My biggest pet peeve is cell phones. It is tolerable, but disturbing, when others speak loudly or activate notifications and sounds on their cell phones. It’s a problem, particularly in crowded public spaces like buses, trains, restaurants, and coffee shops, with the increase in using cell phones. I turn off most notifications and set important ones to vibrate because I’m not too fond of that thought-interrupting sound.

Being present and giving our full attention to the people around us is essential. Many people constantly check their phones, even during conversations or meetings. Nothing is more annoying than when someone takes a 3-5 second lull in a conversation to check their phone. This habit shows a lack of courtesy and respect for the person they are conversing with. I get annoyed when my partner and I sit watching a show, and he’s scrolling through Facebook with all the sounds turned on. For one, it isn’t polite to me, who is trying to listen to the show WE are supposed to be watching together, and two, he misses something, and we have to stop the video and rewind. Another thing I’ve dealt with is when I’m talking to him, and he checks his phone and texts someone else. It’s a passive-aggressive move, but I stop talking and don’t start again till he finishes with the text.

Cell phones’ constant ringing and beeping can disrupt the peace of the environment and cause inconvenience to others. People talking loudly on their cell phones can simultaneously disturb others and invade their privacy. It cannot be enjoyable when someone’s voice dominates the auditory space in a public area, forcing everyone around them to listen to their discussions.

Another issue with cell phones that can bother people is the constant notification sound. This sound can irritate you, primarily when concentrating or focusing on something important, like work, studying, or reading. I’m throwing my partner under the bus again. He is a serial Facebook scroller, and we live in a loft house. You can hear everything anyone is doing. As I write this, I hear his phone as he scrolls through his Facebook feed. An ad and then loud talking followed by loud music, and his text notifications go off amid all this. When it gets too much, I put on headphones, but I don’t understand why when he knows it isn’t enjoyable for me, and I shut my stuff off so I don’t do it to him. He can’t seem to do the same for me.

Many people have their phones with them every minute of the day, constantly beeping with notifications. I am okay with the occasional message notification, and it probably sounds like I’m picking on my partner (I love him, that’s why I put up with it.), but he doesn’t even turn it off at night. A few of his buddies text whenever they feel like it is not noticing the time and waking me up, or with his radio (he’s a firefighter and first responder), there are times they have whole conversations that keep me awake (that have nothing to do with him). He sleeps through it unless an alarm goes out! I understand the need for something, but the notifications he gets over the radio cause his phone to go off as an alarm, too. So please use one or the other, preferably the cell phone, because there is the ability to let certain alerts go through but not others.

In conclusion, while cell phones are excellent tools for communication, it is also crucial to be considerate of others around us. When did it become okay to be impolite to others? It is essential to understand that our actions have consequences and that respecting others around us is up to us to make our environment more pleasant. Choosing to silence our phones or curtailing unnecessary conversations can help maintain a peaceful and respectful environment.