It's bizarre that this little tiny device, with it's incredibly small level of interaction, can take the place of the massive sensory stimulus that is the world around us.
I'd like to think that I don't do this. I know that almost certainly I'm wrong on that.
I do try to not talk on the cell phone around other people. Let's face it, it's kind of rude to talk to someone that isn't there. It's why we call crazy people "Crazy People". We generally don't invite those people to parties.
I hate talking on the cellphone when I'm in the car with someone. That's got to be one of my ultimate pet peeves. You've basically just forced this other person to sit down, shut up, and not move. The strange converse? I don't mind that much if someone else takes a phone call while I'm in the car.
Not so in restaurants. Seriously, you wouldn't do it at your mother's table, certainly don't do it out in public.
I truly applaud restaurants with a "No Cellphone" policy. I recently went to one that kept my meal warm when I stepped outside to take a call. Incredibly classy place, even if it was a 24 hour diner serving greaseball cheesesteaks (hey, at 2am, sometimes you really get a craving for an awesome cheesesteak).
I guess this is one other part of the "Treat others better". Not well, but better. Maybe start small, and just try to make one stranger actually happy that they were in your proximity that day. If you find that you need to be a little bit stronger in an interaction, it's always easier to go from nice to nasty, than mean to nice. Give everyone the opportunity to be nice. I think the results will astound you.
