by C.D. Crowder

Created on: April 13, 2008   Last Updated: May 04, 2011

Nothing is more annoying than hearing someone talking on a cell phone in a nice peaceful restaurant. It's not only frustrating for customers, but for the employees as well. Whereas some people know how to be polite while talking on a cell phone, too many have proven to be rude. The only way to prevent the rude ones from using a cell phone is to ban them all.

~Talk Outside

If you need to ask someone what they want to eat, call them before you get in the restaurant or go in, check the menu, and go back out to talk. It's hard for employees to get your order while you're on the phone, not to mention the customers waiting for you to order. Plus, when you are having a conversation near someone else, it may be hard for a waiter or waitress to hear what the customer is trying to order.

~Peace and Quiet

Apparently, many people believe the best way to hear each other on a cell phone is by talking louder. People are supposed to talk in a restaurant, but you are supposed to use your indoor voice. Instead of being able to hear the person across from you, all you can hear is the person across the room laughing and yelling out a conversation on their cell phone. One way to prevent this is by banning cell phones in restaurants.

~Hard on Employees

Many cell phone users get mad at employees when they don't take their orders or ask them if they need anything. However, when an employee is ignored or told to wait because someone is on their phone, employees are not going to pay much attention to their needs. After all, they have other customers and can't wait all night for someone to finish their conversation.

Instead of talking on a cell phone, people should be enjoying a nice dinner and respecting the people waiting on them. Make life easier on the employees by actually paying attention to them when they try to wait on you.

~Exceptions

Not all cell phone users are so horrible, but since so many can't seem to live without a cell phone stuck to their ear, these users make it hard on everyone else. Cell phones should be banned in restaurants, but at the discretion of the employees and restaurant owner.

As long as a cell phone user is talking quietly and doesn't use the phone while employees are trying to take their order or wait on them, then they should be allowed to talk. However, if the least bit of trouble starts, then the person should be asked to end their conversation or leave. They should also be asked to not use their cell phone in the restaurant again.

It's not asking too much to be polite while using a cell phone. It's just too bad that so many people are so absorbed in their own lives that they forget to be respectful of others. To help people learn to be more respectful, cell phones should be banned in restaurants. Maybe this will teach people to interact face to face instead of through technology.

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