It was recently said that cell phones are the death of manners.  You might be thinking, "wait a minute!  That's not fair.  We have important people to talk to and urgent matters to discuss!  The people on the phone are just as real as the ones around us." 

But consider this scenario; there is a busy coffee shop on the corner of a well populated street.  A lady just received her coffee and is headed out the door at the exact same moment that a gentleman is entering.  Ten years ago, this man would have held the door for her and they would have smiled at each other, whispering a brief "excuse me" or "thanks" or "hello," as they crossed paths.  Today though, both the lady and the gentleman are on their cell phones.  Not only do they ignore each other as they cross paths through the doorway, but the woman ends up scooting along the door to keep it open for the both of them while they brush arms together, all the while having a conversation with the person on the other line.  Missed opportunity for kindness, for meeting someone, for just receiving a simple smile as they go about their day. 

This scenario is played out consistently in our society today.  Everyone too enthralled in their phone calls; the where do you want to meet, what time is the meeting, who is picking the kids up, where did you go on on your vacation, did you hear about...?  People are too self focused, everyone feeling like their conversation, their plans are the most important.  Everyone missing out on the world, the people, the relationships around them. 

Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer weekly etiquette questions, and have begun to give advice when it comes to cell phone etiquette.  They discuss the rudeness that can be perceived when people take cell phones to the dinner table, Lockard going so far as to say to keep it away from the table unless you are expecting an emergency call. 

The table, the coffee shop, how about any time you are going to be in the prescence of others, put the phone away, look around you, talk to the people in your vicinity and really live!