switch off your mobile.....

If it were a meeting or a seminar, I would not completely switch it off, but I'd turn it to vibrate. That way I would be prepared if something came up, but at the same time I wouldn't be disrespectful to the people at the meeting. Concerts are a different scenario--especially classical music concerts. Hearing a cellphone go off during a Mahler Symphony can be very disconcerting when you're trying to take in the whole experience. Out of respect to the performers, I think it should be mandatory to at least turn the ringer off.

I think it's only polite to silence your phone on situations like this. You don't necessarily have to turn it off but to make sure that it does not distract the discussion. Let me ask you too, how would you feel if you were talking in front and a cellphone rings? Would you feel disrespected?

I usually do have my phone in silent mode whenever I am in a meeting or in a public places but I never turn off my phone because I think I must be informed immediately if there's a call.

I believe when people ask to switch off your phone they do not mean to shut it down completely, they mean shut off the ringer.

If I was asked to switch off my mobile I would be very angry because I use my mobile phone for emergencies and god forbid if something went wrong in those minutes my phone was off..I would go crazy! Another suggestion is you can always put your phone on silent which means you get to see who is calling but the ringing doesnt disturb anybody.