So what do you think about restaurants that make this request.

I have to admit, people can be obnoxious on their cell phones...

On the other hand, does anyone really like being told they cannot do something?

I am interested to see how people feel about this.

I'm all for it. You want to check if you got any calls, go outside so I don't have to listen to your loud assinine conversation.

quote:

Originally posted by spo:
So what do you think about restaurants that make this request.

I have to admit, people can be obnoxious on their cell phones...

On the other hand, does anyone really like being told they cannot do something?

I am interested to see how people feel about this.

Which is more important, your 'right' to answer your phone in the middle of the restaurant thereby bothering other paying customers,

or my right to not be bothered by you.

I put mine on vibrate, just leave in my pocket. When I feel the buzz on my privates I just check who it is, if I need to take it I leave the room and take care of business.

quote:

Originally posted by sprnplr:

quote:

Originally posted by spo:
So what do you think about restaurants that make this request.

I have to admit, people can be obnoxious on their cell phones...

On the other hand, does anyone really like being told they cannot do something?

I am interested to see how people feel about this.

Which is more important, your 'right' to answer your phone in the middle of the restaurant thereby bothering other paying customers,

or my right to not be bothered by you.

I was not really looking for rhetorical questions. I want to see where people stand on this.

quote:

Originally posted by spo:

quote:

Originally posted by sprnplr:

quote:

Originally posted by spo:
So what do you think about restaurants that make this request.

I have to admit, people can be obnoxious on their cell phones...

On the other hand, does anyone really like being told they cannot do something?

I am interested to see how people feel about this.

Which is more important, your 'right' to answer your phone in the middle of the restaurant thereby bothering other paying customers,

or my right to not be bothered by you.

I was not really looking for rhetorical questions. I want to see where people stand on this.

That was my response! :-)

There is a very good reason we ban them inside the clubhouse at my club. So I guess you know how I feel....

If you whisper into your cell phone, the person on the other end will hear you. The way some people speak on their cell phones, they can be heard a block away.

Someone's cell phone on vibrate, and a conversation a normal voice levels. I have no issue with this. The problem is that many people speak on their cell like it's a tin can on a string. Learn how to speak effectively and show consideration for others.

I don't eat out extremely often, however the very few times the obnoxious has happened, I have been known to just stare directly at the person until they can't help but notice. Clearly, they must have intended to have me in their conversation and want me to focus on what they're saying. They got the point.

The last offline I went to there was some guy on his cell phone arguing very loudly about some sort of DOC / IGT rules...
It really bothered me !!
I just couldn't resist for taking a jab !!


I for myself always have my cell phone on vibrate.
If I get a call I have to awnser I will pick-it up, say very lightly "one minute please" and I will go to a place where I will not bother anyone.

In my experience, most people talk about nonsignificant nonemergent matters on their cellphones.
I have no problem with medical providers having cell phones.
What really kills me, more than when they go off at dinner, is when they go off at weddings, funerals, and during religious services.
Most courts in Maryland ban them totally.

quote:

Originally posted by KSC02:
I have been known to just stare directly at the person until they can't help but notice. Clearly, they must have intended to have me in their conversation and want me to focus on what they're saying. They got the point.

We were at dinner in a casual restaurant and a woman was yakking loudly and asked the person other the end, "Can you hear me?" I spoke up loudly, "We all can." I got some laughs and a little applause.

I always put my phone on silent mode, but to be honest, it had better be an emergency to pry me away form food and wine.

I don't mind if a restaurant has a no cell policy. If you don't like it, dine somewhere else. While I am respectful of others, there are plenty of jerk-offs out there that aren't.

The thing that gets me is when their cell is ringing and they fish it out, stare at it, then after the 10th ring pick it up. All the while the whole restaurant had to listen to some cheesy top gun ringtone. I find the little Bluetooth things more annoying. They look ridiculous and you can never tell if someone is talking to you or to their little earpiece. I don’t care how convenient they are, I’m never wearing one of those things.

Yeah, I always crack a smile when I see someone walking around with those Bluetooth devices in their ear. It looks like they just got off the set of the next Star Trek movie.

