h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I read this qoute from someone on another thread:-

"when it is and isn't acceptable to interrupt an actual, face-to-face conversation to answer a call."

And I thought it was an interesting topic that we should debate properly.

FB

Cor, go on then! Oh, wait, I've just got to take this call...

I use a BP phone myself...

I keep mine on silent all the time. I can feel it buzzing...if I'm able to take the call, I do. If I'm talking to someone or in a meeting, I'll ignore it. If it's important they'll leave a message.

Vodafone used to (for all I know still do) run a service whereby they would transcribe a voicemail message and text it to you, so that you could surreptitiously read it in a meeting. With the advent of fruit-flavoured phones I guess that's largely gone by the board these days...

RF

I won't answer my mobile, it's on vibrate

I've had a few comments from people recently that I am so hard to get hold of and I never answer my mobile.

After years of having a company mobile on 24 hours call, I tend to now keep one with me, but it's rarely on and when it is, it's on vibrate. I keep trying to explain to people that I have a mobile phone for MY convenience, not theirs, but the message is slow to filter through.

How dare you!

I think it would be permissible if:

a) you're waiting for someone and they need directions

b) you're waiting for urgent news (somebody is in hospital and someone wants to give you an update, or it's a company where you just interviewed, or something like that)

In the former case, wait till the end of the sentence and keep it brief. In the latter, excuse yourself to take the call.

Hmmm my experience is that being a rep I often have people talking to me in the corridor or at a desk.

If they don't have an appointment, and I am waiting for an important call, I have no compunctions about telling them I have to take the call and telling them I will catch up.

Usually if I am talking to someone and I expect a call that I am going to have to take I try to give them the heads up at the start. Again If I have done this, and said call comes through and I take it I don't feel that this is particularly rude.

FB

If it´s an urgent call, such as pregnant wife in hospital, then you can take it. Either way, ask whoever you are with if it´s okay.
I´d also say if you´re working in a shop, deal with the customer in front of you before the one on the phone.

I was in a shop once and went to counter to pay and person was on the phone. They didn't look at me once, put their hand out and took money and gave me the change. not once did they look at me or talk to me!

Unless it's something urgent like the examples given, I think it's just plain ignorant to start ignoring whoever you're with and dealing with a text or phone call.

Sometimes in the past I've just got up and walked away when someone stops mid-sentence to read, consider, and reply to a text. Only when I'm in a thran mood - but if the text's that important I'd hate to be a distraction.

What if you are in a work environment and you are chatting about eastenders. And someone gets an unsolicited call from a work colleague?

Is it rude to answer then?

FB

I was thinking more of a general social context. A work situation's different - but I'd still say that even then, it only takes two seconds to at least say "Hold on a sec, I'll just answer this."

My son permanently complains that I never answer his calls. It's because my mobile is on silent, and if it's on the charger, it doesn't even vibrate. More often than not, I forget to take my mobile when I go out. If I think of taking it, I'll probably forget it in my coat pocket when I'm back.
Usually, I only find a text message if I expect one and check for it. Calls are very rare, so I never expect them.

The people who work in the 'general store' just near me, are extremely bad at this; Its quite common for them just to be on the phone talking away and barely acknowledge your existance, if I go in now and they're on the phone, I'll stand at the counter a bit, and if they don't end the call I walk out and go to a differnt shop, its just arogent and rude of them...
I rarely take my phone out say of an evenign if I'm going to the pub, unless there is a specific need to do so (having to tell someone where to meet us, or such like).

hi 2legs welcome back

if in the shop they are on the phone give them too little money and force them to talk to you, or you get your stuff cheaper.......

i dont have these problems about thinking if i am being rude or not.... i don't own a mobile phone!"!!!

FB: I shall have to e-mail you about the most inappropriate use of a mobile I've witnessed. It was a doozy!

<>

here in the jail mobiles are smuggled by being "plugged" that is, inserted into an orofice

one individual had a slide opening version a' la' the matrix

he aproached the staff saying he had not been to the toilet for 3 days, as the phone had "opened" and got stuckyou know where

rather inappropriate i think???

<

It is obviously acceptable - desirable, even - to answer a colleague's desk phone. But what about the mobile they've left on their desk?

Specifically...what if it's playing the theme from 'Mission Impossible' at full blast?



Jaysus! Why do so many folk...correction...*men* have MI as their ringtone? Why can't they have something like 'Across The Tracks' by Maceo Parker and the Macks.

Specifically...what if it's playing the theme from 'Mission Impossible' at full blast?

Jaysus! Why do so many folk...correction...*men* have MI as their ringtone? "

They do?