I have had many similar experiences with both men and women being on the phone; in the grocery store, in dept. stores, walking on the street, at the movies, in restaurants, everywhere. Wouldn't you just like to their phone and ram it up their _ _ s? People who cannot get off their phone are just plain RUDE!

Purrmaid, rereading your first comment after reading your second, it literally made me laugh out loud. That was funny!
By the way, my computer is named Will. As in "Will, you please speed up a little!" or "Will, you shut down already!" I think Will needs a tune-up.
And sometimes I call him other things.

Ewww, just reread my post...first sentence's poor grammar makes it sound like the computer is named, "Tech Support." Sheesh.

Another similar example is when co-workers have a problem with their computer they call Tech Support. The technician arrives (they are heavily scheduled and their reviews include how many work orders they close) but the caller won't get off the phone or let them at the computer until they've finished an email or conference call...expecting the Tech to cool his heels and wait. One of the Techs has a solution. He smiles politely and says, "I'll come back when you're free" and turns toward the door. Most clients scramble and let him at their computer then. :)

"Courtesy is the glue that holds society together."

------ Cosmo Kramer

Thank you Ann Marie for the excellent blog. It's always better to have too much courtesy than too little. I can't remember when my parents told me that, but it is so very true. I was recently in line at a local department store(hint - big round red metals balls outside)and two teen girls were in the check out line ahead of me. There was nobody behind me at the time. The two girls finished checking out and my two items were on the little conveyor next to be paid for. All the sudden a lady with a small child walks in front of me and hands the clerk a toy for her child. She had not been in line, but was on her cell phone standing off to one side. I asked what she was doing and she said that she was with the two girls in front of me. I reminded her that she was not even in line waiting and she had no reply, but was still on her cell phone. The clerk was not very helpful as she scanned the item for the lady to pay for. I was hoping that the clerk would say something and indicate that my stuff was next, but no such luck. I decided to just let it go and not to make a big deal about the situation. The lady left the store with her child and was still on the cell phone.

Love the people who make me late! I can be good on time until I'm in line waiting for that one person to make up their mind. Then I start to get bent. As for the cell phones... sometimes I'm not sure if people want everyone to hear them or the other peson on the other end is hard of hearing. I have hear way too many personal thing about people I really do not care to hear. I do NOT want to hear about someones STD problems while I am grocery shopping!

You are welcome br549! If you ever want to OD (overdose) on internet slang, here is a link to Wikipedia:
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:I...>
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When you have teens in the house, you have to try to keep up... ya' know?!! <grin>

Thanks packrat. I just don't know all of those acronyms. No texting or instant messaging in my past or future.

br549 wrote:

fishingal or anyone else who knows, what is ROFLAMO? What does that mean?

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It is a modern slang acronym for - Rolling On Floor Laughing My A** Off

In one store, I recently noticed a printed sign above the counter that read (something to the effect):

"We will be happy to serve you after you finish your cellphone conversation."

Perfect!

fishingal or anyone else who knows, what is ROFLAMO? What does that mean?

hooters, you are so right about people leaving a few minutes earlier and not being so crabby your whole life. Also I love the word "lolligagging". My kids hear that from me alot when they drag their feet in the morning getting ready to go.

I think the key phrase here is "in a hurry". Everyone is in a hurry. Not sure if it's old age, working with hospice or finally realizing how rude I can be always finding fault in others. But if I have to wait in line, then I'll use that opportunity to communicate with others. Be it the person standing behind me who I can feel impatience radiating from their being, or the person who's lolligagging and holding up the line. It seems that most "rude" acts are more about how we percieve the situation. Does no good to sit and steam because we are sending negative energy out in all directions and others see us in a not so inviting light. Relax, leave the house earlier the next time and perhaps use the moment to engage with others. Life is too short to be crabby all the time.

I hate the people in the morning when you just want your coffee and are in a hurry. Why do some peole have to totally reorganize thier wallet or pocketbook after you get change back. If you know your going to write a check fill it out before you get in the store. Don't get the total then hunt for your checkbook or debit card when thier are people waiting behind you. I know thier are lonely people but stop trying to talk about your dog sam to a cashier who's been at work for seven hours and wishs you would get the heck out of the way so she can checkout the other seven people who want to choke you. Thats my two cents

curtaincall"by the way its just as rude for the retail clerk to complain to the next person in line, about about the last customer I have had that happen as well."

