In that regard, a deliberately quiet exchange between colleagues on a matter important enough to discuss in the library is usually permitted in person. But for the rules necessary to address wholly inappropriate types of conversations (and volumes) of obnoxious cell phone users in restaurants and libraries, such harsh rules would be unnecessary.

The reason cell phones must be banned, absolutely, from restaurants, libraries, and even gyms is simply because people whose cell phone habits are completely obnoxious ruin it for the rest of us. People who use cell phones appropriately tend to share certain traits: (1) they speak in the lowest possible volume necessary, (2) they purposely turn away from others and shield their conversations with their bodies as much as possible, (3) they cover their other ear, (4) they understand the difference between situations where "necessary" conversations are acceptable but purely social conversations inadvisable or offensive, based on...
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