I pushed it once on a DL flight last year...I was stuck in coach, and all of a sudden the girl sitting next to me was creeping into my space. I ask her what's going on, and she points to the aisle and says "that kid across the aisle threw up and I don't really want to be near it." At that point, I hit the call button, the F/A comes down looking a little annoyed (since it was around midnight on the delayed flight) and I just pointed down to the floor and she knew why I hit the button. That's the only time in the 20 years/150,000 miles that I've travelled that I've hit the button.

I use the FA call button when I arrive at my seat and it is occupied by another pax with the same seat assignment. I use it in the rare case that the FA's skip my row when doing a food or beverage service. I also use it to report a broken seat. It doesn't get the seat fixed but it lets the pax behind me know that I am not staying in total recline position for takeoff by choice.

Edited

I too only use the call if I find someone in my seat. I haven't used it in a while!

Sure, I'll occasionally use it. I'm usually a window-sitter and will often have one or two people between me and the aisle. The typical situation is when I'm really thirsty. Better to get them to bring you something than get a ruptured palate that turns into a cold. Usually the FA drink runs are frequent enough to not need to do it, though.

I use the call button. F/A's always say that if there's anything they can possibly do, don't hesitate to ask, and I don't hesitate.

Why on earth people would hesitate to use the call button? Most of the time on domestic flights it is the only way to get the attention of FA that has disappeared.

In 15 years and 2M BIS miles, I don't recall ever hitting that button. Accidentally or on purpose.

If I've requested something, and it didn't come after a reasonable amount of time, I'll use the call button. Also, I had to use it once when a passenger was talking VERY loud, and a passengers request didn't quiet him down.

When I got my pretzels, and ate them but was skipped over for my diet coke, Mr. lili got the attention of the nearby FA who was serving about two rows ahead. The FA looked at me like I was nuts and said we should have used the call button. Right.

Similar thing when FA did give me my drink, but it began to foam all over the tray, my legs and my fellow passesnger. FA was two rows behind us, but aisle passenger called her back and asked for towels or something. She looked at me like I'd been the one who shook up the can and said we should use the call button. Right.

On an LH evening flight from FRA to SFO I asked for wine twice "when you get a chance." Finally used the call button, but upon arrival at SFO it was still on, never answered.

I think those of us who've NEVER used the call button have never flown in Y. And I think using the call button in Y is pointless.

Yes, after climbing over seatmates one can go to the galley to ask for something. Last time I did that ZHR-DFW they looked at me and as if I was insane and needed to be subdued, but they gave me a mini-bottle. I was afraid to ask for a second, and it was only an 8+ hour flight so I sucked it up, so to speak.

If the FA doesn't answer the call buttong you start pressing it every two to three seconds.

exactly

on almost every longhaul flight I press the button to ask for a second meal. There are always leftovers

Yes, i use it to get the attention of the F/A.
I usually occupy the window seat, and if the person next to me is sleeping, or otherwise occupied and i feel dehydrated I use "The button".

A few times by accident

I've used the call button maybe three times in all my flying. Was ignored every time.

Once on a NW flight to NRT, a young Japanese woman had inadvertently pressed the call button. The FA who came by to answer it reacted quite angrily and ripped this poor woman a new one, telling her she shouldn't use the call button "unless you're having a heart attack!" (FWIW, she was the worst FA I've ever seen and was antagonizing basically all the passengers throughout the flight.)