by Stephen D. Wilson

Created on: June 18, 2008

At what point in time did we become so in need of being able to communicate, that the mere thought of going someplace or doing some activity without a cell phone brings a gasp from everyone? I looked at history books and encyclopedias and discovered something quite unusual. The world got along just fine for many, many years without having the ability to annoy others with a blasted cell phone! I don't really care if you have a cell phone or bring it into the restaurant with you. You could glue it to your forehead if that turns you on. For all I care, it could be the only thing you wear. The phone is not the problem, the person whose ear it's attached to is. Here are just a few reasons:

1st) I've been in the phone business a long time. I can tell you that one of the most annoying things to hear is someone smacking their gum, drinking something or worse yet talking to us while they eat dinner! It is disgusting, plain, and simple. So talking on the cell phone when you are now in the public while eating today's special is still disgusting

2nd) Unless you are a doctor, or a head of state, there is almost no reason for you to be on the phone interrupting someone's meal. Those who would say, "My kids need to be able to reach me," well, horse feathers. If you're out on a date, be it with a betrothed or your spouse, here is a novel idea, leave the number of the restaurant with the sitter, or at the very least send them a text message telling where you are dining tonight, if your a teen on a date, letting Mom and Dad know in the same manner is also acceptable.

3rd) The voice of the person on the cell phone invariably is louder than anything else in the dining room, at least it seems that way. The need to yell seems undeniable on a cell phone, but it also seems to be constrained to places where you are in close quarters with other people. The mouth piece is less than an inch from your mouth, if the person you're talking to can't hear you, maybe there is a problem with your phone, or maybe the person that you are yelling at has a bad phone themselves. If it's too loud in the restaurant for you to have a conversation without yelling or at the minimum raising your voice, maybe you should consider stepping out of the dining room for a minute.

Now, there are other solutions to this quandary, and they are relatively easy and painless. First, put your phone on vibrate; most people don't think your cute ring tone is all that cute. Second texting, it's all the rage, go ahead, text your heart out, it's better than you yelling into a phone playing that guy from the commercial "Can you hear me now?"

I agree that we need to be careful of the rights that are taken away, I'm a smoker so believe me I understand the argument. What about my rights? What about the rights of all of the other people in the restaurant that you do not know, or want to know your business, being drafted into hearing it? Don't we have the right to enjoy a meal without the technology of the day invading not only our ears, but our digestive systems as well? Can't we agree that there indeed places that phones should not be the norm? While driving? Of course. In a movie theater? Yes. While others are trying to enjoy their food and the company of the people that are at their table? I think that is not only a right, but it is also a measure of your civility and manners.

We have changed many things in our society, some for the good, some not. Changing how we act in public should not be a casualty. Acting with a modicum of manners is the very least we should do.

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