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POLISHED STONES ETIQUETTE: Cell Phone Etiquette
Someone once said that “technology and manners are compatible”. For example, most Web users are up to date on e-mail etiquette, but cell phone users have not yet evolved. A recent survey from Cingular Wireless found that cell phone practices considered "proper and courteous" vary by region.
In the South, cell phone users are more likely to silence their phones in church. Westerners are most likely to turn a phone off in libraries, theaters, restaurants and schools. Midwesterners hit the off switch in retail stores.
Nothing seems to bother me more than to hear a person’s entire conversation while they are talking on the cell phone. This is not only rude and disrespectful, but just down right wrong. If you must take the phone call, move to a quiet place or at least 10-20 feet from the closest person while talking. If enough of us could just follow this one simple rule, it would make being in public places a little more delightful. Some other cell phone etiquette pointers would include:
1. Never talk in elevators, libraries, museums, restaurants, theaters, cemeteries, dentist or doctor waiting rooms, places of worship, auditoriums or other enclosed public spaces. And don’t have any emotional or very personal conversations in public.
2. Don’t use loud and annoying ring tones or music. Be mature about this.
3. Don’t try to multi-task by talking on the cell phone while shopping, banking or conducting other personal business.
4. Keep all cell phone calls brief and to the point.
5. Never take a personal wireless call during a business meeting.
6. Never use a mobile phone while driving unless it is "hands free. Keep both hands free to shift and steer which can offer a very significant difference in the degree of attention deficit when using an ear phone. The ear phone makes it much easier to focus on driving.
7. Move your phone to vibrate when in quiet places such as church, library or meetings and let the voice mail answer the call.
I could go on and on with a long list of cell phone etiquette tips. But this really is not about cell phones; it is about respecting other people and being courteous while in public. No one wants to hear your private conversation especially when it’s very personal. This makes people feel annoyed and uncomfortable. So the next time you are in public and your cell phone rings, I hope you think of this article, but most importantly, you think of those around you first. . Remember, “People are like diamonds, they sparkle once they are polished.”
Angela Carr Patterson is an etiquette consultant and the owner of Oasis Promotions, a model/talent consultant company. A popular speaker for events and conferences, Angela travels the country conducting her Polished Stones Etiquette Workshops and Manners for the King’s Children workshops.
Visit: www.oasispromotions.net
Email: Angelapatterson@oasispromotions.net
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