Saturday, November 01, 2008

Common courtesy

A convenience store where I deliver the Outpost now has a sign up asking customers to refrain from talking on their cell phones while paying for their items in the checkout line. It must say something about the state of modern courtesy that the store would even have to ask.

I was in a grocery store checkout line sometime back, and the person in front of me made it all the way through -- waiting in line, paying the bill, picking up the groceries and leaving -- without ever suspending his cellphone conversation. When I got to the cashier, she scowled at me.

I thought, What did I do wrong? But it wasn't me she was angry at.

"I hate it when they do that," she said.

"So do I," I answered.

It does seem to be appalling behavior. What's up with that?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I truly believe that when archeologists dig up Phoenix or New York or some other place in about 500 years, they will find that the end of Western Civilization began with the invention of the cell phone... ;-)

I find it crazy that there are folks who are going through the local Walmart babbling away on a cell phone (almost as if they're talking to their significant other -- who's talking them through the store). I've made it a point to start counting these folks -- very loudly (the record is 12 in one visit).

Also, I once say two guys at a Arizona Diamondbacks game on TV, sitting about four seats apart, both babbling on their phones. I didn't think much of it, until I realized that while one guy was talking, the other was listening. In other words, they were talking on their phones to each other.

In case you haven't figured it out, I'm one of those Luddites who doesn't have a cell phone, and never plans to get one. In fact, I've informed my friends (both of them ;-) ) that should they ever see my miserable carcass with a cell phone in my hand, they are to shoot me. (And for those folks who think having a cell phone is great for when their car breaks down, I can guarantee that should such an event occur, it'll be in a place where there's no signal available.)

Anonymous said...

The examining room at my Doctor's office has a similar sign. The end is upon us....

Anonymous said...

Saw a guy bowl a strike while talking on his cell phone yesterday. True story. I wonder, do you think his old lady makes him put it away during sex, or does she have one too! Hmm. Just IMGAGINE the possibilities! A fella could be having phone sex and REAL sex at the same time! Might work.

LK

aniroo said...

I agree. The only thing I find more rude is when a sales clerk who is taking my money is talking to another clerk or another customer, or on a PHONE! I'm not expecting a comitment from them or anything, but an aknowledgement would be nice.