One big thing that is almost universal in our society is the sense of being busy.

To me, it is something like this - if you show up early to a meeting or another event, you are not important enough to be busy. Even socially, you always hear of being fashionably late. I think that mentality is very harmful to our manners, as people will not take the time to show courtesy to others who do not appear 'busy' as perceived through the norm of society mentioned above.

If you are not on your cell phone, you are not busy. If you are not texting someone, you are not important. If you do not get a call that interrupts class or work for everyone else, you are not big time. That is what we have come to...the only way to change that is to change our perceptions of how the use of technology impacts our lives, internally (individual perception) and externally (perception of others unto you).

Very good post. I just wanted to add that along with not seeming important, another aspect related to this is if you're not on your cel phone, you're also unpopular. People think if they're seen out to eat or at the mall or anywhere on the cel, it makes them seem like they're a fun person to talk to, they have so many people calling them, they can't get away. Or if you're just hanging out with friends, you're on the cel showing them they should be happy you're with them because you're in such high demand. But all you're doing is showing those people you don't think they're important enough to deserve your undivided attention. And whether that person is your best friend or a waitress at Olive Garden, that is very rude and inconsiderate.