In article >,
"<RJ>" > wrote:

> I intend to be the last person in America WITHOUT a cellphone.
>
> I have never seen so many examples of public
> bad-manners, bad-driving, bad-taste.....
>
> Yesterday, I stood inline behind a woman carrying on
> a very animated cell-phone conversation.
> She wouldn't interrupt her chatter to PAY HER GROCERY BILL !!


Of course the thing to do is for the checker to start handling the next
customer. I suspect that is very difficult, if not impossible. I also
predict that if this problem comes up too often, stores will find a way
to do this. It's not just rude to the checker, it's rude to everyone
else in line.

I haven't seen it with a cell phone (yet), but I was in a long line at
the grocery store, and the person being checked out remembered one more
thing they needed. They asked the checker if they could go get it. The
checker replied that they would be happy to void out all the items and
the person could come back and wait in line again. The customer looked
at their items, and the long line, and decided they could do without
that last item.

More and more medical offices I see have signs asking that cell phones
be turned off. Some are honest (IMNSHO) and cite courtesy to the staff,
and other patients in the waiting room. Some claim that they interfere
with medical equipment. IMNSHO, medical equipment that is so poorly
shielded and designed that the low power emitted by a cell phone will
cause it to malfunction, is already defective. I don't mind a little
white lie, though, if it gets me out of there more quickly.