Angela Philipps, Contributor

Are you going out with a guy who has a better relationship with his cellphone than with you? Are you ever in mid-sentence when he rudely answers his phone without apologising? Does he actually use the 'off' button, shutting down the ability to communicate with all others except you? If your skin is crawling because any of this is sounding familiar, then read on, my friend.

Two years ago I asked a man out on a date. He picked me up, and off to the cinema we went. He insisted that the night be his treat - a movie and then dinner. What a lovely surprise, I thought. Anyhow, I was deeply enthralled by the film, Munich, when I heard the most annoying ring tone right next to me. OK, so perhaps it would not have been so annoying had it gone off at another time. However, I was a little embarrassed. But then he answered it, right there in the theatre!

Now I was just mortified. "This man has no manners," I was thinking to myself. And as if things were not bad enough as it was, he proceeded to have a conversation with the person who called. Remember, he's still sitting beside me. No attempt to walk outside, or tell the guy (he told me who it was after, and trust me, it was not important) that he couldn't talk right now.

Stupid question

To be honest, the rest of the evening turned out to be a lot of fun, so I agreed to see him again. The next time, we were at a restaurant and the same thing happened. I'm sitting there, in a fancy place, with him opposite me and talking as loudly as possible to his friend (same one as before, it turns out). OK, this was too much. When I finally had his attention again I asked him, "Did you have to take that?" Stupid question, of course, he did. "Couldn't you have gotten up from the table while engaging in dialogue?" He looked at me blankly. He simply could not understand what the problem was. Oh dear, one of those fellows with no 'broughtupsy'!

Needless to say, things fizzled out between us after a month or so, even though I did give the romance a few more chances. It's fairly impossible to teach a stubborn dog old etiquette!

A girl I used to know went through a similar thing, but she married the loser! I have no doubt that he still carries a charged phone battery in each pocket, and has at least two plugged into electric sockets at any given time. He was the epitome of social ineptness. I stayed with them one summer when I was a lot younger. I felt so sorry for this lady. Imagine having to make excuses for your husband all the time? After a while I'm sure her friends didn't even hear them anymore! What about the children? Every time they were playing together he'd be 'called' away, and they'd be left once more without their daddy.

While the telephone is indeed useful technology to have, there are many occasions when it interrupts other aspects of life. As one would schedule a business meeting or a social appointment, it ought to be acceptable (and the norm) when one is unable to take a call at a particular time.

If I phone someone, I certainly realise that there is chance that the person is not free to talk. I would not be offended if the conversation could not take place until later. If someone wants to speak to me, and I am otherwise engaged, I have no qualms in saying so. I'm afraid that I expect the same from those around me, especially on a date! Sorry fellow, but either the phone goes or I go!

angelaphilippsja@hotmail.com