My daughter is 23 tomorrow and my phone has been on mute since before she was born. Do I count as old? There's nothing more rude than, when in the midst of conversation, a person will drop it and ignore you, then start talking to someone on the other end of the obnoxious little black rectangle. Height of bad manners. I'll see who's called and get back to them, when it's suitable. Nothing is ever so urgent that I must be spoken to there and then.