Courtesy in Restaurants

[babomb]

These bloody walkie-talkie things people have now. If it's possible to have conversation on them at a polite level I've yet to hear it, since even several tables over I can very clearly hear the other person. What possible advantage is it to have these things?

I hate those. With a cell phone, you hear only one side of the conversation. With these, you generally hear both, plus the loud beep when someone hits the talk key. Bloody annoying.

I leave my phone on vibrate almost exclusively. When it rings, I check who's calling and decide whether to take it. If it's probably not urgent, I won't take it. If I do take it, I'll either keep it brief or excuse myself.

 

[Torm]

Rude to carry on a cell phone conversation in the restaurant? No.

Rude to carry on an extended cell phone conversation when in the company of others? Yes. (I wouldn't outright exclude taking or making a call, but keep it short and to the point.)

Rude to allow a cell phone to ring in a restaurant? Oh heck YES.

Of course, part of this is based on information you didn't give: You said "dining out", so I assume an actual nice restaurant, rather than an fast-food or similar eating establishment - I'd consider the rules much more relaxed at the latter, myself.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

I don't find it really rude to have a phone conversation at the table in normal tone of voice as long as it's brief and the others at the table are OK with it. As long as it's in a reasonable and normal tone of voice, other diners should have no problem with it, since it's no different than talking to your tablemates.

Especially if she'd said "excuse me", before answering the phone. I don't have any probs with someone talking on a cell phone as long as they're not being loud about it.

And as long as they're not doing it in the serving line. Those I can't stand as they hold up not only us, the restaurant workers, but the other customers as well. I don't need people who wait until they get there, and put YOU on hold while they figure out what their friend/SO/mate need for them to get. Figure that out BEFORE you leave home or work!

You know what is?

These bloody walkie-talkie things people have now. If it's possible to have conversation on them at a polite level I've yet to hear it, since even several tables over I can very clearly hear the other person. What possible advantage is it to have these things?

I curse nextel into the lowest level of the abyss for their thrice-bedamned atrocities they call walkie-talkies!!!

Those are the most annoying, pain in the ass devices out there! And the most rude of all cellular type phones. I wish they'd ban those things from any type of service. I don't want to hear that damn chirruping or the other person's chatter. Phones are meant to be private, not public. Keep those things where they belong: the trash can!

 

[Darth K'Trava]

And so when people are floored when I tell them I don't own a cell phone, I smile. How can you get ahold of me? Well, I have a standard phone with an answering machine. I also have a physical address. I have two different e-mail addresses (business and personal). And I have a fairly regular schedule.

People do NOT need to get ahold of me 24/7.

That's my aunt's whole reasoning as to why she doesn't have one...

Recently, she thought of getting one as the phone company my sis is with has tried to screw her over.... (she's having to stay there while recovering from a muscle condition)

 

[DaveStebbins]

I have to agree with the majority: she was mildly rude to the tablemates unless it was an emergency or very short conversation; and she was not rude at all to the other people at the restaurant (unless there was a loud ringtone). To the passive-agressives, I would have reacted in a similarly passive-agressive manner. When the call was done I would have raised my voice and said, "Now that your call is over, we can continue talking in a normal tone!" And I would have been louder than normal for the rest of my time there.

I am the opposite of those who don't have a cell phone. I don't have a land line. My cell phone is my only phone. If I am out with friends or co-workers, the chances are only about fifty-fifty of me answering it (situationally dependent), unless it is my mom's nursing home. I try to make sure it is turned off within moments of entering a theatre, quiet restaurant or similar establishment.

-Dave

 

[Aeson]

I curse nextel into the lowest level of the abyss for their thrice-bedamned atrocities they call walkie-talkies!!!

Those are the most annoying, pain in the ass devices out there! And the most rude of all cellular type phones. I wish they'd ban those things from any type of service. I don't want to hear that damn chirruping or the other person's chatter. Phones are meant to be private, not public. Keep those things where they belong: the trash can!

As the saying goes qouted for truth.

I can not stand those phones or the people that use them.

I think people should have a little respect for those around them and take the call else where.

I would also like for people to be above the one on the phone and not talk about them. Be the bigger person.

 

[bodhi]

Many of my relatives now realize that we rarely answer the phone, and they seem to consider this rude. It seems that people believe that when your phone rings you have an obligation to answer it.

That just makes no sense to me. Since when are you obliged to let me interrupt you?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'm just old enough to remember dining in places- nice places- which would bring a phone to your table (with a loooooooooooooooong cord) if you received a call while dining there.

Because of that, I don't consider answering a phone call at the table all that rude (assuming a reasonable voice volume is maintained).

However, unless that call is exceedingly important, the conversation should be kept brief, or taken elsewhere.

Bonus points for not making a big fuss about it, though!

As for ringer volume...that depends on the restaraunt. If I'm at Paul's Porterhouse in Dallas, its on vibrate. If I'm at Joe's Crab Shack? Full volume & vibrate are required just to get noticed.

Oh yeah- Walkie Talkies SUCK!

 

[Kahuna Burger]

That just makes no sense to me. Since when are you obliged to let me interrupt you?

Its possible that he calls them back right afterwards and just says, "yeah, I wasn't answering my phone but I heard the message...." Not choosing to answer your phone isn't rude, but someone making an active point of it would strike me as a little... off, politeness-wise.

 

[billd91]

If your wife was speaking at normal conversational volume, there's no way she could have been rude to other restaurant patrons. The only people she could have been rude to are you and any other people at the same table.