
MOMeo’s series on the evolving rules of etiquette continues with cell phones While many today were raised attached to a cell phone and laptop, there are literally millions of otherwise productive people for whom these are still new, mysterious tools. Like anything else, there are proper and improper ways of using them.
Until now, it was an unwritten code.
Cell Phones:
Cell phones have become ubiquitous, but that doesn’t mean everyone plays by the rules. Here are some useful guidelines for cell phones:
1. Pay Full Attention: The person you’re talking to deserves your full attention. Checking emails, sending text messages and making telephone calls while in the company of others are definite breeches of cell phone manners. (Playing with iPhone applications is even ruder.) Let your phone divert to voicemail or change your voicemail to request texts for urgent messages.
2. Respect Personal Space: Hold private calls in private places. Some experts suggest maintaining at least a 10-foot zone from anyone while talking. Most people aren’t interested in overhearing your conversation. If it’s unavoidable, apologize and warn others in advance, speak quietly and keep conversations short. And don’t have any emotional conversations in public — ever.
3. Ring Tone Respect: Turn off loud or annoying ring tones and adjust the phone to silent, vibrate or off to avoid disturbing others, especially during meetings or performances. There’s never a good excuse for your phone ringing during a movie or play. Ever.
4. Confined Places Are Off-Limits: Never talk in places where people have no choice but to listen to your conversation. Places such as elevators, libraries, museums, dentist or doctor waiting rooms, places of worship or other enclosed public spaces, such as hospital emergency rooms, buses or airplanes are areas where cell phones use is impolite.
5. Texting While Driving: Many jurisdictions are making it illegal, but really, this is just common sense. Whatever you have to say can surely wait until you reach your destination. If you must take a call, use a hands-free earpiece.
3 Comments
We could not agree more. Great article. I really hope Moms pay attention to #5 texting while driving. This is so out of control and they are risking their children's lives and there own by not using simple common sense. It can wait.
We could not agree more. Great article. I really hope Moms pay attention to #5 texting while driving. This is so out of control and they are risking their children’s lives and there own by not using simple common sense. It can wait.
Great article and tips…I have to share our funny story – My husband is still very OLD SCHOOL when it comes to cell phones and is determined for us to be the last humans on earth to own one.
His Motto is “If I am away from my house then then I Don’t want to be contacted!”…well a year or so back we had a very bad non working vehicle and so I was able to convince him to at least get a “pay as you go” phone, incase of an emergency.
Our friends now call it our Ghetto phone since we are not able to do much – it still makes me giggle but I would have to agree that these are great tips on the etiquette of WHEN to use your cell…whether is a ghetto one or not! lol
Thanks for sharing –
Cheryl