What is your opinion on people talking on a cell phone in a restaurant?

[Yo Ma Ma]

Does it seem rude for someone to talk on their cell phone while they are eating at a restaurant? Let's say it's a place nicer than fast food, but not top of the line fancy, if that makes a difference.

Unless you are speaking loudly, or ignoring the waitstaff, it doesn't seem especially rude to me, but I could be wrong (The cell talker is dining alone.)

So, what do you think?

 

[wfbberzerker]

if they are speaking loudly and its a quiet atmosphere, then yes, i would find that rude and/or offensive, but no, im not offended just by the fact that they are talking on a cell phone in a restaurant.

 

[mobobuff]

It depends. If the atmosphere is quiet, and they're speaking louder than necessary, then yes it's a little rude. With cellphones today, you barely have to speak above a whisper to be audible.

 

[RossMAN]

Yes I find it rude and inconsiderate but I am guilty.

Usually I put my phone on discreet (single beep with vibrate), if it's an important call I'll make it quick less than 1 minute.

If I really need to talk I'll leave the restaurant. Even if it's fast food.

 

[George P Burdell]

if someone's phone rings in a restaurant, its REALLY pisses me off

 

[MustyTang]

I don't have a problem as long as they're not loud and obnoxious. It's just a conversation afterall. If you have a problem, you're pretty much telling them that they can't talk in a restaurant period.

 

[Semidevil]

I dont like it, when after dinner, the person goes and takes a dump, and that is when their phone rings, with your annoying polyphonic A$$ nokia ringtone, or motorola ringtone, and it will go on and on and on until the person comes back.

 

[DigDug]

blackberry's are the best thing ever. No more need to use cellphones for me- all my friends e-mail one another instead.

 

[MustyTang]

Originally posted by: DigDug
blackberry's are the best thing ever. No more need to use cellphones for me- all my friends e-mail one another instead.

I love the Blackberry! I just got the 7100t a couple days ago after having the Treo600 for a little while. There's a reason that they call it crackberries

 

[rezinn]

Fvck them in the ear.

 

[IGBT]

...I think they're all faking it..they're ghost talking...

 

[AreaCode707]

It's okay to take it in, but if you need to talk, take it outside.

 

[db]

nm

 

[machintos]

no problem at all unless it's in a fancy restaurant where everybody's all quiet.
In restaurants like chili's, cheesecake factory, etc, I find it acceptable. Just don't be too loud, obnoxious and use curse words loosely.

 

[Chronoshock]

If you can hear it above normal conversation, then its rude and annoying. If its inline with the noise level then its fair game

 

[oogabooga]

I think it's rude (generally speaking). I really hate people with a$$holish ring tones that are set way to loud for anyone. Even the Deaf can hear the damn things, and they hate them too.

 

[clicknext]

I think people talking on cell phones in public places (with people around) is rude.

 

[rh71]

calls less than a minute I couldn't care less about.

 

[Ikonomi]

I don't give a flying fuck. It's not like I care whether they talk to the other people at their table, so why should I care if they talk on the phone?

Generally speaking, I don't care what people do with their cell phones, as long as it doesn't ring/they don't use it in a movie or at a funeral or something.

 

[Babbles]

Unless the conversation is important, I think people should answer, take a mesage and hang up.

 

[George P Burdell]

this thread needs a funny poll, just because i'm bored

 

[amdskip]

I'll talk if it is important otherwise I'll just call them back later. My phone is set to vibrate first too.

 

[nageov3t]

if it's some stranger and they're not talking loud enough to be annoying, I don't care.

but if one of my friends is doing it, I get pretty pissed off. If it's not an emergency, just tell the person to call back or turn off the phone. People who feel like they need to always answer their phones or the world will end kinda piss me off.

 

[chrisms]

I'm generally not concerned with what other people do as long as it doesn't hurt me.

 

[vi edit]

I travel a lot for work and regularly go out to eat by myself. I will usually call my wife or follow up with coworkers while I'm waiting for my food to be brought out. Something to pass the time.

I figure it's really not any different than talking to my wife or a coworker if they were there. My cell phone is always set to "silent" when I head into a restaurant.

I never use it if I'm out with other people.