<p>I just have to share this story. It was so unbelievable we almost couldn’t believe it. </p>
<p>We went last weekend to S’s admitted student weekend at a college he really likes. They have planned activities for students to keep them entertained, hosted and in a dorm overnight, etc. They also have things for the parents to do: Q and A with current students, speeches given by dean of admissions, univ president, etc…all that on Saturday.
On Sunday we had a more informal Q and A with a brunch (for the parents) with the dean of admissions, student academic, financial aid, and one other person (I forget her title). It was held in the university’s law school courtroom. There were about 80-100 parents sitting in the audience area. We all listened to these people give their relatively short speeches and then it opened for questions. So far, so good. </p>
<p>During the question time, a woman in the row ahead of us and about 6 seats over has a cell phone ring. Very loudly. She answers and proceeds to talk to whomover was calling her for a minute or two. Then it happens again a few minutes later. Then it happened again. And I think one other time. The 4th time I made a comment out loud while my husband poked me in the ribs to shush me :o I just could not believe it. She even took one call while a college official was answering HER question!!!</p>
<p>Now, of course, there were other people who did have phones go off, but all of them had the decency to leave the room if they decided to take the call. </p>
<p>Yes, we had ours off. I don’t mind if people have phones on vibrate and leave to take calls. Because there may indeed be causes for emergencies…or dying patients ;)</p>
<p>It is terribly rude in that situation to take the call right there. The part about repeated calls is worse but the WORST is hearing she took a call when the dean was answering HER question! If I forget to turn my cell off, and it rings, I then either push the button on “end” and deal with it later, or leave the room and whisper into the phone, “please wait” and then resume talking outside the room. It is like when I had babies. If they were silent in the room, I stayed. If they made a peep, I immediately left the room with them. Unfortunately, rude behavior abounds. </p>
<p>Anyway, I hope it was a great visit and solidified your son’s enthusiasm about attending.
Susan</p>
<p>PS…I can think of one time this year I was in a movie theater and set my cell to vibrate because I was on pins and needles to hear from one of my kids who was traveling with planes/connections, etc. and word from them seemed delayed. I forget the details now but only recall being anxious to get the call. But anyway, the vibration goes off on my cell, so I get up quickly to exit the theater so I can take the call. But what do I do? In my haste and nervousness, I trip and fall down in the aisle trying to exit quickly and thus called attention to myself when people wanted to help to see if I was OK. Embarassed!</p>
<p>At the wedding of a friend, a “guest” at my table picked up her cell phone and dialed - to check in with her babysitter - DURING the toasts! (I will admit that one of the toasts went on rather at length, but sheesh!)</p>
<p>Once, I was in a crowded elevator, headed down like 30 floors, had my briefcase, purse, keys in hand, phone in hand, was having a really weird busy day - one of those things where you’re half in, half out of reality so many things are going on - anyway, my phone was on silent, vibrate, which I forgot, and I also forgot I was even holding it. (I’m sort of a space cadet.) </p>
<p>So someone called, the phone started vibrating in my hand, which scared me, caught me off guard, and - uncontrollable reaction, I screamed in surprise, and threw it. In a crowded elevator, ugh…</p>
<p>DrDrewsmom - unforgiveably rude behavior. I don’t know if it’s a reflection of how we’ve become more rude as a society, or if it’s a reflection of what I call the “living room phenomenom”. In other words, we’re so used to renting movies in our own homes and doing whatever we want, that we now treat movie theaters and other audience venues the same way.</p>
<p>I was in a meeting recently, and had my phone on vibrate. Then I got in my car, and just threw my phone on my lap. Later, as I was driving, my phone suddenly began to vibrate in my lap, if you know what I mean. . . I nearly drove off the road!</p>
<p>Re taking a call during a toast – at one of my past jobs, the head of the unit was leaving for another position. As part of his farewell, we had just raised our plastic champagne glasses for a toast – when his cell phone rang. He took the call while all his employees had their glasses raised…</p>
<p>You should buy these - I saw them in a store and thought they were really funny. They are in a pad and you “issue” them like a ticket. This is the only web site I could find a picture of them - scroll down till you see it.</p>
<p>People using cell phones usually speak very loudly or yell. Everyone does it, yet no one but me (and two or three other people) realize this.</p>
<p>In the movie, Inside Man, a woman is speaking loudly while waiting in line at a bank. A security guard walks to her and asks her to lower her voice since she was disturbing the other guests. I almost started to cheer in the movie theater! I didn’t because I thought it might bother the other moviegoers.</p>
<p>That reminds me of the time I called D and she answered in a whisper, saying “I can’t talk - I’m in the library, what’s up - or can I call you later” -</p>
<p>I forgot that I wasn’t the one in the library, and whispered back my response. Which made D burst out laughing, out loud, in the real library. Duh.</p>
<p>Yeeeeahhhh… or the time I called my H who answered the phone and whispered, “I can’t talk now, bye.” I later learned he was ON A PANEL AT A CONFERENCE and had answered the phone while seated on the stage. (sigh…)</p>
<p>(That one has become a family in-joke, for some value of “joke”.)</p>
<p>I have my phone turned off most of the time. It’s there just in case I need to make a call (like my car breaks down, something like that) not the other way around. I check for messages. Much prefer a text message. Short and sweet.</p>
<p>well, to this particular woman’s credit (if you can call it that), at least she was not yelling or talking loudly (although her ring was loud), but her voice was still loud enough to be heard in that setting. </p>
<p>Gads, some of your stories are awful! As I said, I don’t have a problem with people having phones on vibrate or whatever if they are expecting an important call or there’s an emergency. But why can’t they leave the room to take it? I must have seen 5-6 other people leave during this thing for that reason.
Even people talking in line don’t bother me, unless they are REALLY loud. I mean, what do I care if they are on the phone? It’s not like I’m trying to pay attention to something if I’m standing in line at the grocery store…</p>
<p>Susan, I would probably trip in the aisle too!</p>
<p>A friend of mine said she was getting on an elevator at a university with a crowd of people, and one kid got a call. He said “Sorry dude, I’m getting on an elevator. I’ll call you back in a sec, okay?” After they got on, one of his companions said “You know, I’ve talked on a cell in here before–you can get reception.” And the first guy said “Oh, I know… I just figured everyone else in the elevator didn’t want to listen to me yapping.”</p>
<p>My friend said she about fainted–Hope for humanity! I hope they all gave their elevator-mate an ovation.</p>
<p>I have no desire to have a cell phone. When I am away I don’t wish to be reached. Leave a message. Nothing is ever that important and 95% of the calls I overhear are drivel.</p>
<p>Last summer I was on vacation on Cape Cod. I went to sunrise yoga class on the beach. It was wonderful - until one woman’s cell phone went off, and she took the call!</p>
<p>A guy took a call during our viewing of the last Star Wars movie - on opening weekend with all of the die hards there! He proceeded to yell over the movie, “I"M AT THE MOVIE. I CAN’T TALK NOW. YEAH, I’M AT THE MOVIE I’LL CALL YOU BACK LATER.” To make it worse, his phone put on quite a light show. He must have been in his 50’s, so he was old enough to know social graces. I thought a couple of people around him were getting ready to rush him, grab his phone and stomp it.</p>
<p>When attending concerts, recitals, plays, etc., I appreciate a gentle reminder before it starts to turn off the ring on my phone - just in case I forget. When I do forget, it’s never an important call. It’s usually a wrong number.</p>