The Rritual Act of the Mobile phone

Drawing from the reading "Towards a Sociology of the Mobile Phone" mainly sourcing 'On the Mobile'a comparative research study understaken by Sadie Plant. The idea of being on the mobile in public considered as a 'ritual act' and the different rituals of use in public spaces. The two rituals of use she proposes when recieving a call; the removal of oneself from the immediate social situation or taking the call and speaking while the people with you look on in suspense. Interesting, how which would be considered more offensive, depending on the social predicament in which you find yourself in and the nature of the phone call. At dinner, in a meeting, in a Church, at a sports match, wedding or the school production. I guess it depends on your mobile etiquette or the way in which you use your mobile phone, as an extension of yourself or a means of communication, an accessory or some or for all those reasons. The terms 'innie' and 'outie', which Plant uses to distinguish behaviour by mobile users, holds alot of truth to it. "Innies use their phones as unobtrusively as possible whereas outies integrate phone conversation into their situation of copresence". The contrast she uses of a formal restaurant, where mobile phone use is banned and then in an informal café, where phones are displayed on tables and are used without hesitation. I find in Auckland we would represent, well majority of us would be 'Outies'. This is due to the environment and lifestyle and the make-up of the city, the various cafés, professionals, CBD, occupations, our materialistic nature and in a way the osentationus of Auckland and its people. This may seem a sweeping generalisation, but walk through Auckland, as I did and without suprise, Mobile phones were visualbly everywhere, being spoken into, put out for decoration, text messaging and some about to be used. I guess, I experienced a social situation, when this super imporatant businessman, decided to whip out his phone and used it, while I was having Dinner at a formal restuarant, Pizza Hut (nah, just kidding) A place in Posonby, cant remember the name. I sat their annoyed how rude I thought speaking so loudly and using a mobile phone in this social environment, not only did I find him obtrusive with his phone, but his total disregard for other people, but then again mobile phone etiquette is something that has no universal rules or regulations (maybe in specific restaurants and places), but generally I think it is up to personal interpretation of the social situation and how you choose to respond.