phone Use Continues (Plus 11 Tips for Dealing With It)
The Low-Tech Times recently published an article covering examples of rude cell phone usage. The original list did not include cell phone usage on airplanes, but it probably should have.
Last month, Engadget reported on a Harris Interactive Survey finding that 74% of those polled say are against in-flight calling:
In a Harris Interactive survey of 2,030 US adults of whom, 1,778 have actually flown in an airplane, a full three quarters say that cellphone usage on airplanes should be restricted to “non-talking features.” In other words, email, texting, and surfing the Web. That’s a pretty significant majority seeing as how the EC has cleared the way for calls within European airspace.
The Low-Tech Times is not only against in-flight cell phone use, but also against unnecessary calls before and after takeoff.
So how should sensible low-tech people deal with the hi-tech crazies? My friend Kevin, from 30secondwords.com, recently encountered some rude cell phone usage in a bookstore:
There were fellow bookstore patrons also enjoying the quiet environs, when a guy sits down two seats from us and makes a phone call to his boss about spilling paint on the stage floor. I did not have an issue with his phone call, but I did have an issue with his volume. It was as if he sought out a quiet place to be loud. When I asked him to turn the volume down, he flicked me off.
The experience inspired Kevin to publish 11 tips for dealing with rude cell phone users. Highly recommended. My favorite tip is #9:
9. Do not move from your location. Make them move. Suggest a place called “Outside.”