Help, Emily Post!

With all our modern advances, I think we have lost touch with some important basic etiquette. I think this must be one of my biggest pet peeves, because boy, it burns me up.

The latest example took place while I was in the checkout line in Hallmark. The customer in front of me was talking to the Hallmark employee about something when her cell phone rang. So naturally, the customer answered it. That in itself didn't bother me too much. Maybe she was waiting for an important call.

What floored me was that this woman started to have a full conversation. The Hallmark employee didn't know if the lady was talking to her or the person on the phone. The Hallmark employee kept asking the lady questions, which were ignored. Meanwhile, the line of customers getting ready to check out gets longer and longer.

I couldn't believe it. I understand the benefit of cell phones. They are nice, and I have enjoyed the convenience of them from time to time. But when did a conversation on a phone become more important than the conversation with the person in front of you? Or when did that conversation become more important than letting other patrons in the movie theater enjoy the movie or their dinner in a nice restaurant? Are we going to have to have cell phone and non-cell phone sections in restaurants?

Where is Emily Post when you need her? :-)