people answering their mobile phones inappropriately...so rude!

[prawnstar]

Is it me or does anyone else find someone answering their mobile, when they are in conversation with you, rude? I cant bear it, especially at work when I am trying to consult someone. Even when paying for something in a shop or when talking to a friend, I would probably leave the phone and call the person back, its a rude interruption, and I think the problems getting worse! Where's peoples manners!
A family friend has just gone to live in Japan where no one uses their mobiles publically, you have to be discreet. Maybe I should go live there...i dont know!

depends on what they use their phone for - only the schools, people involved in DH's care at the moment and a few close friends have my mobile number. the latter only use it when it's something urgent. If my phone rings it's someone that NEEDS to talk to me.

And I can't always ring the person back as I'd say 95% of the calls I've recieved on it in the last few weeks have been "private number" - so I wouldn't know who it was.

granted situations like that are difficult not to answer your phone, especially if they are likely to be important. I mean general 'friends and family chit chat calls', just going to a till to pay for something you wait until your off the phone, or if you're in the middle of consultation with a dr for example, would you answer your phone then? I wouldnt...

ahh can't answer on the chit chat calls - as I only get those at home on the landline (although I do break off conversation with DH to answer that phone)

A phone ringing is a bit like a baby crying, it needs attention, it's pre-programmed into some people.

my mother is the absoloute worst in the world for doing this. Last time she came to stay she answeredthe phone when we were in conversation several times, then at lunch and at one point I was waiting for her to come out of the changing rooms and standingthere like a lemon holding all her stuff and I could hear her on the phone.
In the end she answered another call and I just walked home and left her in town

DS1 actually cured her. Everytime it rang he would shout " YOUR PHONE GRANDMA , RUN RUN RUN , QUICK - ANSWER IT QUICK. IT COULD BE AN EMERGENCY, IT COULD BE THE PM NEEDING YOU QUUUIIICCCKKK !!!!"
A few days of that monumental piss taking and she stopped

I don't like it either. In fact phones in general. If you are talking to someone and the phone rings they shouldn't interrupt their conversation to answer it. It's like a third person butting into a conversation and talking loudly about something quite different. Why does a phone call automatically trump a conversation in person?

Also.... people with ear pieces in!...they look like real numpties talking to themselves!
I just think people are becoming more and more selfish and impolite and the balance needs addressing, I was always taught 'it's rude to interrupt'and a mobile phone to me is a rude interruption if Im in conversation with someone.
I think what really got my goat was the other day at work...I was trying to put a plaster of paris on this lad who was about 22, I needed his cooperation and needed him to help me as I applied it and he was texting on his mobile continuously. I had to ask him to put his phone down 3 times...his comment was 'I am listening!'.

I cannot bear mobile phones.

I was in Tesco once and some chap phoned someone from the bread aisle saying "they only have medium sliced Kingsmill, what shall I do?" Other person obviously said something or the other which I couldnt hear and the chap said "Ok, I will meet you down by the bacon then" I dont know which bread he chose in the end, lol. But - WTF???

As for people answering them or bloody texting when in conversation with me....

I dont mind people answering their phones, its when they start having conversations that annoys me. Whats so hard about saying 'I'll call you back later'?

yes squid - that's what I meant I suppose.

glad to hear its not just me getting old and grumpy!

that may read wrong...i dont think any of you are old and grumpy either!!

have had the doctor answering the phone during a consultation.

Different doctors.

More than once!

I've had that too Girls - he did it 3 times whilst I mid asking him a question. SO rude !! By the third time I thought dh was going to either hit him or throw the bloody phone out the window. Still have no idea how he restrained himself !

I am a teacher and I have had more than one parent answer their phone during their parents evening consultation! FGS they only have a ten minute appointment!

What I hate is when someone approaches my till wanting to be served with their phone glued to their ear gossiping about someone or other, I usually stand there waiting and when they finally look up to ask why I am not serving them I then come out with "Oh but you were on your phone I didnt think you would want interupting" Mainly when im in a antagonistic mood. If im feeling placid I'll serve them silently and say thank you and goodbye in a loud and pointed way!

what their mobile phones girlsyearapart? if so I think that is incredibly unprofessional. I can understand their consultation/landline phone ringing and answering that, but never to answer a personal call.

Yep mobile phone.

Not very professional is it?

Also the desk phone but never seems to be an 'OH MY GOD HE's DYING AND HE NEEDS ME TO COME SAVE HIM RIGHT NOW!' type of call more of a mundane call that I feel could've waited..

Also when I was diagnosed with M.S. I was sitting in waiting area with DH and my sister and the doc didn't even sit down!

Think neurologists lurve themselves a bit too much..

Hey prawnstar! I am old and grumpy.

I usually answer and say I'll call back, because not answering sometimes means they will keep calling, and that's possibly more irritating IMO.
A work, if someone comes to the bar with their mobile, they don't get served. I'm not paid to wait around until they finish their conversation, because I am not a personal servant.

I SOOOOO agree with you. I had a friend who spent more time on her phone to her DH/ friends when she came round for coffee or we went out for lunch then she did talking to me.(Don't see her much any more- wonder why?)

I might look to see who it is and only answer if it was my DDs school. If it's important most people will leave a message.

Soooooo agree. What is it with people? The ear piece things are vile. There was a woman in the queue in front of me in M&S, loudly blathering into thin air, and she didn't acknowledge the poor check-out assistant at all. It just seemed so arrogant.

I think there should be public information adverts (a la Green Cross Code or smoking) telling the public what is appropriate mobile phone etiquette. Of course I would have to provide the brief, not some texting-addicted teenager.

here here fircone!

Girlsyearapart I think we may have the same neurologist or maybe its all neurologists - maybe we should remember that they are much much more important and special than us mere mortals !