Of cellphones and waiting rooms. A waiting room is a place where people stay before an event begins. There are small and big ones. The small waiting rooms are common at a doctor's office, hospital, or outside a school's headmaster's office, and the big ones are for masses of people, like at railway stations, bus stations or airports. Waiting rooms usually have seats and are near bathrooms and water fountains. They should be comfortable places. And they should be comfortable especially because people know how to behave: they shouldn't throw the used paper coffee cup on the floor, treat the secretary in a rude manner or ignore all the warning on the walls telling them to speak quietly or not smoke. These habits seem to be well ingrained. There is one, however, that remains yet a challenge for being so jarring. I'm talking about the cell/smartphone, which seems to have brought new life to the activity of waiting. Whereas in the olden days people quietly browsed newspaper and magazines, talked to each other or just remained silent, today things are different. People's phones ring at will and their owners don't flinch - as soon as they answer it they start talking about private matters as if there were nobody else around. What are the experts tips in this case? Be discreet. Put the cellphone in silent mode or find a private place to talk; don't use an angry voice or scream while talking; or simply turn it off until the whole thing is over. I think those are great ideas! :)