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Are you a Cell-phone Sufferer? Do you grind your teeth as people in the restaurant, museum, or theater yak on obliviously less than two feet away? What about having to squelch the urge to reach in and snatch the phone from the jerk who suddenly realized he was passing his turnoff and yanks the car over three lanes?

The NY Times went over this topic just the other day in an article discussing the merits and implications of devices to squelch cell phone communications. Either handheld or building-wide, the "cure" to the common angst is available for purchase. Letter writers responded with three types of comments: 1) Outrage - "How dare anyone interfere with my ability to use the phone when and where I want to" 2) Approval - "Where do I buy one?" and 3) Wry amusement - "Just shout 'SHADDUP' in their face... it's more satisfying and costs less."

The Times being more politically astute didn't comment on gender or age in terms of who is more annoying in their use of cell phones. But of course none of that applies here...

Women. Honestly I see more women on the phone in their cars, and more men on the phone when walking in public. Women scare me more than men however, since a 90lb woman behind the wheel of a mammoth SUV is far more lethal than a 250lb guy not looking where he's walking. Nothing fucking frightens me more, than seeing some teased, blonde, business-suited bitch gabbing away while peering at herself in the rearview all the while tailgating me on the highway. I just begin my mantra of "SUV Rollver, SUV Rollover" but thus far the affirmation hasn't worked, well as far as I can tell. Everyone knows phones are a major source of distraction leading to accidents, plenty of them fatal for the people who weren't on the phone, but only a few states have gone so far as demanding hands-free operation.

People under the age of 35 and over the age of 20. It seems that a certain etiquette is being established by the newer generation. Perhaps having it drilled into them from an early age, they understand that specific areas such as schools, hospitals, libraries, theaters, and so on are not appropriate for loud conversations. It's the later adopters that seem to have a complete disdain for any sort of restraint.

In response to the rabid woman who went berserk over the idea that she might have the electronic umbilical cut for even an hour... gosh whatever would she have done twenty years ago? Sit there in school next to them? Follow the kids around from class to class in college? Get a grip bitch, your kids can survive being out of communication with you, and even if something does happen chances are a responsible person will manage it just fine. If it's such a freekin issue try home schooling instead.

About cell phone signal silencers, well I don't have an opinion one way or another. I do own and use a cell phone, but I don't think I annoy anyone with it because I like to have my conversations in private. Am I annoyed with other people and their lack of consideration? Often. However I would rather just silence specific offenders than catching bystanders accidentally. Now if they made a targeted device, well... yeah that would be tempting.