1919 cartoon depicting the use of a ‘pocket telephone’

We did go though a phase in the US where AT&T was proud they conditioned Americans to even interrupt sex to answer the phone.

Eventually we addressed all the problems in the cartoon, such as by allowing people to turn off their phone during performances and ceremonies, to have less annoying rings and to be able to ignore a call (and get to it later) when immediate circumstances don't allow for receiving calls.

At this point, most conversations are reduced to texting which implies expediency isn't critical.