Lots of people on my flist are saying "cell phones" to this, too. I can see why.

Me personally, I use my cell phone once a week. About. It's usually just to call my dad/friend/sister to see when I should be home/what we're doing tonight/if she needs me to pick her up. And yeah, I can see the appeal in texting. It's amusing and cute, but my other friend is so obsessed with it one day I'd like to rip her phone out of her hands and chuck it down a toilet. The next time I see her flip it open to respond to someone miles away when I'm sitting right there having a conversation with her... -grumbles- It's just plain rude.

People don't text on their cells as much as they talk on them where I live, but when I see it happen, I really get mad. I swear, as soon as I have my license (Ugh, I haven't even applied for a permit yet, I'm that lazy) and I see someone texting at the wheel, I'm going to have a seriously hard time controlling the little voice in my head telling me to tailgate them.

You know I have a cell phone, since I use it to call you. ^_~ It's very convenient to not have to pay long distance charges when so many of my friends are out of state. However, when I am out with other people, I'm with *those* other people. My cell phone is on private. People who call can leave messages that I can reply to later ( ... )

I have a cell phone, it's a very outdated model but it works; I only use it for calling when I'm stuck in a traffic jam and I fear I might arrive late, something has happened, etc.. so in emergencies only, not for frilly and silly conversations. People expect you to have a cell phone, and sometimes it's handy (like when you expect a phone call you don't have to stay home, you can just do what you want as long as you carry your cell around). But mostly I see the examples you give, and it's annoying. What I really, really dislike is all those people in the supermarket calling home, like "Honey, they've sold all out on product X! Should I take product Y instead?" Hello? What happened to making your own decisions?

You see cell phones everywhere, used everywhere. That's the problem; people are so used to it, so grown to it, that it has become normal. A cell phone is fine, but sheesh, act normal with it in public!

Remember when people used to actually talk to the cashiers at the store when they were checking out? That is my pet peeve...people in line at the store, yakking it up on their mobile, and can't be bothered to be civil. I have seen people totally ignore the cashier. They put their stuff on the counter, run their credit card through the machine, grab their bag and take off, and not once even look at the cashier.

Oh, and people who are talking on their mobile while pumping their gas!!! Excuse me...I don't really care if you want to blow your ass up, but do you mind not taking me with you?

Yeah...mobiles can be evil. And from what I've seen/read, Americans are the rudest with them.