Cell Phones, Daily News Columnists Equally Annoying

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Just as cops block bike lanes every morning and man still refuses to ask for directions, so too will people yakking loudly on cell phones forever annoy us. And so too will obligatory articles about how cell phones annoy us annoy us. It might not stop us from demanding we get reception on the subway, but we always find new ways to study and criticize other people's cell phone etiquette.

Zagat released the newest edition of their annual dining guide earlier this month, but yesterday released the Zagat Survey, in which they shockingly found that 63 percent of Americans get annoyed at people who make calls or send texts during a meal. And some 34 percent of those polled say they have sat next to other diners who were talking so loudly, they've asked to be moved. But did they ask what percent of New Yorkers have used their cell phones to save their lives?

And at least cell phone talkers are pretty transparent in their misdeeds, and easily shamed for their lack of social graces. It seems much more insidious to us that at any moment, a Daily News columnist could be stalking you, peering over your shoulder, and listening in on your conversation. It's one thing to post on "Overheard in New York," and it's a whole other kind of irritating to devote a whole article to actively trying to listen in on other people's conversations, as Joanna Molloy did today. The again, the guy was screaming into his phone, "WELL DO YOU HAVE THE MONEY OR NOT? THE QUESTION IS: DO YOU HAVE THE MONEY!!"

Some other results from the survey: In 2010, the average cost of a New York meal was $41.76—only Las Vegas was higher. And 52 percent of meals in NY are takeout, more than anywhere else in the country. Just be careful what you say: your delivery man may actually be a reporter in disguise!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Yakas in News on October 28, 2010 1:54 PM

Comments [rss]

RevWaldo

I know he can get the job, but can he DO the job?

Guest

What's more annoying than people talking on their cell phones in a restaurant are the people outside of that person's party who are actively paying attention to that person. If they're being overly loud, that's one thing, but the volume level of their conversation is not given here as an example.

Here's a novel idea that will make sure everyone maintains the same etiquette level: Mind your own fucking business!

nicemarmot

Only 63 percent? The other 37 percent must be the ones doing the talking on their cell phones. Although as restaurant annoyances go, nothing beats the screaming baby in a fancy restaurant. Because newborns clearly appreciate haute cuisine.

We took our inlaws to Cafe Boulud a few months back and the dinner was completely destroyed by the couple sitting next to us whose baby - it couldn't have been more than three months old - screamed at the top of its lungs throughout our whole meal. Two full hours of baby screaming, it never stopped, it never ate, it never fell asleep. They never took it outside, never shushed it, never took it for a diaper change, never tried to get it to be quiet. They completely ignored their own screaming baby while they ate their dinner. Everyone in the restaurant kept glaring at the couple with the baby, but of course they were oblivious. When they finally got up and left, everyone clapped.

fuboy

Did anyone in the restaurant tell these parents that their kid was a major disturbance? Because in my experience, most people will just sit and fume quietly rather than confront the problem.

Passive aggressive tactics accomplish nothing. That includes glaring angrily. If they're oblivious to their kid's wailing, they're probably not noticing you giving them the stink-eye.

nicemarmot

I was sitting right next to them, and witnessed the manager asking them to please try to quiet their child as it was disturbing the other diners. They completely ignored him like he wasn't even talking to them. After that I figured nothing short of a fist to the face would get them out of there, and I wasn't going to be the one to throw that punch.

fuboy

Ah, okay. Normally, I'd never ask an employee of the restaurant to say anything. I'd say it myself for two reasons. 1) Waitstaff have a shitty enough job as it is and 2) people often assume a position of superiority of the waitstaff / restaurant employees and if they hear something they don't like, they'll just ignore it. Managers and chefs get the same kind of 'I rule you because you serve me' attitude from these kinds of asses.

My tactic, if they didn't listen and I was in your seat, would be to loudly tell graphic stories about sexual exploits. Make it a game and see if junior's first words will be 'Tea-bag'!