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AIBU?

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Original poster

re mobil phone etiquette

37 replies

VictoriousBeckham · 27/01/2011 10:35

When I leave the car at home and walk to the school, I am often caught up by another mum and we have a nice little gossip on the way.

BUT if her phone rings she always, always answers it and it is getting on my bloody nerves now.

This morning: 'Oooh,' she says, 'I'll just get this,' and strolls along the road chattering to her mum. Not about anything important - the weather, what the children had in their lunchboxes, blah, blah blah. All. The. Way. Back.

I don't care if she wants to talk to her mum (or her partner or all those other people in her family who constantly ring her) but I don't want to be ignored in the meantime. Angry

So, as she isn't the only rude bastard person I know who does this, what are the new social rules regarding phones?

And would I BU if, next time she tries to chat, I whip out my ipod and say, 'Ooooh, 'scuse me,' and listen to Muse all the way home? Matching my speed to hers so she can't get away without be rude? Would I? WOULD I?

OP posts:
unpsychicsally · 27/01/2011 10:41

I'll tell you what gets me annoyed (Rant ahead) is when you invite people round for a nice home cooked meal, with nice wine and then AT THE TABLE they get out their iphone type thing and check their facebook!!!!!!! How F RUDE!

Needless to say, they have not been invited back!!!

I do completely understand how you feel, I would always look at my caller display to check if it was the school but then again if you have the DC's with you then that wouldn't be the case but if it was someone I know I would silence the call and phone them back later. Only ones I would answer are unrecogniseable ones and if it wasn't important i'd ask to ring them back.

Some people just don't have any manners.

northangerabbey · 27/01/2011 10:42

Horribly rude. I would have to say something I'm afraid.

Original poster
VictoriousBeckham · 27/01/2011 10:43

Bugger, I can't even spell the title correctly - mobile

That is really going to bug me now.

OP posts:
BlingLoving · 27/01/2011 10:44

Totally rude. I'd pause, pretend to tie child's shoelace or something and wave her on "oh no, you're on the phone anyway. We'll stick behind".

Original poster
VictoriousBeckham · 27/01/2011 10:45

Oh, god, yes - those people who are on the phone at the table. We had a couple for dinner recently and he checked his Blackberry all through the meal. Why??

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kreecherlivesupstairs · 27/01/2011 10:47

Victorious, the man who checked his phone was obviously VERY important and VERY busy and needed to show you.
Either that, or he was a rude twunt.

Original poster
VictoriousBeckham · 27/01/2011 10:48

Yep, I do the lagging behind thing and she just waits for me. If I cross the road, she comes with me.

I think, in her mind, we are still walking along together and she can't see that I'm trying to shake her off because she's on the bloody phone.

OP posts:
Original poster
VictoriousBeckham · 27/01/2011 10:50

Yes, Kreecher, it felt like a big two fingered gesture.

His wife did 'confiscate' it over the coffee though.

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BaroqueAroundTheClock · 27/01/2011 10:51

I'm on the fence with this one.

Is it really any different to walking along with a friend, who is then spotted by one of their other friends (that you don't know). And they strike up a conversation and are catching up and you're left feeling like an idiot??

Original poster
VictoriousBeckham · 27/01/2011 11:01

I get your point Baroque, but at least you can hear what the other person is saying or walk ahead or something.

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BaroqueAroundTheClock · 27/01/2011 11:02

I don't want to hear what they're saying - it's even worse hearing all the juicy gossip but not having a clue who they're talking about Grin

Original poster
VictoriousBeckham · 27/01/2011 11:07

Yes Baroque, that is true Grin

I just feel caught in limbo - can't chat, can't have quiet think, can't walk off without causing offence....

It's like the popular mum in the playground who is always looking over her shoulder to talk to someone better. (Or is it just me that gets that? Wink)

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LadyThumb · 27/01/2011 11:07

I have a friend who comes for coffee and does this ALL the time, even if I am in mid-sentance.

She then reads, chuckles, texts replies and then says: "Where were we?". I've got so I look at her blankly. It annoys the frick out of me!!

It's soooo bloody rude (but she is a slave to her phone and doesn't even apologise!).

Original poster
VictoriousBeckham · 27/01/2011 11:10

And I am mystified by the shoppers who wander round with their trollies, having a phone conversation and don't hang up at the checkout. Don't they feel a bit rude, ignoring the shop assistant?

OP posts:
Original poster
VictoriousBeckham · 27/01/2011 11:16

But when I am in company, I wouldn't even look at my phone unless I was expecting something urgent/important. I generally concentrate on the 'real' stuff that is going on around me.

I would never take a random call from my family - they can leave a message (that's what the messaging service is there for)

Mr B was interviewing someone for a job recently who read a text message and wrote a reply to it during the actual interview. And couldn't see what was wrong Grin

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woollyideas · 27/01/2011 11:17

Ah yes, Lady Thumb, people who sit down for a meal/chat with you and then whip out their mobiles and chuckle at texts really get my goat too.

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 27/01/2011 11:17

oooooo now that is bad VB replying to text messages during an interview Grin

woollyideas · 27/01/2011 11:18

And the people who continue to talk into their mobiles in public toilet cubicles...

Have they no shame?

Original poster
VictoriousBeckham · 27/01/2011 11:23

Only bad, Baroque, if you want the job (and 'twas a very good job indeed)

Perhaps he wanted to show how important and popular he was.

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Original poster
VictoriousBeckham · 27/01/2011 11:25

Oh, I'd forgotten, I have a friend who will go to the loo while chatting on the phone to me ('What's that noise?' I say...)

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ivykaty44 · 27/01/2011 11:31

If the phone rings and I am with someone- I tell the caller I hope it is ok to ring them back later. I only have a mobile phone so happens a few times

Hammy02 · 27/01/2011 11:34

Why do some people walk around carrying their mobile in their hand (not speaking to anyone), rather than putting it in their handbag? Is it because they are so important that the extra 2 seconds it takes to retrieve it make all the difference?! Celebs seem to do this loads.

Sidge · 27/01/2011 11:35

I really detest the mobile-glued-to-the-ear phenomenon.

So bloody rude.

I have had women answer their phones whilst I'm doing their smear, or their child's asthma review. Hmm

Rubyonthetown · 27/01/2011 11:38

Woolly Grin

I went into the loo at work the other day, there's only two cubicles and someone was in one having the most disgusting poo ever, complete with stink and noise. Her mobile phone rang, she answered it, and said her name!

[bshock]

coatgate · 27/01/2011 11:50

The height of rudeness. It also really annoys me if I am in a shop/garage/bank wherever, being served, the phone rings, and the person serving me then answers the phone and deals with the caller, leaving me standing there. If not too far through the transaction, I just walk out.