The American Resurgence

Don’t be the jerk who gets mad at people who get mad at you because your phone is going off in class or a movie.

I just had a fellow student get frustrated with me, because her phone kept vibrating during a lecture at class.  I sit 10 feet away from this person, and kept hearing their phone go off for about 4 minutes.  After a couple minutes I said, semi-quietly, “can someone turn that off?”  I’m trying to pay attention to the lecture and I keep hearing this buzzing to my right every 3 seconds.  After a couple more minutes of it continuing to go off I say, a little less quietly, “turn that off.”  The girl gets up, walks out the door but on her way out says something to me out of frustration as she leaves.  Really, who has the right to be angry?  Me trying to pay attention, or her being told that she’s being a distraction?

I’ve had this exact same problem at theatres as well.  I went to go see the Bourne Ultimatum one evening with my wife (girlfriend at the time), her brother and his girlfriend.  Right in the middle of the movie a guy answers his phone about 4 rows behind us and starts talking full volume.  After a reasonable amount of time I say something to the effect of “shut-up” or something like that.  This is a packed theatre, and he’s right in the middle.  After the movie the guy yells down at me (didn’t know it was me, but in my direction) because I told him to get off the phone and stop being a JERK to the rest of the crowd.

My point?  The world doesn’t revolve around you.  Think of the people around you.  If you’re being a distraction, TRY NOT TO BE!  You don’t have the right to be a jerk to everyone.  You don’t have the right to do whatever you like, the world doesn’t revolve around you.  If you’re at the movies, and you’re going to answer your phone, then leave the room.  This also goes for you people out on the road.  Use your dang turn signal, and unless you’re going to drive the speed limit, get out of the fast lane.  Be considerate to the people around you, and if you are a jerk, expect people to get frustrated with you.  They DO have the right to.