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Old 07-10-2003, 11:43 AM   #17 (permalink)
lurkette
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Second-hand smoke is harmful to your health or at the very least physically annoying (makes me cough, makes my eyes hurt, etc.), and people who want to avoid it should not be subjected to it. Your rights end where my nose begins. If you can invent a smokeless cigarette, god bless.

I've never really been sure why cell phones in restaurants, or on the street or wherever, bother people. In theaters or other places where it's supposed to be quiet it's a no brainer. But if someone's talking in a waiting room, or in a restaurant, or just standing on the street, why does that bug people so much? Sometimes it bugs me, sometimes it doesn't. Like Charlatan says, if they're talking loudly or have an obnoxious ring tone, that's annoying. But how is talking loudly on the phone any different than talking loudly to someone else who's present? If someone was with me and got a cell phone call I'd be annoyed if they took it, unless they told me up front they were expecting a call, or asked if I minded if they took the call. Otherwise I would feel like they were ignoring me in favor of someone who's not there and can just barge in any time.

Oh, these modern etiquette dilemmas!
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