Cell Phone Rant!

Hugh Jackman Has a Cell Phone Rant - Did You?

GeekSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:47:32 -0800

Last weekend I decided to go to the movies alone. Just me, a small bag of popcorn, and a movie I've been dying to see. A movie that was then interrupted by a ringing cell phone. Seriously? I haven't been to a movie in the past year (at least!) that hasn't featured a "Please silence your cell phones" PSA before it starts. I was in honest disbelief that the phone rang so loudly, and grew angrier when the phone's owner didn't attempt to silence it. Thirty seconds after the ringing stopped and as I tried to re-engage in the movie: "Ding!" a voice mail notification. The audience groaned audibly.

The experience reminded me of a TMZ video I'd seen a few months ago. It features the actors Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig in the middle of a performance of their play, A Steady Rain as the show is interrupted by a ringing phone. Hugh (understandably!) went off on a rant, while somehow keeping his composure enough to remain in character. (You can also check out his rant in the second half of this episode of PopSugar Rush).

Do you have a cell phone rant of your own? We have all been there, and the best thing to do when you have a rant is to share it. Join the Cell Phone Rant group and give me your best, most annoying tales of the rude cell phone users in your world - your story could be featured on GeekSugar. Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Geek Out: Do You Listen To Others' Cell Phone Conversations?

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:02:09 -0700

Today's geek out comes to you courtesy of an anecdote posted by SilverFang9899 in the Cell Phone Rant Group. It wasn't so much the cell phone story itself, about a woman screaming and crying on her cell phone - "It sounded as though her boyfriend were breaking up with her" - but a bit that SilverFang wrote about her own reaction.

She wrote: "It didn't really bother me, as I take perverse pleasure into listening to people's phone conversations, but if I were [her], I would have put my window up!"

To see what I think of this 'perverse pleasure', just read more.

I have to confess that I totally relate to the perverse pleasure bit. No, I'm not a weirdo eavesdropper, but I'm just sayin': If you're ranting and raving on your cell phone in the aisles of Walgreens or the quiet bus, I'm probably going to listen. Especially if it's interesting.

Likewise, I expect that any public cell phone conversation I have is fodder for the unfortunate people near me who have to listen to it, and I try to remember that when my phone rings and I'm not alone.

Fess up: do you ever listen in?

Source

Drama in a parking lot

SilverFang9899 — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:22:15 -0700

Just a few months ago, I was sitting in a McDonald's parking lot eating and this woman the next car over was screaming, swearing and crying into her cell phone. It sounded as though her boyfriend were breaking up with her.

It didn't really bother me, as I take perverse pleasure into listening to people's phone conversations, but if I were she, I would have put my window up!

Cell Phone Rant: Why Texting Is Just As Bad

GeekSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:30:09 -0800

I suppose it would be OK to text in certain places that it's not appropriate to be using a cell phone; while you're in a drive-thru, or happily tapping away in the backseat of a taxi cab, but in most scenarios, it is just as rude to be clicking your thumbs through texts as it is to be flapping your lips on your phone.

I don't mean to be ageist, but there's a younger demographic that I've encountered that thinks this is OK - I say this because I found myself chewing out my 20-year-old sister several times (I still love you, baby girl) over the long weekend for texting.

Yes, I know that younger people (man I sound SO old) text more often than they talk on the phone and maybe starving college students can't afford pricey smartphones to email on - I get the practice, but not the dependence.

To see the places I have given my sister the stink eye for texting (including the movies, the most sacred of cell phone abstinence), just read more.

Stink eye delivered: At the dinner table (really?), in a movie theater (come on), and (my fave) while we're having an intent conversation, just the two of us. In an effort to keep our sisterly bond intact, she gamely apologized, but I knew she'd have those texts flowing the minute she was free to, when the old-lady big sister looked the other way.

And so I urge you, on behalf of the geezers who don't understand why you are always texting, indulge us and don't text anywhere you would feel weird talking on a cell phone.

Got a good cell phone or texting rant? Join the Cell Phone Rant Group!

Source

Cell Phone Rant: Is It OK to Talk in a Taxi?

GeekSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:00:49 -0700

OK, Cell Phone Rant group members, I've got a sticky subject on cell phone etiquette. It's pretty cut and dry where not to be on your cell phone, lest you're judged as rude or worse, icky - the drive-thru, ordering food, and yes, the bathroom - but are there places where you're receiving a service that it's OK?

I'm talking specifically about taxi cabs. Live in a city, and you're bound to take a few rides. The thought came to me the other night, when I got in a cab alone and had to let my boyfriend know that I was safely on my way home.

