Would it be legal to make tape recordings of obnoxious cellphone conversations and put them up on the Internet? Because somebody should do that.

I wouldn't worry too much about the legalities of it all. They'd actually have to track you down and PROVE that you recorded the call.

I would find it hard to believe that recording such calls would be illegal. They're the ones who made it public domain by broadcasting it in public. It's no different than taking pictures in public to use in a newspaper. I don't think you need a release form from every innocent bystander that happens to be present when the shutter snaps.

Actually, it sounds like a winner of an idea. Create a website where people can record their obnoxious phone calls and post their recordings. Of course, you would need a system to verify that these were actual phone calls and not someone faking it...or not. Who would care if some of the calls happen to be faked? The important thing would be the message it sends: your lapse in manners is now entertainment.

Ooh, that's a great idea. But, I bet it is illegal, although...public place...no...I bet it is. Melissa? Jason?

The problem is, is a restaurant or café a public place (inside)? Or a private place of business?

What was funny in this case was, I was looking right at the guy from across the room. And the place was pin-drop quiet. Then I started looking at him and typing as he was talking. He still didn't shut up. Was he dumb or clueless or just that aggressively rude? Hilariously, when he got off the phone, he started staring at me. Yeah, guy, I bet way I use my eyes to read through these typed pages just killing your ears.

I just hope I see him again so I can tell him to check out my blog!

Thanks for fighting the good fight... And for recognizing that in the best corporate style, they took this opportunity to turn you into a customer.

In recent weeks I've had this fantasy of starting calls with customer service agents as follows: "HI there! Did you say your name is Tina? Well Tina, I'm calling to (resolve service issues/cancel my service)... So if you try to sell me anything to me day, I'm going to call you vile names. Get the picture? Can we get started now"

When I read this post (I love how you fight for justice with such reason and practicality) and your sentence,
"I type a bazillian words a minute."

It reminded me of a Bush joke I heard recently. Maybe it's old news to everyone, but here goes:

Donald Rumsfeld is giving the president his daily briefing.

He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed."

"OH NO!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!"

His staff sits stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the President sits, head in hands.

Finally, the President looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"

Amy, you would be amazed at the number of sources those people resell each other. The bad part is, that they do it (starting with your bank) and wait for you to ask to me removed. It's truly disgusting. Just start from the principle that everytime you give a phone or address, including to Sephora to receive coupons or to Pizza Hut to order a piwza that it may end up somewhere.

Perhaps if more people treat their personal information as if it's not free -- doing what I did, for example, regarding Smart & Final -- fewer companies will abuse it.

I just got back from Smart & Final, by the way, where I bought three bottles of wine, a case of Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice creams, a carton of Perrier, a wedge of Camembert, some BabyBel cheeses with a toy in the pack for my 5-year-old neighbor, a case of coke, and a flat of bottled water. Thanks to my $100 gift card, I paid $1.71!

I strongly suggest others follow suit when likewise harassed, and send me emails about your results, and let me know if I can post them.

The issues involved in whether you can record Cell Phone Guy's end of the conversation and post it on the Internet are a bit complicated and probably not of great interest to non-lawyers but (a) the laws regarding taping without the permission of all parties to a conversation vary from state to state, (b) the answer also may depend on other factors, and (c) I would strongly advise against it in California.

I also wouldn't advise posting a tape like that on the assumption you wouldn't get caught, because the relevant statutes usually carry criminal penalties.

For anyone interested in this issue, I recommend the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press website (www.rcfp.org), which has a state-by-state guide called "Can we tape?"

Perhaps not as fun as public humiliation, but these handy cards are pretty sweet.

I actually came up with a card quite some time ago. Here's the text:

IF YOU CAN READ THIS CARD YOU ARE TOO LOUD

Just because you have a self doesn't mean you should express it. Apparently, you are under the impression that the world will be a better place once you broadcast the news that you've changed laxatives or forgotten to floss. Perhaps you call this "freedom of speech." I call it "bad breeding." Kindly save your loud, dull conversations for the privacy of your home. Thank you!

I know there were a couple of guys in San Francisco that had particularly drunken and obnoxious neighbors who used to tape them - they originally started because they had been threatened by one of the men and wanted to have some evidence to give to the police in the event that they ended up getting physically assaulted by one or both of them. They ended up having a blast and passing the tapes around to their friends and they spread to have a bit of an undergound cult following. The did try and track down the one remaining guy to give him a cut of the money they eventually made selling the tapes, though a friend of theirs defended their decision to sell the tapes and CDs for money by saying something like "you have to wonder how much right to privacy a man can demand when he's shouting at the top of his lungs."

Ooh, that is just fabulous!