people can be so rude

I’m writing this sitting in the Tempe Public Library. I have just had such an awful experience I can’t believe it!

I’m sitting here, minding my own business, working on this heinously long job application, and this woman two tables over keeps talking on her cell phone about medical office-related topics. She is clearly a receptionist for a doctor’s office. She’s calling about lab reports and scheduling appointments. Debbie Smith’s phone number is 602-xxx-xxxx and she needs her lab results. Tami Bowles is 48 and needs to schedule a neck and face lift. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING IN A PUBLIC LIBRARY??? I keep asking myself, thinking its sooo obnoxious. Not to mention it seems totally inappropriate to be discussing patient information over the phone in a PUBLIC LIBRARY. I keep exchanging looks with an older lady at the table between me and receptionist. What the hell. Finally I’m too pissed off, I can’t take it, this is just wrong and irresponsible on her part. So I go over there, I say real nice like, “Excuse me but can you please conduct your business elsewhere? It’s annoying and rude.” I figure I won’t start with how wrong it is to be talking about patients in public.

She says, “Oh I’m sorry, I am here all the time, no one has complained before.”

“Well, that’s weird, because its totally wrong of you to do. By the way, can I have the name of your employer?”

“I don’t think that’s appropriate for you to ask.”

“I don’t think its appropriate or considerate of you to discuss Debbie’s phone number and test results or Tami’s face lift in public.”

“It doesn’t matter what I say as long as I don’t say their social security number.”

“Well, I hope I never go to your office, its incredibly disrespectful to patients.”

I went and sat back down, she packed up and finally left. Old lady smiled at me, I felt calmer. Later old lady comes over and says, “That really took some guts on your part. And just so you know, I was here the other day and she was doing the same thing. I didn’t see her before I sat down or I would have gone somewhere else. But I’m going to tell the librarians, because its just not right of her to do that in here. She was using their electricity.” I thanked her for supporting me (although backing me up when I was talking to receptionist would have been better) and told her receptionist was also using the library’s internet.

I still think its wrong that she’s doing doctor office business in the library. In public. Isn’t that what doctor’s offices are for??? Is there not some code of conduct for this? And, librarians out there, is it ok to use a cell phone in the library, for any purpose? I would not do it, I’d go outside. It’s a library for pete’s sake, a quiet zone. And the next time I hear someone answer a cell phone like, “Hello, Dr. X’s office, how may I help you?” I will write down Dr. X’s name, look them up and let them know what their receptionist is doing.