Cellphone Etiquette

A cool thing about China is that cellphones are ubiquitous, but no real concept of cellphone etiquette has developed along with the advent and rapid popularization of the technology. For instance, it is perfectly acceptable to pull out one's cellphone and answer a call during a business meeting. Moreover, Chinese people tend to shout when talking on their cellphones (you're far away form the person you're speaking with! must ensure they can hear you!), so it's not unusual to be in a meeting, conference, restaurant, coffee shop, or public space and have the guy next to you shouting ANNOYINGLY about some really mundane topic. Really, dude, really? Do you REALLY think the rest of us want to listen to what you have to say? You couldn't screen the call? You couldn't call him back? You couldn't take the call outside?

My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE, though, hands down, is the use of cellphones in restrooms. I can't tell you how many times I've come into a public bathroom and there's a girl in a stall, on the toilet, having a LENGTHY conversation with a friend. I cant think of a MORE uncomfortable place to have a phone conversation! Public bathrooms are GROSS; normally the aim is to get in and get out as fast as humanly possible. And it's not like these girls are on the toilet, get an important call, answer it and are like, I'll call you right back. No, they take their time--relaxing, chatting, laughing, etc. UM do you NOT think the caller MIGHT be uncomfortable if s/he knew you were sitting on the CAN?