Can you hear me now?
Yes, unfortunately we can hear some cell phone users loud and clear. Cell phones have made private lives public. Especially when callers insist on shouting into them like megaphones. If a caller can be heard talking across the street they’re talking too loud. I know this is not a new topic but it is a growing menace as the cooler weather drives everyone indoors and stepping outside to politely take a phone call becomes less of an option.
I got caught next to a one-man cellular transmission tower the other day. I was walking into a market. A man followed behind me who was very tall. He loomed over me and stood uncomfortably close. Without warning his booming voice filled my ears. I was so startled I jumped.
“I’m in the market!” He blared inches from my ear. This man had no volume control. He shouted as if he was at a football game. He began his hands free shopping. No phone was visible, so it appeared he was psyching himself up for the hunt. He shouted. “I’m walking past the frozen foods! It’s f@#$ing cold in here!”
I moved away from him but I could still hear him and so could everyone else in the market. As the man loudly described his surrounding, I began to wonder who was on the other end of this phone call? Were they new to this planet? Had they never seen a market before? Did they really need to hear this?
He continued. “How many aisles down? I’m turning now. I’m on the cereal aisle. I’m looking at f@#$ing boxes of cereal. Do we want cereal? I won’t eat it. How the f@#$ do I know?”
He got a dirty look from a young mom with kids who was also trying to purchase f@#$ing cereal but he didn’t take a hint and quiet down. He actually got louder. A moment later it was time to shop for f@#$ing eggs a process, which was fraught with more indecision and frustration than you can ever imagine. The man was compelled to discuss every detail with the person on the other end of the call and it wasn’t a happy discussion.
NASA does less hand holding with astronauts who space walk.
The personal products aisle was next. I heard one side of an argument about “Butt Medicine.” It got graphic. I was floored. What happened to courtesy and common sense manners? Did this man truly not realize women and children heard every crass word he said in public? Is this okay with him and the rest of us? I’m a shrimp and he was huge so I was reluctant to get tough with him. I took my cowardly revenge by writing this blog. Does this foul-mouthed trend bother anyone else?
XXOO Katalina Leon.
.jpg)
