Fred Basset by Alex Graham for April 14, 2022

Unfortunately that is becoming more the norm these days than the exception. The battery in my cell dies from not being used than use. I can’t remember the last time I used my phone. It’s probably been a year or more.

People are often rude Fred! Maybe you can’t bark so she can’t hear or even carry off her purse…

Yes, ‘Fred’ not everyone has the nice manners of you and your ‘Mrs. Dear’ .

There came a time that my phone was choc a block with apps for communication because one person used this and one person used that, and I never heard from any of them, so, a mass extinction off apps and I think only one person noticed. Now the phone doesn’t complain of running out of memory………..

Unless you are a doctor with very ill patients there is no reason to have your phone on when at church , a meeting or any form of gathering . That is the reason for voice mail .

Yes, beyond rude, especially when the others can now hear how their company is not important to her.

I don’t like it when they take a call in a doctor’s waiting room. Then they prattle on and on about nothing while I’m feeling miserable and can’t stand the sound of their voice.

It didn’t look like anyone was talking to her. Look at how everyone is sitting. Not one person is facing her.

I hate it when I am checking out at the store, and the clerk stops in the middle to answer the telephone. Hello! You were serving me! Whoever telephoned couldn’t be bothered to come into the store! Serve those who are waiting first.

I’m not sure, but the point may be that she’s not being included in the other conversations…the woman in pink has her back turned towards her. She is being very loud, however…

Used to live in rural village of Catalina in far NW Tucson. Our mail box was one of a dozen or more in a row. One day a car blocked a number of mail boxes including mine. I knocked on the car’s window to get the attention of the driver yacking on a not so ‘smart phone’. Person got irritated. Finally moved her car so I could access our mail box. Don’t have and never will have a smart phone!!!!!!!!

She’s about to receive non-verbal communication from the others that she’d better end her call, as in weapons-grade level death stares from her four friends. She may seem odd lady out at this high tea, but that doesn’t excuse taking a phone call, for this is to be a time to be holding [actual] conversations and not be yakking on the phone or text messaging.

Even Fred knows that’s rude.

I got a cell phone to call home in an emergency. I usually have it turned off when I am at a movie or visiting.

I asked my elderly father-in-law why he didn’t turn his cell phone on. His reply, “Because no one calls me on it.” Years later, we still chuckle about this.

How not to act at a book club!