I saw a guy wearing one while he was having lunch and conversing with his lunch partner. It's like he didn't even notice it was there; or maybe he thought it was jewelry. Come on, I understand wearing one if you are having a phone conversation, but take the thing off when you are done.

As for me, I keep my cellphone on vibrate; and I'll step outside if I get a call I need to answer. Which rarely happens anyways.

I'm a firm believer that being accessible 100% of the time is not a good thing. Cellphones, pagers, Blackberry's, etc... haven't made us much more productive - just more stressed.

The only person who's call I try not to miss is my wife's. Usually she is out to dinner w/me so I take that opportunity to leave my phone at home or in the car glove box. Now if I'm at a sports bar watching football with my buddies it's set to vibrate and dropped on the table just like the rest of my meathead friends.
As for the no cell policy I would make a point to frequent a restaurant with this policy. Like others stated it's the random clueless idiot that's the problem. I also find it extremely rude when someone at my table takes a call that lasts longer than 30 seconds.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
I'm all for it. You want to check if you got any calls, go outside so I don't have to listen to your loud assinine conversation.

Turn the damn thing off before you go into resturant, and keep it off.

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:
What really kills me, more than when they go off at dinner, is when they go off at weddings, funerals, and during religious services.

At the last wedding I attended, before the ceremony started, the priest asked everybody to turn their phones to silent.

Amazing how many people had to reach into their pocket to do it....

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dom'n'Vin'sDad,

At a coffee shop I might find the request obnoxious. At a nice restaurant, however, I find the request imperative. If you need to use your cell, turn it to vibrate, and if you get a call you want to answer, go outside. Period.

Cell phones have no place in restaurants, I'm all for the request (people should have enough sense that the restaurant request is unnecessary, but we all know that is too much to ask).

As someone who needs to be accessible to clients, potential clients and other random people most of the time (this is not a figment of my imagination, or an ego trip, but rather a reality of my chosen job), I think it is important to be able to have a conversation with the person you are actually with at the time - like your dining companion. However, on the off chance that my phone rings (vibrates) during dinner AND I need to answer it, I always go outside.

Mine stays on vibrate at all times. Nothing I hate more than hearing someones cell go off in court. (Oddly, the most frequent ringtone I hear is "Bad boys, bad boys; whatcha gonna do?...)

A bit off topic, but I would take a restaurant cell talker on either side of me, over someone's bratty kid screaming and/or running around the tables.

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:
Mine stays on vibrate at all times. Nothing I hate more than hearing someones cell go off in court. (Oddly, the most frequent ringtone I hear is "Bad boys, bad boys; whatcha gonna do?...)

A bit off topic, but I would take a restaurant cell talker on either side of me, over someone's bratty kid screaming and/or running around the tables.

Tough choice, but bratty kid. At least the cell phone user should be adult enough to know better.

A few observations...

Cell phone etiquette is sorely lacking throughout our society. Restaurants are just the tip of the iceburg.

I've known intelligent, well-bred men to take calls during, board meetings and even during depositions. It is usually the older guys who grew up scrambling for the phone in an age when phone calls were for serious business only. They can't break the habit.

A few proposed rules of courtesy:

1. Set your freakin' phone to vibrate indoors - restaurants, office buildings, retail establishments, etc.

2. Enough with the cutesy ringtones! The one that sounds like an old fashioned telephone ringing works fine.

3. Do not, except in serious circumstances (i.e. wife is expected to go into labor any minute) interrupt a face to face conversation for a phone call. Hit the red button and call the person back when you are not talking to someone else. Are you really that rude?

4. If you MUST take a call in a public place, speak quietly. If the call is likely to last more than 20 seconds, begin moving to a private place.

5. Get rid of the mic and ear piece. You look ridiculous, and the person on the other end can't hear you worth a damn.

6. Please learn to use the text/email functions. You would be amazed at the amount of inane conversation that can be avoided while still getting business done remotely.

In answer to the question presented in the OP, lunch places should ask that people put the phones on vibrate. Dinner places should request that people refrain from having phone conversations at the table. It is an ambience killer.

Also: 2 stroke penalty for ringing cell phone on golf course. Cell phone going off during a round is automatic loss of hole (for betting purposes) in our group. If you can't leave it in the car, you shouldn't be out there.