In the original ancient Greek version, Narcissus is a beautiful young man who ignores the romantic overtures of one beautiful young maiden after another. The goddess Nemesis who witnesses all of this puts a curse on Narcissus to look into a pool of water, fall in love with his own face and stay there transfixed until he dies of old age.

Here's a more modern version. Picture that person with the constantly ringing/vibrating cell phone. Despite attempts from colleagues, spouses, offspring, bosses, direct report staffers, etc. this person with the cell phone constantly puts off those around them "just to take this one call", "quickly answer this one text message" or "glance at this new email in case it's important".

Raise your hands! Who knows at least one (if not many people like this).

Here's a profile of what I call the typical CPJ (cell phone jerk):

- He or she talks unusually loud completely unconcerned there are strangers in close proximity who really, really don't care what time your tee time is tomorrow.
- He or she thinks she's doing the other movie goers a favor turning off the audio and merely checking email in the dark during the slow parts of the movie, even though our eyes are distracted by your little glowing screen.
- He or she doesn't understand sometimes people during both professional and personal conversations need your undivided attention. Meaning: take responsibility for removing anything that could be a distraction (like your cell phone) until the conversation, presentation, interview, etc. is over.
- He or she has boundary issues (i.e. they don't have any).
- He or she thinks its cute to be a shameless "crackberry" or cell phone junkie and we should all just giggle along and excuse their rude behavior. No "pardon me" necessary.

Perhaps Nemesis has already struck. I suspect many will stare into their Blackberries, iPhones and Nokias until they die of old age, oblivious that there is a real life with real people going on all around them.

In the meantime, I leave you with my favorite clip on youtube right now entitled Cellphone Ettiquette.

I promise you will laugh!