Have you ever been in a theater in front of someone who could not bear to turn off his or her cell phone? Have you ever waited on a customer in a store or a restaurant who could not bother to stop a cell phone conversation long enough to acknowledge your existence and expected you to guess his or her needs? Have you ever been annoyed by people talking loudly and rudely on a cell phone while in a public space like a train, an elevator, or a restroom? Eighty-seven percent of Americans in an ABC News “20/20″ survey said they encounter that kind of gabbing at least sometimes, and over 57 percent said they hear it often and it significantly reduces their quality of life.

Cell phone rudeness is fast becoming America’s #1 pet peeve, and for good reason. Interestingly, people over 45 are more likely to engage in cell phone rudeness. Younger folks are more absorbed in text messaging, which, though self-involved, is much quieter and less obtrusive.