I know they've been around for a long time, but it still annoys me when I see someone wearing a hands-free device and they're not talking on the phone. I see people trucking around the grocery store wearing it like a bad accessory. They might as well wear an ear cuff with a mini rabbit's foot dangling from it on the other ear. Yes, to me, it's that ugly.

I understand the hands-free device is more ergonomic than holding / cradling a cell, and that a lot of countries -- and states -- have a law requiring drivers to wear hands-free devices if they want to chat while driving. (Even though some research shows free hands don't always mean fewer crashes.)

I'm also well aware that the hands-free device is here to stay, and years down the road, even the skinniest cell phone will look like Seinfeld's cordless "brick," but currently, I'm still annoyed by them.

My husband said it's passé of me to still have a problem with the visual of a hands-free device, but I can't help it. Then again, I never liked the belt phone holder, either.

Is it really too much to wish that people put their phone piece in their purse or pocket in between gabs?