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Charlee Beasor

June 28, 2010

New law (sort of) stops cell phone users from being jerks

By Charlee Beasor CNHI The Hendricks County Flyer Mon Jun 28, 2010, 03:46 PM EDT

Maybe it’s because I just turned 25, but lately I feel like the old man who’s always yelling at the neighborhood kids to get off his lawn. At least I feel that way every time I see one of my friends whip out their cell phone in the middle of a conversation.

I want to tell them to just put their phone away until we’re finished conversing. And then I want to slap them for being so rude.

I could be pouring out my heart about whatever is going on in my life, but as soon as that phone vibrates, I get an “Oh, sorry.” That translates to: “You’re not very important right this second. I’ll check back in 30 seconds or so, to see if you’ve become more important or entertaining.”

Of course no one ever actually says that aloud, but that’s what their actions are saying.

If I’m taking my time to hang out with someone or spend time conversing with them, then I should be their priority. Whoever is texting can wait until we’re done.

If you whip out that cell phone while we’re together, I will ask you to wait until we have gone our separate ways before you strike up conversations with other people.

Mainly, I feel that I’ve made more of an effort than whoever is on the other end of that cell phone because I’m with you in person, so those people should be the ones put on hold.

I’m proposing a new law ... we could simply call it the “don’t be a jerk law” ... that would make it illegal to snub the person you’re with in order to converse with someone else.

Of course, about the only way to enforce such a law is to simply stand up and walk away. No explanation, no excuse. Just stop paying attention to them and do something more worthwhile with your time, as they’ve obviously found something better to do with theirs.

I can’t imagine that this new policy of mine will make me very popular with my friends, so it’s probably not a dramatic statement that I’ll make willy-nilly.

There’s one other aspect of this that my friends will need to understand. If I don’t answer their text message or phone call right away, it’s probably because I’m busy with someone else. I could be helping some poor old lady across the street or saving a baby from a burning building. Those are probably extreme examples, but it could be something like that. Then again, it could just be that I’m with someone else and am being polite.

Obviously if it’s an emergency, fine. But there is a chance that I can’t respond to their text about what happened on “Glee” last night (though I’ll call you later and we’ll have an in-depth conversation about it, because I absolutely love that show).

I miss the days when I didn’t have a cell phone and couldn’t be reached 24/7. Of course I understand the value of being able to communicate anywhere and anytime. It’s generally very handy indeed.

But sometimes I just don’t feel like talking to anyone.

Or ... I might be having a conversation with a friend who I value enough to ignore my phone and give my undivided attention to.

And, if I ever do respond to a text message or a phone call when I’m with you, feel free to stand up and walk away, or tell me that I’m being rude.

I’ll get the message.

— Charlee Beasor is a reporter with the Hendricks County Flyer.

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