I kept it short because I wasn't alone inside the car, but besides being physically there to drive me, the driver didn't try to engage me in conversation. Our only exchanges were when I got in the car, to tell him where I needed to go, and at the end, to thank him when I paid.

To see what I think, just read more.

So I'm conflicted. While I would never want to discount anyone's importance by talking on my cell phone as if they weren't there, it's not as if I'm ignoring him or making him wait for my instructions or payment. But on the other hand, I'm still uncomfortable having longer than a quick, informative call.

However, I know many people who use the time in the back of a cab to use their phone to catch up on returning calls or pass the time.

So, tell me what you think . . . is talking on your phone in a taxi cab kosher, or just as rude as anywhere else?

(P.S. Got a good gem to rant about? Join the Cell Phone Rant group now!)

Source

Movie Theater Cellphone Rage

Foofie — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:36:46 -0700

I consider the movie theater to be my church. It's my sanctuary, where I go to get a little peace and quiet and enjoy me a good movie. So you can imagine that I get a big crazy whenever I see cellphone users a) talking on their cells during the movie or b) texting during the movie.

I would like to say that texting is a big no-no as well. That screen can light up the theater like a Christmas tree and it's very distracting and uber annoying.

So if you're like me and this drives you batty here is a way I found to deal with this problem:

If I tell the cellphone user to put it away and they don't, I simply go to the usher and tell them that I saw that person trying to record the movie with their cellphone and I get them booted out.

Yes, it's not very nice but I feel justified in my doing so.

Cell Phone Rant: The Guy Making Your Food Is the Rude One?!

GeekSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:00:22 -0700

TeamSugar user Jyramiah added a great anecdote to the Cell Phone Rant Group: What would you do if the person on the cell phone being rude called you rude for trying to help her?

It started with her working at a sandwich shop when a customer entered and got in line while talking on her cell phone. When the counter person tried to take the her order, what do you think the customer did? Said "hang on" to the person she was talking to and made the order? Told the person on the other line she'd call him back after she left the place of business?

Nope. The customer on the cell phone told the person on the other end of the line that the guy trying to help her behind the counter was being rude. By trying to do his job and help her. If that's not galling enough, when the customer with the really important phone call got to Jyramiah at the register, she had the nerve to complain about the sandwich guy being rude by interrupting her phone call. To hear what Jyramiah said to her, just read more.

Jyramiah gave her an earful:
Customer: "That young man was very rude."
J: "Well what did he do, ma'am?"
C: "He kept interrupting me while I was on the phone."
J. "Well you shouldn't be on the phone when you're ordering anyways. Sorry to say, but that is more rude than what he was doing. And if you have a problem with it, you can call my higher up. Here, let me get you his number. I'm sure he'll be happy to hear how people are treating his employees."

Good for you, J!

Got a rant for the Cell Phone Rant Group? Join us and vent to your heart's content!

Source

Rude vs. Rude

Jyramiah — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:51:21 -0700

Alrighty. So I worked at a deli for three years and then some. Eventually I got the bosses wrapped around my finger and was just as important and high up as them. I had great regular customers and was a favourite among them.
So one day while I'm cleaning up and getting ready to go home, a customer walks in on their phone. Some businesswoman. We were located in a business center so we got those all the time. A guy I was working with decided to help her so I could go home sooner. As he's asking her what she wants on her sandwich, I hear her say to the person on the phone, 'Can you hang on for a second? This guy is being really rude.'
I stared at her. Are you serious? HE is being rude when you are the one talking on your phone? But my wonderful co-worker kept on smiling and asking her what she wanted on her sandwich. By the time she got down to the register and me, she was quite huffy.
'That young man was very rude.'
'Well what did he do, ma'am?'
'He kept interrupting me while I was on the phone.'
'Well you shouldn't be on the phone when you're ordering anyways. Sorry to say, but that is more rude than what he was doing. And if you have a problem with it you can call my higher up. Here, let me get you his number. I'm sure he'll be happy to hear how people are treating his employees.'
She waved me away and walked out.
Oh the joy of working with people.

McDonald's Warning

jennjennnbubba — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:17:44 -0700

I saw this the other day and just had to share with the Cell Phone Rant group... hope you all enjoy as much as I did!

View Slideshow ›

In the Video Store

JenBrett — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:49:32 -0700

I worked at Blockbuster for a while and the amount of people who come to the check out line on their phone was amazing! They figure all they're doing is giving you money and getting out. They forget that we also tell you when the movie is due. Every time we had one of these lovely customers we made a note on the account "was talking on cell phone" and the date. Without fail they'd come in again and try to argue that they shouldn't have to pay the late fee b/c no one told them when the movie was due back. We'd kindly remind them the last time they were in they had an important phone call and couldn't be bothered.