I think it honestly comes down to being just plain rude and irresponsible. I don't blame the cell phones themselves, as has been pointed out above that accidents have happened because of inattentiveness (whether or not a cell phone was involved).

Some people think they need to have a cell phone glued to their ears and be rude to cashiers, drive up window clerks, doctors (we had one client brought a dog in and we never did get to talk to the owner, he was on the cell phone the ENITRE time and never even acknowleged us!!).

This behavior whether on cell phones, driving in general, shoving past people in a store, lack of 'please' and 'thank you's' or (my worst pet peeve) 'my little child couldn't have possibly done anything wrong''; all stems from the same causes: rude and irresponsible behavior, lack of ethics, morals, and plain and simple curtesy!

As long as the courts continue to let people sue for their own stupidity (ie. spilling hot coffee on yourself, getting fat eating fast food, etc.) and as long as the general public allows or excuses the behavior, then this will all not only continue, but get much worse. Just in my lifetime (and I'm not that old) I've seen a DRASTIC change in how people interact with other people whether in public or their own families.

Lets face it, the days of 'Little House on the Prarie' and the 'Waltons' is history, simply a fond memory, gone with the wind!


***and for the record, the only time I'm on my cell phone while driving (and that isn't often) is if I'm on a straight, low traffic road and not making any turns/parking etc. Otherwise, my voicemail can get it, I'm busy!***