Why do people think its OK to interrupt someone on the phone if they are on their cellphone?

Question

I know that many people on their cellphones are not talking about anything imortant and that they can be very very annoying! But I am not one of those people, I do not hold conversations on the bus, nor am I loud on the phone. I don't try to have a sales person wait on me while I am choppin it up on the phone either. I am very courteous to others when I am on the phone. I was walking down the street not just gabbing it up with a friend I was actually taking care of business and someone just came up to me and started to talk to me like I wasn't on the phone. She was trying to sell me something or get me to sign a petition, but I thought she was increadibly rude to just interrupt me when I was on the phone. Why do people think its okay to do that ?

Answer 1

Ever think maybe she didn't realize you were on the phone? Good grief you're not that important so stop overreacting and let it go.

Answer 2

She was an ambitious sales person and/or very hepped up about her petition, if she saw the phone she intentionally ignored it.  Waiting for you to get off the phone would have meant to pass you up, she wasn't going to do that.

Answer 3

Yeah, a lot of those people who sell stuff and are trying to support a cause can be a little agressive at times.

Answer 4

A lot of sales people don't care about anything but what they are trying to sell.  To her you were just another prospect regardless if you were on the phone or not.  You are right, it was rude.

Answer 5

It cuts both ways.  I was once in a job interview where the clown who was interviewing me got a phone call and proceeded to talk for what seemed like 45 minutes straight while I was just standing there waiting.  I finally just left.   I figured if he was that rude to me even before I had the job then perhaps I did not want the job.