Been on this planet for 33 years and still so stunned at the rudeness of people?!

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So this morning I went to home bargains, I don't watch the news, I don't know if it's "a thing" bit for whatever reason there was an announcement that there was about to be minutes silence to pay respect to NHS staff whom have lost their lives to the virus (not getting into my thoughts on that as a whole!) I respect others, I respect whatever others feel they need to do to alleviate grief, I care not, it's not skin off my nose to show respect, the store was still, the store was silent, and yet, a man in the next aisle actually answered his phone???
Wtaf? Just why? (I can confirm, it was a "chin wag" call, not an important call, nor and emergency) honestly it really upset me/ madee generally fuming! Just how fucking hard is it, for one minute of your damn life to just "follow" what's happening, and respect others wether it's your belief or not? I did go round and pass comment when the silence was up, and others thanked me for this, but it just actually pisses me off so much that some people are so self centred that they cannot just check themselves for even a moment. Fuck sake. I'm in a bad mood anyway but I just need to vent.

Why would anyone immediately think ‘oh he’s probably supporting his mentally ill friend

Did I say probably? I said that, for all the OP knows, he could have been. People shouldn't feel entitled to act as morality police like that, trying to shame people in front of others when they've done nothing more than go about their day. Especially when not in possession of all the facts and based on a minute snapshot of someone's life.

I did go round and pass comment when the silence was up

I agree that was exceptionally rude OP. I’d have been stunned at your behaviour too. I’m glad you’ve realised how rude you were. Really very arrogant to shame others for not behaving exactly as you deem they should.

It's none of your business whether someone else chooses to participate in a minutes silence or not. Why let it anger you? You do what you feel is right and leave others to do as they wish. He's not doing any harm or committing a crime by answering his phone. I don't always agree with the actions or choices of others but it's nothing to do with me how they choose to live their life.

Unless you knew the Full situation then none of your business.

On the contrary, I think you were rude and unaware, OP. Who do you think you are exactly? Follow whatever silences are dictated to you if you want to do that - leave other people alone.

I'm cringing that you were thanked by anybody else. I suppose though that some people do love to see a bit of argy-bargy wherever they are, it all adds to the drama and excitement. None of them felt strongly enough to be as rude as you. Will we be applauding for you every week now at the appointed time that you stepped in and commanded silence?

I think people are generally become much ruder and entitled to be so when it comes to other people. Mind you don't overstep with the wrong person, OP, they may not be as tolerant as this man was.

Yeah it is rude but I remember one time I was in the hairdressers I was chatting away with my back to everyone apart from one person and I realised everyone had gone quiet. It was the armistice day minutes silence, I was mortified . I was just for a moment completely forgot. I'm not at all disrespectful but people forget .

We were in a restaurant in Christchurch NZ, the first anniversary of Feb 22. There was a minute's silence at 12.51. A tourist in there was chatting on unaware. He was gently told what was going on by a waitress, and then very respectfully joined in. No harm, no foul.

That's the way it's done, mbosnz. I could easily be that tourist and I'd want to be told/given the opportunity to join in - or just to STFU.

What the OP did was what many finger-waggers do and that is observe the silence in seething and righteous indignation, ready to spring and lash out (after the fact) at the person transgressing the silence. There are seemingly a lot of people who do that. I was in M&S at Heathrow picking up a colleague when there was a silence called for 9/11. Plenty of people quietly standing - or quietly continuing their shop, making no noise. The only noise was from a loudly tutting woman who was so incensed that she was wobbling from hip to hip. The minute the silence-end call went, she bellowed 'FFS, no respect!' before stamping out. No respect indeed, she was a disgrace.

@ABadlyShavedYeti I used to work in a call centre many years ago. I always observe the Armistice day silence l, if I got a call just before 11 I would tell the customer ‘as today is rememberance day I will be observing the two minute silence at 11am. You are welcome to join me and I will hold the line on mute or you can call back about 5 minutes? They usually joined in and stayed silent for the two minutes, you can also and quietly say ‘the office is observing a rememberance silence please hold’ put them on mute and the receiver on your desk.

Like the battle that is a nice idea but as the department head was sat behind me he would have seen, we were not allowed to hang up, put the phone on mute or tell them to ring back, I really would have been sacked.

I’ve ruined a silence in Asda before because I just genuinely had no clue. When you’re in your own little world cracking in with shopping you’d be surprised what things you don’t notice.

If I was dead quite honestly I wouldn’t want anyone shamed in to being quiet out of respect. I’d rather those that actually had respect stayed quiet

We are a free country people don’t have to show respect if for whatever reason they don’t want too.