Pet peeve
March 18, 2008 at 10:50 am (Random ramblings)
Michael and I must be two of the few remaining people in the U.S. who do not own a cell phone. So you may think I’m prejudiced, and perhaps you’re right.
But still I say, “People! When you go to a concert, a play, a recital, or for goodness’ sake a worship service, please turn your cell phone off! And if you absolutely must leave it on, then ANSWER it when it rings, for crying out loud! If that call is so all-fire important that it was worth disturbing the mood for the audience and breaking the concentration of the musicians/actors/etc., then doesn’t it need to be answered?!”
In other words, when there’s a passion play and Jesus is suffering his last moments of agony on the cross and suddenly the silence is broken by the merry melody of a cell phone that rings…and rings…and rings…and rings…That’s not cool.
Clark said,
March 18, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I happen to know that on Monday night, you saw the Passion Play at First Baptist Chruch in London. I suspect that during the crucifixion scene, perhaps someone’s cell phone rang. Just a hunch. Am I close?
Denise said,
March 19, 2008 at 5:05 am
Yup. You got it!
Barb said,
March 19, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Cell phones are nice, and my husband and I both have one. But, there is such a thing as the manner mode (vibration) for times you can’t turn it off. But, by all means, turn it off in church! That is so rude!
And, we are showing The Passion at our church Friday night. And, it’s a “no cell-phone on” type of church.
Clark said,
March 21, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Have you ever been in a church service and the PASTOR’S cell phone rang? I’m not kidding, I’ve seen it happen. And…he answered it.
Ken said,
May 8, 2008 at 10:21 am
I’m the third person in the US without a CelTel permanently grafted to his/her/its ear. Since I talk to myself a lot, I’ve wondered about getting a dummy earbud so people think I’m on the phone instead of just weird.
Best bad-timing on a CelTel was at my old parish. Mid-mass, mid-Eucharistic Prayer, mid-Elevation of the Host — and somebody’s CelTel goes off. LOUD. Priest freezes in mid-Elevation and roars “TURN THE PHONE OFF! NOW!” in tone implying extreme risk of hellfire, damnation, and anal insertion (in any order). Ringtone ceases, and Mass resumes. (At least phone’s owner didn’t take call and start yakking away — I’ve heard of that happening. In this case, that WOULD have resulted in forcible anal insertion.)
Since then, every Mass I’ve attended (at several parishes) has always included a “TURN YOUR CELLPHONES OFF” announcement before starting.