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[Gina Norman <gina AT vnet.net>]

>  The point is that shopping doesn't have to be that difficult that you need
> a cell phone conversation to complete the transactions. You run into the
> store, grab what you need, pay for it, and leave. It is easy, you don't need
> to talk about it. If you do, then you didn't prepare for the shopping trip
> enough to know what you need beforehand. This is why shopping centers are so
> crowded. People don't prepare before they go.

A-ha.  Now we have hit upon the crux of the matter, I think:  hunting v.
gathering.  This was a "gathering" expedition.  I didn't know that I was
setting out to buy towels for Grumps (I think I was after a throw for my
bedroom, originally), but when I saw them on sale, I realized that he
might like some new ones.  Hence call to Mom, re: color choice.

Now, before you say that I was shopping *wrong* (or somesuch), please
remember that the "net out" of shopping like I do is that people who are
near and dear to me often get unexpected "surprise" presents.  This
happens so often, in fact, that my family has a special word for
"unexpected, non-holiday-related gifts":  searcies.  (NOTE:  Anyone who
has *any* idea where this might've been dervived from, lemme know -- no
one in my family remembers!)

And who is going to argue with unexpected treats?

>  B&C are in the store together and talking between two adjacent people is
> allowed. Talking into a little metal box and ignoring the other customers is
> rude.

<snip: agreedd-upon and allowed checking on something specific>

>  I think the issue is one of someone in the grocery store obviously making
> chit-chat someone and forcing their private conversation on everyone around
> them in the public space. This is rude behavior since you have little
> choice, but to stand there in line while they chat. Surely they could wait
> until they get somewhere else to use the phone.

But what's the difference between B&C having a "private" conversation in a
public space and A talking to someone on a cell in a public space.  In
each case there's a conversation that doesn't include you or involve you,
but in one instance it's with a person and the other it's with a little
box.  Why is one bad and the other not?

Is it rude to write a letter in a public space?  To have a conversation in
a non-standard language (like Pig Latin?)

I'm just curious, because I can't rationlize why one is rude and the other
is not.

Note:  I don't believe all "etiquette" is (or should be) rational -- I'd
just like to see if anyone can find the rational reason.  Heaven knows I
frown on wearing white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day, and there's
nothing "rational" about that -- it's just *wrong*!  And don't get me
started on Thank You notes!

Best,

Gina



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My brain seems to have a circuit-breaker-like mechanism that, when I get
confused and befuddled by the overwhelming monstrosities of my life,
causes a default to the simplest and most pleasant of thoughts.  Like
Marshmallow Peeps.  I *like* Marshmallow Peeps.

Gina Norman                                      And the only bit that
gina AT vnet.net (me personally)                    really matters:
ginanorm AT nortelnetworks.com (me at work)         http://users.vnet.net/gina
ginathelintqueen AT yahoo.com (me personally, again -- sick of me yet?  ;)
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