Is Talking on a Cell Phone in Public Rude?

These days it seems that most people carry a cell phone, and ringing phones can be heard everywhere from restaurants to shopping centers. Some people consider talking on a cellular phone in public rude, while others continue to talk wherever they go. Is talking on a cell phone in public really rude, or are some people overreacting?

Annoying Ringtones

The act of talking on a cellular phone in public isn't necessarily as rude or as annoying as loud or obnoxious ringtones. How many times have you been enjoying a quiet meal in a restaurant when a nearby cell phone suddenly starts going off again and again? Everyone has different likes and dislikes, but some of the ringtones people choose are irritating to say the least. My husband chose "Leichte", and if you've never heard that particular ringtone, it's definitely one of the more obnoxious choices. A horserace comes to mind when his phone begins bugling, and I'm tempted to say "Off to the races!" every time it rings. I must admit I'm somewhat embarrassed when his phone rings in a quiet public place, and that's mainly because I try to be considerate.

I chose an ordinary ringtone for my phone, but I don't usually take it into public places where it might cause a disturbance. I don't particularly like drawing attention to myself, and a ringing cell phone does just that. However, I don't feel that taking my cell phone into the local Wal-Mart or grocery store is rude, but personally, I wouldn't take it into a restaurant or a typically quiet place unless I first turned off the ringer. Stores such as Wal-Mart are already somewhat noisy anyway, and a ringing cell phone really shouldn't bother anyone shopping. A cell phone ringer isn't any more annoying than a toddler throwing a temper tantrum, a crying baby being ignored by an unmindful parent, or music booming from the electronics department.

I can think of many things that are considerably ruder than a ringing cell phone. How about people blocking store isles while socializing? At one time or another, we've all encountered people blocking isles with absolutely no regard to others. Unfortunately, not everyone is considerate, and the phrase "It's all about me" isn't just a saying these days. Someone talking on a phone in a public area is really trivial compared to other displays of blatant rudeness.

Loud People

If someone promptly answers a call, is it really that bothersome or rude? After all, talking on a cell phone in public really isn't any different than talking to someone beside you, or is it? I personally don't think it's rude to talk on a cellular telephone in public if you can talk without raising your voice above a normal volume of verbalization. However, some people think they must scream into their cellular telephones in order to be heard. This can be very annoying to others, and in certain settings, it really is rude.

I was recently shopping at my local Dollar General store, and the cashier was conversing on her cell phone while ringing up my purchases. It was obvious she was talking to a friend, and I felt completely ignored. Although she wasn't loud, talking on a cell phone while ringing up my purchases was improper, and I considered it very rude. I would have been disturbing her conversation if I had to ask a question, and in her thoughtlessness, I would have been the one considered rude. Do you see anything wrong with this, or is politeness and consideration a thing of the past?

What Do You Think?

Is it acceptable to talk on a cell phone in certain public places, or is it rude to talk on a cellular phone in the midst of others no matter the location? As previously stated, I don't think it's rude to talk on a cell phone in public as long as you can do so without hollering, as long as your ringer doesn't sound like a blaring three-ring circus or a rock concert, and as long as you aren't completely ignoring others in the process. As the old saying goes, there's a time and place for everything, and cell phones are no exception.