Common (Dis)courtesy… A Rant.

Some people (not all) with cell phones still haven’t gotten the message that talking on your phone while driving is dangerous and illegal, unless you have a “hands free” device such as a Blue Tooth.

            Even WITH a hands free device it’s still just as dangerous.  The danger lies in the distraction.  Most people seem to have difficulty walking and chewing gum at the same time.  Driving and talking on the phone is completely out of the question. 

            Scenario 1:  You’re traveling down the freeway at 65MPH in the #1 (left) lane.  All the traffic around you is, basically, going at the same speed.  Suddenly the cars ahead of you are frantically hitting their brakes and changing lanes.  Then you see it.  A car going 50 MPH, weaving in the lane and slowing, for no apparent reason!  As you follow the other cars to the #2 lane to go around this person of obviously limited intelligence and questionable ancestry, you see that the he has a cell phone growing out of one ear.  The roots from that phone must go very deep because he doesn’t seem able to remove it.  The driver, I use the term loosely,  is oblivious to the rest of the world, especially the traffic around him.

THIS IS AN ACCIDENT LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO HAPPEN.

Unfortunately, it probably won’t be just the one car involved in it.

            Scenario 2:  You’re sitting several cars back at a red traffic light.  The light changes to green and the first car crosses the intersection.  The second car just sits there until the light turns yellow, then zooms through the intersection just as the light turns red and traps everyone else.  A person on the sidewalk waiting to cross the street informs you that driver didn’t move because she was texting on her phone.  Ahr r r r r r r r !!!

            Good manners and common courtesy also seem to be falling victim to this technology.

            Scenario 1:  You go to a restaurant to have a nice quiet dinner and glass of wine with your spouse, significant other, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc.  You are seated.  The server brings the wine list and menus.  You are served your wine and order your entrees.

            Suddenly, one of the people at the next table starts having a loud conversation, seemingly with thin air.  “Hi.”  “How are you?”  “Haven’t talked to you since … seems like forever.”  “Tell me what’s going on in your life.”  The cell phone strikes , again.

            You realize that your nice quiet dinner isn’t going to be so “quiet”!  What can this person be thinking.  It’s rude and inconsiderate to intrude on the conversations of the other diners.  And YES it IS an intrusion.  It’s also an insult to his dinner date.  This person is, in essence, saying:  “This phone call is more important than the time I’m spending with you.”

            Restaurants should be like concerts and movies.  Turn off all cell phones and pagers when entering.  If you’re expecting an important call, let your dinner date know and put your phone on vibrate.  When your phone gives you a buzz, excuse yourself and go outside to talk.  Don’t come back in until you’ve hit the “end” button. 

            Scenario 2:   You’re manning the reception desk at your work place.  A “customer” walks in.

She looks like the Hunchback described in the book.  The appearance of a “hump” is due to the cell phone trapped between ear and shoulder.

            This person can’t hang up or even put the phone down long enough to transact business.  Some of these people don’t even appear to be taking time to breathe.  AND YET, they expect you to devote your full attention to them, ignoring the customers behind them, and decipher what they need by reading their own version of sign language (hand signals).  They get very indignant when you aren’t intuitive enough to just KNOW what they need.

What is with the people who seem to think the entire world is interested in their conversations?  You know who I mean.  They’re the ones who insist on using the “speaker” or “walkie-talkie” option on their phone … AT FULL VOLUME. 

            It seems like ego and bad manners go hand-in-hand with arrogance and ignorance.

            Lets all try to show our fellow inhabitants of this tiny speck of dust at least a small amount of courtesy and respect.

I PROMISE TO TRY!  WILL YOU?