I agree bad business just keep it to yourself and move on. but all the customers can roll their eyes in unison!!

ray53511- TOTALLY!!!!!7:09 pm Sorry to bother you but you came here for my help. Hate to interupt your bs and your day.

It is weird there used to be edicate and mannors with phones and just in general being polite. now that cell phones are around ALL edicate, mannors and being politeness is tossed out the window WHY is the phone next to your ear killing those cells?

garyprimer- I am surprized they have pay at the pump. If you dont come in they cannot make any REAL money on you. They dont make squat on gas. I usually pay at the pump and they run out of paper. I think it is on purpose that htey wont fix it.

curtaincall- I like to have a cell phone on the road and try to find a pay phone that is why I got one in the first place. ON the road and running late .Wanted to call to tell I am fine took 30 minutes. wouldnt accept the phone card. couldnt get change from cashier, had to go to info after waiting in line in the wrong place for change and then in the other line just for change. I got a cell. I also dumped land line to save money. It is handy if in the store and you dont have a list to call and check on the list.

This just happened to me at logli yesterday in the FAST lane. She had to take a call instead of writing out her check - good grief talk about the 100 more envelopes you need to order AFTER you get out of the QUICK lane and write your darn check. SO RUDE!!!!! People are waiting and she certainly didnt have that check started cause you cannot do that at the same time youre on the phone . She tried but it just doesnt work so she had to STOP writing the check. Oh boy and one of the slowest go figure.

Oops again… Pete and Reilly: there’s been a miscommunication here. I was apologizing that “I was writing off topic” with the remark about the Dog Whisperer, but then I got back on topic when I mentioned a “checkout line.” (Nothing to do with your posts at all. Sorry about that.) (I would like to know what's going on in a dog's mind, though, when a dominant human being becomes the 'alpha' over them, when their own owners are 'betas'.)
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Oh, I know how minds work… At my “un-tender age” of “over-the-hill”, I've encountered a very diverse society from east to west (and the south)…some very idiosyncratic folks that native Janesville residents might never encounter…helped by dating a psych postdoc and listening to his case studies – plus meeting some of his goofy friends (who took too many photos of themselves at parties -- if you know what I mean).
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There's also so many differences within the cultures moving into our neighbhorhoods as we become a more global society. Dating a mechanical engineer from South America was so different from the psych major with his Azkhenazi ancestry. With the influx of immigrants, we have to be cognizant of their cultural differences - some are more open and public (to downright loud) with their conversations. Some cultures can be more chauvinistic (even on cellphones in the checkout line) than we'd like. Some guys (and girls) who are die-hard Rock County natives and just crude/rude, too.
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It's a delicate balance: Do we say something, therein scolding the guy in line? Are we safe in doing so? Will he be waiting for us outside the store? Has he been drinking..on drugs? Is he at a high level of anger and in no mood to listen to us? Do we write in posts like this, hoping they'll read the Gazette Blog? Do we just put up with the noise in line -- the rudeness -- and go on with life...until the next rude person?
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Seems some individuals can't understand why school/gov't officials are suggesting to kids that they sneeze into their elbows. Well, not everyone has had the "citizenship" training that many of us have - and someone needs to tell them. The topic is 'who' does, 'when', and 'how'. The 'why' should be obvious.

(Did I stay on topic?)

Ann Marie: Put this guy on Beth's list!

http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/clock/200...

Hornet - I believe I was on topic. I made a comment showing there are still a few decent people out there in the public. That waitress went out of her way for us. We were actually just about to leave the restaurant for fear of disturbing others. Calm down.

Pete, Reilly and others...

Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, has the same effect when working with unruly dogs on his tv show. How do we account for that?

Oops...off topic.

Being enthralled with the opposite sex (or maybe species in Cesar's case) doesn't allow one to be rude at the checkout stand. (Back on topic.)

Pete I have to say I've noticed that in my 1 1/2 year old son. We were just at Texas Roadhouse last night and my son was on the verge of a meltdown right before our food came. A blond waitress came over and just started talking to him and he was completely calmed down and we finished our dinner (quickly). Thank you to that waitress!

