Is it just me?
We were fortunate enough to be able to go into Christiansted town once again, last night for dinner. We ate at a waterfront restaurant and it was a generally enjoyable experience.
As we finished our meal, a “busser” came over to ask if s/he could clear our plates. S/he had a hands-free cell phone ear piece in one ear. I said, “I’m sorry, but I’m not comfortable talking to you when you have that thing in your ear.” S/he replied, “Oh, it’s okay.”
Despite my shock, I regained my composure and explained to him/her what I wanted done with my leftover fish, and our server came back to accommodate me. Later, the “busser” went to another table and took an order there. It may have been just for water, but s/he did need to interact with the people at that table, more so than s/he had with me.
The reason I mention the “interact” part, is because the manager came out onto the boardwalk to ask one of the street beggars to leave us alone, and as s/he came by us, I said to him/her, “….The kid with the thing in his/her ear….that’s pretty rude, no?” To which the manager replied, “Oh well s/he doesn’t really need to interact with customers, so it’s okay.”
I was about as appalled as I can be. Michael told me pretty much that I need to get with the program and that’s just the way technology is making us, and blah blah blah. To which I reply, “Screw that! If that thing in the ear is necessary for the job that this person is doing, fine, but half the time you can’t tell if the person is talking on the precious cell phone or to you. This person is waiting on customers and needs to stick that thing in a pocket or in some other orifice!” Rude! Rude! Rude!
But maybe it’s just me……
August 20th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Or maybe not…check this out:
burnettiquette.blogspot.com/2007/10/boycotting-bluetooth-sort-of.html
and http://www.areyoueffingserious.com/2008/07/blue-tooth-headsets-are-new-rude.html
August 20th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
For clarification I’d like to add that I did not tell Terry to “get with the program”. I agreed that having those bluetooth headsets in/on your ear while interacting with other people is often rude and annoying. I agreed that it was inappropriate and unnecessary for a bus-person to be wearing one of these while serving people.
I joked that maybe it was an in-house communication device on which he was receiving instructions – “Table 4 needs water… over” “Please clear the plates from table 7″.
However, I do think the attitudes of many people are changing and, for better or worse, they are beginning to consider these wireless headsets as “fashion accessories” much like jewelry, and I expressed that.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I absolutely agree with you Terry. I can never tell if people are talking to me or to someone with their bluetooth. I have a headset for driving but I always make it a point to take it off when I go into a store or an office. Would that same restaurant allow the person to walk around holding their phone and talking while clearing tables? Probably not.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:36 am
I realize some people need to stay in touch by phone for work, or kid reasons, but I can’t stand the new, “I have to be available to my cell phone at all the times,” attitude. The whole philosophy of “being in the moment” is disappearing in our society. I get so amused at people I see at events who spend more time on the cell phone talking to someone about the event rather enjoying the moment for themselves… I get so annoyed at people who talk on their phone or headset when they are standing right next to me in a grocery line, or at an outside cafe. I have to control my urge to start talking to myself in a loud voice, speaking nonsense, to try and make them realize how rude they are behaving. Usually it is in vain… It is especially annoying in airports when I am trying to read, and the cell phone user is sitting right next to me. I live in the Rocky Mountains, and cell phones don’t work very well out here; it is blessing in disguise.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
It’s not just you. I sat behind someone on a plane last week who had his bluetooth or whatever it’s called in his ear for the whole 4 hours. Aside from being rude it’s unattractive.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
What is so urgent unless you’re a thoracic surgeon to the head of the UN, that requires anyone to be so “available ” at every second. I just don’t get it.
I would hold the owner/manager responsible for establishing guidelines that reflect their business. One of those guidelines is that cell phone usage is fine on your break, and otherwise, it’s out of use and out of sight.
Rules and behavior are set by precedent of the owners. If they don’t care, why should employees. Who will be at their job for a week and a half and be somewhere else after that.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Thanks, BEL, Trudi, Sandy and Bonnie! I’m glad it’s not just me
!