People have become unbelieveably inconsiderate in recent years. Cell phones appear to have exacerbated this rudeness. I would have taken the phone away from him, but not destroyed it.

Most people I hear talking on cell phones really have no valid reason to do so. I say this based upon the halves of many cell phone conversations I have witnessed. People need to just learn to be alot more considerate of others regardless of what particular piece of modern technology they happen to be using at any given time.

Wow, that reminds me of my younger years in Catholic boy school.

I think the teacher was right for what he did. It was his class, it was his domain. Not only the student could not extend the courtesy of leaving the room to take his call, he easily disrupted others with his conversations. It was probably not the first time the boy did that, or the teacher first encounter in class.

I can only imagine what comes next if he was to live in my days.

It is certainly a "feel good" moment for anyone who has ever had their time wasted by inappropriate cell phone use. I spend much of my time interviewing people, and some people leave their phones on during the interview and once in a while the phone will ring. What they do from that point forward determines my reaction. If they shut off the phone without looking at who is calling, and apologize for the indiscretion, I accept the apology and move on with the interview. Believe it or not, the odd person actually wants to take the call. I ask if it is some sort of family related emergency. If it isn't I tell them they can spend all the time they want with the call, because our interview is finished.

Assuming this was real (and I agree that it was probably a set up), the professor was wrong to break the phone. He had two better options.

1) Kick the student out of class and do not allow him to return after he completes the call. The embarassment of that would probably prevent anyone from making the same mistake.

2) If the student refuses to leave, then the professor "pulls an Axl Rose" and ends the class, explaining to the rest of the students that the actions of their classmate have resulted in them having their time wasted. Same result as option number 1, in all likelihood.

Exactamento El Jefe! The last thing we need is a professor teaching violence who is nothing more than a Roger Clemens wannabe.....

I agree.

Quite true. The commanding officer of the one SSN I was on was a real flamer, treated everyone on the crew like crap. But when it came to handling that attack sub in a practice combat exercise, he was a natural - he could visualize in his head what was going on, and every time beat the pants off the opposing ships. If we'd ever had to go into actual combat, he would have been the one I'd wanted commanding that sub.

Its the rudeness of people with cell phones that drives me nuts. Walking to class I always hear the chirp of those annoying Motarolla(sp?) phones, usualy both sides of the super pointless conversation can be heard. They constantly go off at the movies, and always in class too.

Is there no discretion anymore? To me having my phone go off in class or a meeting is like picking ones nose. I think the answer is people are just rude these days and only care about themselves.

My new phone has this cool feature that makes it silent, it won't vibrate either in this mode. All you do is push the button on the side when you get out of class, and it displays your missed a calls, love this feature.

Valid or not, I consider the cell phone conversation to be like talking to someone else. If we are discussing something serious and you do pick up a call, I consider our conversation over unless you have a life or death situation. Same as if we are talking and you suddenly decide to chat up with the pretty girl that walked by.

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Private Pyle has dishonored himself and dishonored his platoon. I have tried to help him. But I have failed. I have failed because YOU have not helped me. YOU people, have not given Private Pyle the proper motivation! So, from now on, whenever Private Pyle fawks up, I will not punish him! I will punish all of YOU! And the way I see it ladies, you owe me for ONE JELLY DOUGHNUT! NOW, GET DOWN ON YOUR FACES!

Someone that inconsiderate and you think it will shame him?

No, this is what happens when you fail to maintain the discipline. If I did something disrespectful like that in school, I got a beating. If Dad found out, well..... He did not believe in that double jeapody thing. If Mom found out, it would be triple jeapody because I'd be punished in school, Mom would punish me and when Dad got home, it would be like nothing happened.