“…Who is the one that decided that cell phones are more bothersome than having children run around in shul???…”
the children are our future. We bring them to shul to teach them how to behave properly and how to doven. your comparison of cell phones ringing to noisy children is not valid. I do not dispute the issue of some children not behaving properly, however, give me a “bothersome” child anytime over a cellphone.
Cell phones, like other objects have a time and a place for usage, we can argue re: the place, however, unless there are certain circumstances (emergencies), the time to talk on a cell phone is not during dovenen.
it is a simple act of courtesy to either turn the ringer off or to vibrate.
Forget about the President or CEO analogy, how about when meeting with a Rebbi or Rav -would you leave it on? We ask for insight and da’as during our tefilla
how about when going to a Dr. or a job interview – would you leave it on? we ask for refuahs and parnassa during our tefilla.
the list goes on…