Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for January 19, 2023

Before texting became more common, I heard mobile phone conversation in public that should only been had on someone’s couch when no one else was home.

This is one of those times when I am completely on Rat’s side. When I use my phone, I do so in private.

Well played

People sometimes treat mobile phones like they were a can and string!

It’s times like this that make Rat a role model.

Friday’s OK for me, how about around six thirty or so?

Shouldn’t it be boop boop boop beep boop beep boop?

Not as bazar as when someone is on the phone in a restroom.

In the US, 555-1212 is directory assistance for that area code. Just plain 555-1212 might or might not, depending on your area and carrier, be directory assistance for the area code your phone is assigned.

Woman in a grocery store talking (loudly) on her cell phone: “Well, I wouldn’t tell this to another soul, but….”

At least he wasn’t on speaker phone.

The only thing Rat does wrong is that he calls him right after the conversation. I’d have waited until 2 in the morning to call him.

Goat would probably have agreed with Rat on this one.

Was Rat in the right for a change?

I guess talking loudly on the phone is rude, though I haven’t the foggiest idea why.

Like, what’s wrong with talking on the phone?

Oh, I would so love to do this to every old lady shopping at Kohls.

I like my mobile devices and I love the silent ringtone I made! I do wish there was an option for outgoing calls only though. I tell people to text me if they want to call me FYI, and that list is real short!

Thank you, Rat. I hate when azzholes do that sh!t. Like we wanna hear your whole conversation

Rude‼️☹️

And does this Fred guy not seem to have caller ID?

One, two or three, for Rat!! Loud, one-sided conversation is annoying when one is not a part of it.

Actually, it’s bip bip bip – beep boop beep boop.

“On November 12, 1999, AT&T Communications (“AT&T”) filed an application requesting authority under section 214(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. § 214(a), and section 63.71 of the Federal Communications Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 63.71, to discontinue providing AT&T Toll-Free Directory Assistance Service, which is called by dialing 1-800-555-1212. The date of the planned discontinuance is March 31, 2000.”

Even worse are those who do that crap on speaker.

555-1212 used to be the number for directory information. Or was it to get the time? I forget.

Why restaurants don’t ban the use of cell phones in the dining room is beyond me. I know of one place that does, the exception is when a customer is in the lounge.

No one, and I mean NO ONE cares about your inane blathering.

You’re with company, it’s rude. Simply excuse yourself from the table and go outside to carry on your conversation.

News flash, you’re not that important.

Also, don’t get me started on people who are wearing a hat while dining at a restaurant.

Many years ago, I was waiting for my wife’s train to arrive. A young woman was on the pay phone, abusing her mother, wanting her to pick up her dry cleaning. She kept giving Mom the check number. After about 15 minutes of abusive futility, she finally exploded: “IT’S NOT A PHONE NUMBER!!!”

I had a hard time keeping it together.

Scrawled on stall wall in men’s restroom: “For a good time, call 202-762-1401.” It works, too. It gets you the US Naval Observatory’s time-by-phone announcement.

I will tell the person “They can hear you without the cellphone!”

I’m guessing Rat called 555-1212.

Worse than this guy are the ones who use speakerphone at max volume while holding the phone at arms length and also shout their responses…. Either too stupid to use phone correctly OR more likely a vain attempt at TRYING to look “Important”

OMG I would so do that! Except I’m too chicken to do it while standing right there. I would wait until I was somewhere else.

Rat’s courtesy helps him experience more positive emotions, sleep better, and express more compassion and kindness toward others…

Ironically, the Hush-A-Phone, Carterfone, were invented in the late 1960s which a doo-dad replaced the Plain Old Telephone mouthpiece to muffle speech and hide mouth movements from deaf people. It led to the At&t Bell System breakup in 1984: arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/12/carterfone-40-years/

Now, aren’t we all delighted at the less expensive, and greater product availability, competition brings?

I like to make comments to people out loud, on loud cell phone conversations

“….. THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOUR HARD-OF-HEARING FRIEND, FRED!!!!!”

The idiots I’ve seen who rush onto transportation,immediately pull out their phones and say “Hello,I’m on the train”.

What they should be is UNDER the train

Hey he’s got my old phone number. Anyone who needed Directory Assistance back in the day before Google could reach me at that number

When cell phones were new, people (mostly men), would come into the lobby of the bank where I worked and talk loudly. I always thought they were just rudely pointing out that they had a cell phone. Later, when everyone got one, the customers who were most annoying were those who kept talking on their phones while I was trying to process their transactions. I have some advice for them: pay attention when someone is dealing with your money!

WHY DO people talk so loud on their cell phones?

Unless you are speaking to a person who is hard of hearing, or unless you have a rotten connection, there is no need to speak any louder than normal. People who do are just showing off.

There used to be a time when you dialed 800 555 1212 to call information

Touché, Rat. I loathe the Loud Speakers on their cell phones. Even worse are the BlueToothers….

Directory Assistance throwback. Nicely done.

Now I understand — Rat is not just some evil character, he’s Pastis’ avatar for voicing his own peeves.

Well done Rat. But next time use an air horn. A BIG one

Why do people raise their voices when they’re on the phone? It isn’t a can on a string.