Truebrit, I do understand those situations. I however, work as a cook in a pizza parlour. Do NOT try to tell me that the other staff, mostly young college age kids, need to be on their phones while at work. Taking orders, waiting on customers, etc. A phone in each ear. There is a large sign in the wait station....NO CELL PHONES. Leave them at home or in the car. Roundly ignored by all.

Does anyone NEED to be on the phone while driving? NO. If you MUST talk on the phone, pull over. Same for phone while shopping. I was crashed into by a full cart driven (if you can call it that) by a woman on her cell. She never even said, oops, sorry. Just went on her merry way, phone and all.

Do I want to be tended to by a nurse or doctor who is on a cell? No, but it has happened to me, and the husband. Does the police department dispatcher need to try and talk to an officer (with the radio) while said officer is on her phone to her kids? No, but it happens all the time here.

Pity that more people don't know, internalize and USE cell phone etiquette. Or, even land line etiquette. First words out of mouth of caller--Is Mark there? No, who's calling please and may I take a message? No, I'll call back. BAM.

Whatever happened to....Hello, this is Sorcha calling for Mark about our golf date. Is he available?

Manners in general...don't get me started.