"Not evil, just rude."
Quite rude, quite often.
Recently I worked in a 2-person branch office with a 20-something female. Her boyfriend would use his brief blue-collar lunch time driving several blocks to spend 10 minutes with her, and he'd fetch her some lunch along the way. What reward did he get for his devotion? She usually spent the whole time yakking on the phone with her GFs. I often thought the poor bugger should relax at his own workplace for the full 30 minutes and call her on the damn phone, he'd get more attention from her. I guess he was too dull-witted, or too whipped.
I also work in a band. Recently I saw (for the first time) a couple dancing away on the dance floor - and she was babbling on the phone! How rude is that? What did he get for his fond attention? I'm sure if he didn't want to dance she would consider him dull and not worthy of another date, but when he does dance, she treats him like hired help.
"Not evil, just rude."
Quite rude, quite often.
I agree. And sometimes purposefuly so.
Some people used to get their "attention" and "importance" fix by merely talking on a cell phone. They were rare at one time, and simply having one, and using it in public drew attention.
Those days are no more. Heck, my 12 year old nephew has a cell phone.
Now that attention and pseudo-importance comes in being rude and inconveniencing others. Any attention is good attention to some.
If you are in line at the checkout counter with people behind you, get off the phone and get out of the way. Other people have places to be too.
If you are in a restaurant or a classroom or a meeting, turn it off. If your call will be that important, put in on vibrate and politely excuse yourself when the call comes in.
And, if you can drive and talk on the cell phone at the same time without negatively affecting your driving, more power to you. Some can. If not, hang up and drive.