Cell Phone Misuse

Cell phones.  We all have them and they make life a thousand times easier.  Need to call home because you're running late?  Need to check your bank balance?  Need to make a doctor's appointment before they close?  No problem!  Cell phones make it possible.  I remember when we didn't have cell phones and to make any calls away from work or home you had to stop at a pay phone.  Of course, that was back when every gas station, mall and restaurant actually had pay phones.  You had to dig out a dime. (Because there was no such thing as dollar thingys that spit your bill back at you if it was wrinkled.)  When the cost went up to a quarter, people were outraged!  Ah, the good old days.  Now, we can make a call wherever we are.  Sometimes that's not a good thing.  Once I was in line waiting to board a plane and the woman in front of me was having a long conversation with someone who apparently was located at our destination.  Everyone around her was treated to the details of her hotel (which smelled funny), the exorbitant price of her latte, and how she needed to get her brows done.  When the conversation turned to where she and the mystery caller should go for dinner that night, the man in front of her turned around and asked if she needed any recommendations from the rest of us.  Apparently she didn't realize that she was holding everyone else hostage to her conversation.  Ever notice those signs at some coffee shops that state they won't wait on you if you're talking on your cell phone?  I always tip them extra because there are few things worse than being stuck in line behind someone who is trying to order a specialty coffee drink using the Mime Method.  Really?  You can't be bothered to put your call on hold long enough to order and instead resort to hand signals, eye rolls and exaggerated silent lip movements?  And you expect the barrista to get it right?  I work with a lot of high school and college kids in my part time second job and, almost without exception, every single one of them is constantly on their phone.  Sending texts, receiving texts, checking Facebook, playing games, etc.  Did I mention we work for the public?  Half the time they aren't even aware of what they're doing and they don't seem to grasp the concept that our customers CAN SEE THEM!  They're always so puzzled when one of those customers gets upset about the crappy customer service they're giving because instead of taking care of the customer, they're on their phone!  It's not an age thing you twits!  It's a customer service thing!  I hate people who find it necessary to be on their phones during presentations, at church or anytime someone else is speaking.  It's just plain rude.  Were you raised by wolves?  What really annoys me are the people who "drive" and use their cell phone.  Notice I put the word drive in quotation marks?  That's because when you're on your phone yapping or, God forbid, texting, you are incapable of driving!  Today, for instance, I was on my daily commute and for 5 miles there were signs stating that the right lane over an upcoming bridge was closed.  Everyone got over except for one bozo who was too busy jabbering on his phone to pay attention to the signs.  He just about caused an accident when he suddenly realized his lane was ending in 15 feet and veered over, cutting off a semi.  (Those things don't stop on a dime you know.)  Once I watched a teenage girl swerve all over the road, back and forth into oncoming traffic.  When I was finally able to get around her, I saw she was busy texting instead of busy driving.  I hope, for her parent's sake, that she's stopped doing that because if she doesn't manage to kill herself, she's going to kill someone else.  No conversation is worth dying for.  People behaving badly.

Driver's Ed Isn't On The Curriculum

So many people believe driving is a right instead of the privilege it really is.  They get behind the wheel of their vehicle and suddenly they are King of the Road.  (In their own minds at any rate.)  They have no thought for the other drivers who are sharing the road with them and do completely stupid and dangerous things.  I live in a small town that has narrow turning lanes on the main thoroughfare.  They are narrower than the driving lanes, but they are still plenty wide enough for even the widest vehicle.  It amazes me how many people can't be bothered to pull completely into the turn lane, leaving the rear end of their vehicle hanging out in traffic.  If they're afraid that they're going to be hit by oncoming traffic, they're completely oblivious to the fact that the traffic behind them is about to ram up their rear.  Or that they've stopped traffic behind them while everyone else has to wait for them to make their turn.  What about the people who don't turn on their headlights when it's pouring the rain?  If you have to turn on your windshield wipers, you need to turn on your lights.  It has nothing to do with whether you can see, it's all about making sure other drivers can see you!  Especially if you drive a white, grey, beige or silver vehicle.  (That would be the majority of us!)  It's also the law.  I drive 45 minutes to work every day and most of my commute is on the interstate.  It drives me crazy that some people drive continuously in the left lane.  I've heard Troopers say that this is the biggest cause of interstate accidents after drunk driving.  If people are passing you on the right, get over!  I don't care if you think everyone else is driving too fast or you have your cruise control set, the left lane is the passing lane.  That means you use it to pass slower traffic, not to take a Sunday drive.  Another peeve is people who can't make a left turn correctly.  Instead of squaring off and turning into their lane of the side street, they cut across the whole mouth of the road.  I can't tell you how many times I've almost been hit while I've been waiting to turn right.  And the offenders usually look at me like I have no business being on my side of the road!  If it's so hard to turn left with the power steering we have in cars today, I'd hate to see how these people would fare in the cars I grew up in.  You actually had to steer those boats!  The one that really annoys me is people who don't use turn signals.  I'll be driving along behind someone and suddenly, with no warning, they'll slam on their brakes before they make a turn.  Using your turn signal lets everyone else know what you're about to do.  It's helpful on the interstate as well.  If you have your turn signal on, I get the idea that you want to move over and I will let you!  They come standard on all vehicles and are pretty idiot proof to use.  It doesn't matter if you're pulling into your neighborhood, your kids are fighting or you're yapping on your phone, use them!  It also doesn't count if you signal while you're making the turn.  That's just being lazy.  People driving badly.