Interesting replies, I just like to have some "down time", when I don't want to be contacted and don't want to be disturbed, it's interesting to see people are switched on 24/7, when do you sleep, when do you have private time?
I find mobile phones have really screwed with the world and real time communication (no matter how convenient) people walking the streets oblivious to others (and traffic) ... and "I" am the one that has to avoid collision because "you" are so engrossed in your conversation that "I" have to take responsibility for your actions.
Apparently there is no such thing as a private conversation anymore, people readily tell anyone on the train/bus.street what is happening in their lives. My way to combat this in public is when someone starts chatting away on their phone in front of me, I just join in the conversation (obviously it's not private) I give them advice (yes, buy the blue shirt), (yes take a bottle of red instead of white for dinner tonight), "yep" get rid of that flatmate ....... "I really think you should go for that new job"..... "aaaaw, I'm so sorry your mum is sick".
I remember PHONE BOOTHS, for privacy, now it seems nobody is interested in privacy and no matter what they are doing ..... IF THAT PHONE RINGS ..... you drop everything and answer it, even if it's just to say "SORRY, I CAN'T TALK RIGHT NOW" ...... go figure.
You can't turn your phone off for a couple of hours ....... sheeesh, seems everyone has an excuse to be available 24/7.
I'm so thankful I'm not that needy.
When out for dinner I ask everyone to place their phones face down (just for fun) the first person that picks up their phone pays the bill, needless to say, I have had quite a few free dinners.
It seems manners have gone out the window too ........