Sprint did a survey on cell phone etiquette recently—you can read about the results here. Turns out almost everybody thinks that other people are rude when using cell phones—talking loudly in public, etc.—but nobody thinks that they are rude using their cell. Here’s the relevant bit:
Nearly three out of four (73 percent) U.S. adults surveyed said people are less courteous in general today than five years ago, and a full eight out of 10 (80 percent) reported they felt people were less courteous when using a wireless phone today than five years ago. However, 97 percent of those surveyed classified themselves as “very courteous” or “somewhat courteous” in their use of a wireless phone.
My hatred of cell phones is irrational in its intensity. I hate using them, and I hate people who use them—on the bus, in their car, on a sidewalk… basically anywhere but a hermetically sealed box. If I were emporer of the universe… and really, why aren’t I?… I would ban cell phones entirely. OK, maybe I’d allow cell phones that were only capable of dialing 911. But that’s it.