I was at a concert in Memphis Tennessee at a concert by Elvis' remaining band members (a little one - not those stadium affairs) and hugely irritated by the woman next to me who worked for the city council, had a free ticket and was doing her emails on her phone which lit up the place. In the end I told her I'd come thousands of miles for the concert and her phone was spoiling the experience. She couldn't have been nicer, was horrified by her thoughtlessness and in the interval went out of her way to introduce me to local people and make me feel welcome. I've always remembered her.
However most people behaving like that couldn't care less about others even when you ask them nicely. Same with public transport, with their feet on the seats, eating MacDonalds, leaving litter everywhere, loud endless phone calls etc. etc. When I was a child it was drummed into me to think of others first. I sometimes wonder how much worse can it get and I'm glad I can remember that other, more civilised time. I wouldn't want to be young now!