I just think it's rude.

Two people having a polite conversation at the table next to me while I'm having dinner - I can barely hear.

However

DILLLLADDUUUHHHDAAA DILADAUUGHDAAAAd DILADUUHHAAA DAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (thats the nokia tune, really loudly )

cue fumbling around jacket / handbag or just ignoring it not thinking it's their phone.

DILLLLADDUUUHHHDAAA DILADAUUGHDAAAAd DILADUUHHAAA DAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

DILLLLADDUUUHHHDAAA DILADAUUGHDAAAAd DILADUUHHAAA DAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

cue person just looking at the screen for 10 seconds

DILLLLADDUUUHHHDAAA DILADAUUGHDAAAAd DILADUUHHAAA DAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"HI BOB" (much louder than anyone else in the entire restaurent) "YEAH - I'M IN A RESTAURANT" "WHAT.....NO.........YEAH...........NO... ......THIRTY TWO... ........WEDNESDAY..........WHAT. ......HUH.......NO.......WHO......YEAH... ....SEE YA.....LOVE TO CATHY AND THE KIDS"

I think it's 80% ringtones - and 20% the loud nature of the half of the conversation we here that annoys me and, frankly, a lot of people.

You just cant ignore someone shouting into a phone from the other side of a restaurant.

As for mobile phones 'freeing' people as another posters suggested...

5 years ago, I would go home at the end of the day and work would be finished. I could sit down and enjoy the evening. No one would think of ( or frankly, no one would know the number of ) calling my home phone to ask a question.

Now - because mobiles make us so 'accesable' - it's not seen as off limits to phone someone on their mobile at 7 at night to discuss a meeting/proposal/schuedule etc etc.

Free us up? It's tying us all down.

I for one, leave mine switched off 95% of the time

Doug