RUDE! RUDE!RUDE!

Tonight I spent the evening at the theater. I went to a production of "The Christmas Carol" at my college. Muskegon Community college for those views joining our program late. This show was a one man production done by a Mr. Tom Harryman, who also happens to be my acting teacher. I went to this show for a number of reasons. First I enjoy theater and acting, two I needed to write a review of the play for my acting class, three I wanted to see my professor ply his trade as an actor, and four it was Christmas themed and I'm a Christmas nut! So I purchased a ticket a few days ago and eagerly awaited the performance. As I sat in my seat just a few rows back from the stage enjoying what I think was a very good show it happened, that's right the inevitable. A cell phone went off, and of course it was one of those annoying rings that are so popular today. It of course did it's job and that was to take the focus off of the person performing on stage and put it squarely on the rude person that owned it. I heard the usual murmuring, sign of disgust, and saw many heads turn, including my own. Yet when the lights came up, no one that I saw ( I include my self in this rebuke) had the guts to speak to this person and let them know just how incredibly rude that was. You see since cell phones are a relatively new technology that has emerged over the last twenty years few if any of us have been taught what I like to refer to as cellphone etiquette, it's much like every day etiquette only with cell phones. So I have decided that I am done allowing other people's rude behavior to infringe upon mine, and everyone else's natural order. So from this day forth I will no longer be one of those people who is scared to speak up when others bad manners infringe upon the rights of the rest of us in society. So from now on I will be the one who will speak up when I hear or see jane or john Q public talking on there cellphone while a very nice service personnel attempts to wait on them, forcing that person to make others in line wait, I will no longer pretend that it's ok for someone else's cell phone to ruin my time when in public. Just to clarify for those that might be a little confused as to what places I am referring let me give you a list. Restaurants, waiting in line to purchase anything, when talking with any service personnel, movie theaters, play house, churches, funeral homes, funeral parlors ( this includes the grave side service as well), any public speaking forum, and classes of any kind just to name a few.

This comes down to basic decency, in this age of "whatever feels go is ok" we forget that we are not the only person in this world and that our lives are no more important then the lives of those around us. I guess the reason that I get so made when I see this kind of behavior is because if we are honest with ourselves ( yes there are exceptions to this rule ) 99% of the things we talk about on cellphones are shit, "where you going? What you doing? Do you want to go get/see/ buy so and so or what and what, pick up X from the store, what do you want form dinner" ect ect ect and in my opinion this garbage does not give me or anyone else the right to infringe upon some one else life or to be rude. I know that it involves taking personal responsibility but it really isn't that hard to TURN OFF YOU DAMNED PHONE before going in certain places. Like in the theater, there where two signs that said it and an announcement over the loud speaker before the play began. But hey, that persons need to discuss bullshit at that very moment was more important then common decency and respect for your fellow man. So now I will become what I'm sure will be dubbed as an "asshole" because when I'm around it's no longer acceptable. Oh and if you ever see me do it, call me on it because I would never want to be a hypocrite although I don't currently own a cellphone and still manage to live my life.