Mike Celizic

Hooray for coach Mike Sherman and the Green Bay Packers. In the middle of a season that has been nothing but bad news, they’ve finally done something positive.

Canceling a press conference because some idiot left his cell phone on in violation of team policy won’t make the Packers a better team. But if more people start doing the same thing, it may make this a better country.

Few modern devices are both more convenient and annoying than cell phones.

Bosses can track down malingering employees, spouses can roust partners from bar stools, victims of crime, accidents or automotive breakdowns can summon help, expectant fathers can get to their wives’ sides when the labor pains start, sports fans can get updates on all the games — the litany of the utility of the ubiquitous phones is virtually endless.

But there is a time and place for everything. We understand that in most of our daily activities. You wouldn’t think of cracking open a beer during church services, yodeling during a funeral service, working on a business report during a wedding, light up a cigar in a movie theater, gnaw on a steak bone at a formal dinner party or crunch your way through a bag of potato chips during an opera. All of the above are perfectly acceptable and enjoyable things to do — in their place.

For some reason, all rules of common civility get thrown out when it comes to cell phones. All of us have heard them ringing — many with customized rings that are even more annoying than the standard ring — in all of the places I mentioned. And ringing. And ringing.

And we say and do nothing about it beyond muttering imprecations under our breath.

The Packers were like the rest of us. They put up signs and told everyone to turn their cell phones off during press conferences. And still at nearly every press conference, someone’s phone would go off.

Wednesday, the phone belonged to a cameraman, a species of media worker known for their disdain for most rules of civilized behavior. No subgroup within our industry is more likely to dress sloppily, make rude noises, literally run over anyone in their way and generally behave as if the rules do not apply to them.

FREE VIDEO Phone furor Nov. 2: Disgusted Packers coach Mike Sherman walks out of his weekly news conference when a cameraman's cell phone goes off repeatedly. NBC Sports

As with all groups, the worst behavior is concentrated in a few individuals, with the others sharing in the blame through no fault of their own other than association. But it’s no surprise that a cameraman was the guilty party.

Sherman delivered a brief lecture before cutting short his press conference.

“That stuff to me, to be honest with you, is a total lack of respect for each other,” he said. “Forget me. You don’t have to respect me. But respect each other.”

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And that’s what it’s about — respect for others. It’s why you don’t do annoying and inappropriate things in any situation. It’s why you turn the ding-danged cell phone off in situations in which it can be a distraction.

I’m so annoyed by the rings of others I simply set my phone to stun and let it vibrate silently in my pocket. Rarely do I turn the ring on. I don’t need it. I can’t figure out why others don’t do the same.

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