Cell Hell

I am not a cell phone hater. I've owned one since 1994 after getting stuck on the PA Turnpike in an ice storm. It was shut down for several hours and family was expecting me home at a certain time. What I continue to struggle with when it comes to cell phones is people's utter lack of respect for noise pollution. I rarely use my phone in public and when I do I excuse myself to a more private area or talk in a very low voice. When I used to ride the train to work in Center City Philadelphia, it never ceased to amaze me that some folks would talk so loudly on their cells that you could hear every word of a conversation 10 seats away, yet you couldn't hear the conversation between 2 people sitting right behind you. My new pet peeve is idiots walking around with bluetooth ear pieces on while they aren't even talking. Do these clowns think they are impressing someone? They cost $100. Big Deal. It's not a status symbol. My passion against public cell screamers was escalated this week while travelling. While waiting to board my plane I took a quick count - of the 28 people seated in my area, 16 were talking on a phone. I could hear every word of 13 of them. Ridiculous. Thank God they are banned on flights. Isn't it funny though that when the plane lands and they say it's OK to turn on phones, 85% of the passengers speed dial someone to say they have "just landed" and proceed to tell them the details of their trip. Why Why Why can't these people wait until they are in the terminal at least to make this type of call? Why I say? The worst offense though and a humorous one at that if you look at logisitcs is the cell phone talking in the shuttle on the way to the rental cars. Seriously...think about it. The shuttle ride is all of 5 minutes. It is small and holds about 8-10 people. 4 idiots are talking nonsense loudly on their cells. No business calls, just mindless babble. Think about it - in 5 minutes they will be in a private, enclosed vehicle....yet somehow they deem it necessary to squawk (and loudly at that) about absolutely nothing while in the presence of other people. Shut Up!! I've heard the easiest way to lose weight is to ask yourself "am I really hungry?" every time food is about to pass your lips. It's great advice in it's simplest form. Maybe we need to start having service announcements that ask 'When you're in public, ask yourself if that phonecall you're about to make is really necessary." Show some respect for other people.