Phone Privacy

   Note to mobile phone users: In a public place, nobody's interested in your private conversation. Wandering around the tables at a Starbucks while talking business strategy with a colleague on your mobile phone is not only rude and distracting to other customers, it can also be dangerous. You never know if a news reporter is in the room. FYI, good reporters are never off duty.

   Example 2: A lawyer and clients are discussing their case on the sidewalk outside a courthouse when the lawyer notices a reporter standing nearby. Lawyer calls out to reporter: "You can't eavesdrop." Reporter replies: "This is a public sidewalk. There are no eaves."

   Example 3: Corporate executive comes out of his office commenting to his visitor on a pending issue, then returns to his office. A news reporter happens to be in the staff room and later contacts the exec for additional comment.
   Exec says, "You can't use that. That was a private conversation."
   Reporter replies, "It was in a public place, and I heard you say it."
   Exec insists, "But I thought you were one of the secretaries."
   Reporter points out, "You thought wrong. It was said publicly, I heard you say it, and I'm using it."

   Moral: If you want a private conversation, go someplace private.