Using mobile phones or text messaging mid-conversation or during an appointment or meeting cracked the Terrible 10 Rude Behaviours List issued by Johns Hopkins University.

The intrusive techie behaviour is ranked 10th on the list, based on a survey conducted by the US school's Civility Initiative of 615 workers and others.

Topping the Johns Hopkins list is "discrimination in an employment situation."

"The research suggests that people are bothered more by the transgressions of coworkers and strangers than by those of family and friends," said P.M. Forni, director of the Civility Initiative. Future research will be designed to learn why this is the case, he said.

For what it's worth, many rude mobile phone users at least are aware of their shortcomings. Mobile phone users acknowledge that the devices encourage them to drive dangerously and behave rudely, but they also said the devices are increasingly hard for them to do without, according to a national survey last year of about 1,500 people, half on mobile phones and half on traditional phones, conducted by the Pew Research Center, Associated Press and AOL.

One etiquette expert has even established July as National Mobile Phone Courtesy Month to try to address the issue of mobile rudeness.

The Johns Hopkins top 10 list:

1. Discrimination in an eomployment situation
2. Erratic/aggressive driving that endangers others.
3. Taking credit for someone else's work.
4. Treating service providers as inferiors.
5. Jokes or remarks that mock another's race/gender/age/disability/sexual preference or religion.
6. Children who behave aggressively or who bully others.
7. Littering (including trash, spitting, pet waste).
8. Misuse of handicapped privileges.
9. Smoking in non-smoking places or smoking in front of non-smokers without asking.
10. Using mobile phones or text messaging mid-conversation or during an appointment or meeting