Cell phones might be the most convenient but most annoying devices we currently use. For most college students, the cell phone is a life line—to call friends, make plans, find out where people are (even call home when we feel like it)—so why do these hand held wonders also cause so much public outrage? Could it be because they have the ability to turn normal people into rude idiots? Here are ten cell phone offenses that annoy us the most and some suggestions on what to do about it:

1. Wearing two or more devices at once: Okay for the Wall Street CEO, not okay for the girl next to me at the bus stop talking on her cell phone and texting on her sidekick at the same time. Self-absorbed? Gadget geek? Show off?

2. Wearing your Bluetooth when you’re not actually using it: These things were invented for hands free talking if you are driving/typing/something that requires your hands. If your job leaves you answering a phone call every two minutes, then I can understand. But walking around the grocery store? Are you trying to look important or do you just not have anywhere else to put it?

3. Slacking off on Silent Mode: During Sex and the City last weekend, about ten cell phones RANG during the film. Three times it was the person behind me. How many times does it need to ring before you turn it off? Or how about when I was in church and the woman actually answered the phone? I never saw a priest look pissed off until that day. We’ve all heard it happen in lecture, and even though it’s not a huge deal, it’s really annoying. However, an embarrassing ringtone can sometimes be a really entertaining disruption.

4. Invading personal space with chatter: Once on a bus ride back to school, I and the rest of the bus were forced to listen to a girl’s very loud argument with her mother. It happens in class too, when people think that sitting one chair behind you in lecture makes their cell phone convo inaudible. If dirty stares don’t work, start making sarcastic comments about what they’re saying, that should get them to move.

5. The yeller: Ever been somewhere and the person on their cell phone is speaking loud enough for the whole room to hear? Again, if a raised eyebrow doesn’t do the trick, join in the conversation! Tell them you thought you were supposed to be included since they were talking loud enough for everyone to hear. Can be especially fun if the person is having a TMI conversation. 

6. Talking on the phone while being waited on: It never fails; I go to get my salad at Mixed Greens and someone in front of me is on the phone while ordering. “So last night, hold on, I’ll have tomatoes, ok sorry, well what happened was, oh and some peppers, ok I’m back, oh wait, ceasar dressing, thanks…” What should be a quick ordeal suddenly creates a huge back up in the food line. Seriously, I’ve considered jumping in front of people like that. Or conveniently bumping into their phone arm (on accident, of course) so that it comes crashing to the floor.

7. Texting/talking while having a conversation with someone else: It’s just rude. Ever been talking to someone about something exciting or serious and their head is constantly looking down to text, certainly not paying attention to you? If whatever you’re talking about can’t wait until later then either reschedule your plans or excuse yourself briefly.

8. While driving: This is when compulsive Bluetooth wearing is acceptable. Or speaker phone. Anything except being oblivious to street signs or people crossing the road because you answered the phone. My best friend totaled her car because she was texting and driving. They could probably invent the DWT offense: Driving While Texting.

9. Swearing/screaming: This violates numbers 4 and 5. Enough said.

10. Texting while walking to class: The sidewalks of Penn State are not big enough to compensate for a person wandering all over the place because their head is not looking up. I’ve seen people trip up stairs, bump into other people, and walk straight through held doors without so much as a “thank you,” overly engrossed in the latest text message. Quick replies are necessary; messaging the entire fifteen minute walk to class isn’t.