That would be a funny thing to see.
Another rude thing- A friend is over and all they can do is text during your conversation.

My business partner used to do this constantly while we were supposed to tcb.

The textee- Her husband. Every five minutes w/ I love you or some other sickly sweet crap. (Like you're going to stop loving each other in five minutes??!! WTF?)

I've brought up how rude this is to her numerous times only to have her say "this is what we do, we're attached and I'm sorry that you don't have that bond w/ your husband."

The last time she did this, my husband was working on our website and he was trying to explain something to us. I couldn't hear him over the ding of her alerts and she wasn't paying any attention.

DH thought this was very rude and a complete waste of his time. I mean, he's doing our website for free as a favor and all she can do is text her husband. (The very least she could have done was put the fucking thing on mute!)

DH is NOT the person to pull that kind of BS on. He rigged up a localized jammer for our condo. (I have no idea how it works, but it does and it's cool!) Before the business partner comes over, I go into his office and turn it on.

She can no longer send or receive texts while she's here. Now we can focus on the business at hand w/o the RUDE interruptions.

She did ask what was wrong w/ her phone and I told her that the fiber optics AT&T installed where messing w/ everyone's cell phones. (Something to do w/ the signal they transmit. LOL!)

She bought the little white lie and there is no harm done. I don't feel like throttling her or her cell phone and now she's more focused. Because of that, we're making $$$$.

Oh and if I had that "Type" of relationship w/ my DH, we'd end up killing each other. We're both very independent and we live our lives in conjunction. NOT as two adults(children) stuck up each others asses.
I have my thing, he has his thing and we meet in the middle. :-) It works for us.

"asshat"

That's one I haven't heard before.

That whole "but we luuuuuurve" each other" thing is the adult equivalent of watching two teenagers make out on the train because they just can't be expected to control their passions until they're in the back of a car.

A friend of mine has that habit of texting while we are together. During one dinner, while she was texting, I sent her a text that said, "Hi, How are you? Do you want to hang out sometime?" She didn't say anything, but she put the damn thing away.

I like your solution Monica! My best friend does that as well and it's soooo annoying. We rarely get to see each other and when we do she's on her damn crackberry! I'm going to try that next time we have dinner!

Groan. On the buses too. People standing, for fuck's sake. They're teetering over you, swaying from the bar, all because they've got to text or talk and can't wait five minutes.

My daughter's gotten horrible with it lately. Sits in the evening with me and her kid and texts, texts, texts constantly. I called her on the rudeness of it yesterday and she retorted I'm not texting; I'm on myspace. I just gave her an you're an idiot look and said, same dif.

I may just take a page from your book, Monica, and next time (which will probably be tonight), pick up my cell and text seen your mother and your son lately?

Well, the whole 'texting' thing leaves me cold.
No doubt when my 13 yr old son starts it, my wife and will be forced to ban the whole thing.
It is far more than just rude.

And as far as Amy and the rude phone guy, just spray him once. I ma just so tied of the rude folks taking all the Time, Silence, Effort & Attention in the world.
Nice Folks (like Amy) get disturbed, annoyed and inconvenienced all the time while the 'thoughtless ones' go merrily on their way, oblivious to the wake of disaster that trails them.

I for one am ready to start a movement for "Enough!"
Enough Texting! (esp while driving, Thank You)
Enough shouting on your cell phone!
Enough with so many of the everyday trails caused by rude, thoughtless people.

Thomas

People shouldn't do interactive electronic communication while driving, period. Stereos and cigarette lighters are plenty distracting enough, and have claimed many lives.

And of course Amy's right to be pissed at people shouting into cell phones, oblivious to those nearby. Knowing that she picks fights with people like that is one reason we come to this blog day after day.

But how can you complain about people texting in public otherwise? They're zombies... Pleasantly unresponsive and slow moving... Their heads are down and their minds are close... All their threatening animal danger is consumed by a 2" x 2" plastic surface as their silly little thumbs scurry across the keypad.

Listen, when the Revolution comes or the comet hits or whatever, you'll be glad those little fuckers are distracted. You'll be able to walk right over them as you scamper toward the fire exit.