He does that everywhere. Only with women though. He's wary with men he doesn't know.

Courtesy in the checkout line also includes any type of "equipment" that plays tunes. Earlier this week when the weather was dreadful, everyone must have waited to go to the store when I did...lines were backed up. Three young men had some type of mp-3 player that played the same tune over and over and over and over and over.

Has common sense died - what about compassion for others? Or, is this part of the "ME Generation" continuing into this new generation? Maybe we need more "Golden Rule" or Buddhist quotes hung up around town.

BBB-You haven't been out of school to long. You've been out of school TOO long.

AMA, I couldn't have said what you said any better. Rude people don't know that they are rude until you tell them. You missed an opportunity to educated that soon to be stag.

jofa: I have also experienced the same shortsightedness exhibited by both men and women. It's common sense that you will eventually have to pay for items when going through a checkout. Are people really that brain-dead that they only realize they need to pay when the cashier tells them their total?????
By the time the cashier tells you your total you should already have your debit card ready to swipe OR have cash in hand OR have your check 90% filled out. The people who don't are being rude to those in line behind them.

ROFLMAO:)

This to all the women in front of me in line - At some point you are going to have to pay for your purchase, so why not use the time while the clerk is ringing up your purchase to start digging in your purse for the money! I am amazed at the surprised look on peoples' faces when the clerk asks for payment.

Sorry, guess I have been out of school to long.

Verb? Describing a phone? Words that describe nouns are adjectives. If “freakin’” was being used as a verb, I suppose that would be describing a bizarre salacious act that would indeed be objectionable, particularly in public.
.
I would say that the term “checkout girl” sounds very retro, for shame! “Checkout clerk” would be the PC way to go.

Your verb describing the phone is a word that I do not appreciate.

Well said!! I spent some time in a college town and was amazed at the details people shared about their latest conquests. I just cannot understand how people talk on their cell phones with no regard for others around them. Just rude. If you need to have an in-depth conversation, do it privately in your car preferably with it in park.

by the way its just as rude for the retail clerk to complain to the next person in line, about about the last customer I have had that happen as well.

Does everyone remember when it never occurred to anyone to leave the house with a phone attached to your ear. There was a time when no one did that and now, some people don't think they can live with out them.

Get a gas card and you won't have to stand in line. With the price of gas you have to carry too much cash anyway. It helps to ease the pain at the pump and you can condense the sticker shock to once a month.

So they guy's a jerk, and he probably doesn't have a lot of friends, either. When I've been home alone for most of the day I've gone to the store just to see people. I'm not feeling lonely, I just want a change of scene for a few minutes. I don't chit chat with the clerk, or play the lottery at the counter though.

OK. To the man in front of me at the gas station-- when there are other people waiting in line (4 others to be exact), it is rude to scratch off your lotto tickets, make small talk with the clerk for 10 minutes, then buy more lotto tickets and scratch those off too. Oh, and making her go in the back three -yes 3 times- to look for your brand of cigarettes is pretty rude as well. Please be more conscientious of your fellow gas station patrons and maybe move to the side to chit chat and scratch off your tickets....

Huh, sounds like Pete was the guy that was in line in front of you. Mystery solved!

The post office in my city has a sign that tells people not to be on their cell phones when approaching the counter. Basically, no service until you get off the phone. Perhaps service people should just walk away or do something else and they might get the point. I don't own a cell phone but I do use my husbands. Also, people driving while talking, it annoys me! Sometimes they don't know the light changed or they think they are suppose to stop, etc. Stupid people. I really wish they would outlaw them for driving. I know regulating that would be difficult but it might help.

Wow..someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.:-(

I work at a hotel and there is nothing worse than trying to check someone in or make a reservation while the are on their phone or talking to their buddy. I cant stand there and wait for their conversation to finish. I just act as if they are not holding a conversation. I feel rude to butt in , but its even more rude to hold a conversation , while I have other guests behind you waiting to check in.

I work in Retail and find it very rude that people will come into a store wanting my help yet they are unwilling to stop conversating on their phones long enough for me to help them with the stuff they need.