[madmanslitany]

I don't know if I'd put it like that, but I do tire of this statement as well. I agree that it's rude to hold an extended conversation in front of someone else, particularly if you two were alone and you've left the other physically present person to just twiddle their thumbs, but quickly answering a question of a friend over a cell phone during dinner is hardly something I'm going to apologize for.

I could just as easily say, "What makes you feel so self-important and selfish that you think anyone who spends time with you must shut out the rest of the world?"

[roc]

I think the distinction is 'quickly'.

In your example, you're clearly still showing respect for the other person's time. In the article's example, he's clearly talking about the tarts who have prolonged trivial conversations that do -not- respect the other person's time.

Like most everything in life: there are right and wrong ways to do it.