2 of 207

No

Write now Article Tools

While it can be rude to speak on your cell phone when dining in a restaurant, at times it is unavoidable. There are ways to do it without being inconsiderate to your fellow diners though. Therefore, restaurants should not be allowed to ban people from using cell phones. To take away one's freedom to make or receive a phone call while they are dining out would be a huge mistake for the restaurant industry.

In today's technology driven world, it has become the norm for people to be accessible to their loved ones at all times. Tell these same people that they are not allowed to use their phones in a restaurant, and you have the potential to drastically reduce business. In a world where it seems as if every day society pushes us to become more and more politically correct, where do we draw the line? When has society gone too far in trying to police the behavior of the general public?

One of the main reasons that the idea of banning cell phones in restaurants came about is that there are many inconsiderate cell phone users in this world. However, there are also many more people who are considerate of others when using a cell phone in any kind of public establishment. Why should these people be inconvenienced because other people aren't considerate enough to carry out a phone call in a way that does not intrude on the dining experience of others?

For many people, their cell phone is a direct connection to the work that they do. Depending on your occupation, your cell phone could serve as a virtual office. For example, a doctor on call needs to be able to make or receive phone calls, regardless of where he is. This is one reason why banning the use of cell phones in restaurants would not be profitable. In addition to doctors, anyone with a sick relative, especially a child, is not going to be willing to be out of touch because the restaurant they are dining in does not allow the use of cell phones. This, in turn, would lead to a decrease in business for the restaurant industry. In an economy where everyone is struggling to make a decent living, banning the use of cell phones would be a recipe for disaster.

Allowing cell phone usage in restaurants does not have to be bad news for those who are on the other side of the issue. One idea is to have separate sections, much like when restaurants had a smoking section and a non-smoking section. A section for cell phone users and a separate section for those who don't want to have to hear someone speaking on their phone may be the ideal solution to please everyone.

As more and more people come to rely on cell phones to keep in touch with everyone from their business colleagues to their children and aging/sick relatives, we may see a more general acceptance of cell phone use in public places. If done in a non-intrusive way, no one should be denied the right to talk on his or her cell phone when it is necessary. In today's fast paced world, it should come as no shock that cell phone use is so prevalent.

Learn more about this author, Julie A. Wein.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Should cell phones be banned in restaurants??
We want to hear your view. Write now!