Ames, I’ll try to be clear today but the fog has NOT left my brain.
That situation was a ridiculous circus. Unfortunately, it is JUST as bad in our shuls/shiurim today. Aren’t we supposed to be better and show the non-Jews how to conduct themselves? Unfortunately, in this area we do not. Our cell phones ring, our beepers go off, we check out blackberries…etc.
I agree about learning from every situation. Isn’t it Rashi that said we could learn all the proper middot by watching animals? (Like cats for tzniut and stuff)
Unless you are an on-call doctor or your wife is ready to give birth, your phone/pager/blackberry should be off during shul and shiurim and at the VERY LEAST on vibrate. (Vibration goes for anyone). Are some of these business people THAT important that they cannot step away for 30 minutes to concentrate on davening? If thats the case, perhaps they need to reevaluate where their priorities lay.