Why not just loudly impose yourself into the conversation -- it's been made a public event, after all! In doing so, you can imagine, and respond to, the comments being made by the person on the other end of the call. Or, just start asking inane questions ("Hey, what'd he say?" "What's a 'price point'", etc.). You just have to out-annoy the annoyer. One really could have some fun with this!

I'd like to see an EMP gun.

Some shit head annyoing you shoot them and short out all the electrical gadgets.

Use it on the asshole screaing into a cell phone, or that jackass playing his music so loud it messes up you heart beat.

I agree with Jay R though, the only way to get someone t leave you alone is to be a bigger jerk.

I had theis company calling to "renew" my cars warranty. Didnt matter how many times I pressed the do not call option I still got calls.

It wanst until I spent 15 minutes being a complete waste of some persons time that they stopped calling

I have a new theory about this strange new digital phenomenon, which exhibits itself in any of the following flavors:

1. Talking on a cel phone any time, anywhere, at any volume, and always incessantly.

2. Text messaging endlessly while out in public.

3. Twittering 24/7:
- I just woke up
- I just did a #2
- I just got a cup of coffee
- I'm walking down the street
- I'm getting on my bus
- I'm waiting for my plane
-> And on & on it goes

Such insight and depth there, eh?! The great thinkers of the ages must be quaking in their boots.

These are just a few examples of the stupid behavior of technology junkies.

Here's the theory: Isn't the seemingly non-stop, addictive behavior of such folks almost identical to the actions of a chain-smoker and/or alcoholic and/or drug addict?

For some time now society has had strict rules about the consumption of the last two products. More recently, the consumption of tobacco has been greatly restricted from most public and many private areas too.

Perhaps it's now long overdue to restrict the use of technology products in a lot more places than we currently do.

My late grandmother would have called the cell phone conversations "conducting private business in public," something she dislike, due to her strong middle class sensiblities. I have sometimes interjected a comment into these discussions and been told that that it was a private conversion. My response has been "Then, why are you conducting it in public?"

I should like to think this is a symptom only of the younger crowd, who do seem to be the largest class of abusers, but obviously that is not the case.

I refrain from a long rant on cell phones and driving.

'I've brought up how rude this is to her numerous times only to have her say "this is what we do, we're attached and I'm sorry that you don't have that bond w/ your husband."

ARGH! I admire your restraint (you don't mention hitting her over the head with a vase, so I assume you didn't....)What an awful thing to say. Sounds typical of too many people lately though.

I have felt like hitting her upside the head, but only when it comes to this. In all other aspects of life, she is normal?.
People constantly mistake us for sisters. Not because of the way we look, but by our behaviour towards each other.

But how can you complain about people texting in public otherwise? They're zombies... Pleasantly unresponsive and slow moving... Their heads are down and their minds are close... All their threatening animal danger is consumed by a 2" x 2" plastic surface as their silly little thumbs scurry across the keypad.

They can do that endlessly for all I care, but, first, TURN THE FUCKING BEEPS DOWN!

I will not be around people who text or yammer into phones when we're supposed to be having drinks, etc. I like people who are present.

My neighborhood, we all have terrible reception in our houses, but still - we're not the kind with our houses set back a couple of feet, we have yards in front. Porches,backyards - SPACE, we're famous for it here in H-town. I've measured and there is a good 50 feet between me and the lady across the street. And yet I can hear every word as she shouts into her cell phone while she sits on her porch. While I'm inside. Personally, if I can't just talk to them on my house phone, I go into my backyard and do not shout.

And I'm with Amy on the text messaging. Jesus H, turn down the damn beeps and for fuck sake, don't turn into a 13 year old "texter" while I'm attempting to have an adult-like conversation with you. My last encounter with an idiot like this was a successful corporate employee over the age of 40. Immaturity has no bounds.

I went to see Jane Goodall speak at the zoo this morning. It was raining, and she was hard to hear over that. She was a great speaker, and I recommend you see her if you can. At the entrance to the pavilion, there were signs saying "Turn off cell phones." The zoo staff made several announcements to turn off phones. So of course at least five phones went off during her thirty minute lecture. And everyone of those people talked on their phones exactly where they were standing with no regard for everyone else who was trying to listen. By the way, the best part of the lecture was when one of the monkeys swung by and watched her for a minute.