1. Use the call button after trying and failing to accomplish the desired task or action yourself.

2. If the flight attendant gets huffy, you may file a complaint where the primary subject is the huffiness and the optional secondary subject is the misunderstanding about the call button.

3. Unless the airline has published rules about the use of the call button (I don't think any airline has) the passenger does not have to give the airline the benefit of the doubt when deciding whether or not to push it.

Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm