5 phone faux pas
There’s one in every group of friends — someone that needs a crash course in cell phone etiquette. They’re not bad people, really, but they annoy those around them. Take heed to these following five phone faux pas.
There’s one in every group of friends — someone that needs a crash course in cell phone etiquette. They’re not bad people, really, but they annoy those around them. Take heed to these following five phone faux pas.
Go Ring-less. There’s a good reason your cell phone offers a vibration option. When you’re in a restaurant, movie theatre, church or lecture hall, be sure to switch your phone to vibrate.
Shhh! Nobody around you wants to hear your conversation. When talking on your mobile phone in a public place, refrain from talking loudly. Believe me, the person on the other end of the line can hear you just fine if you’re talking at a normal volume. And watch that potty mouth, will ya?
Hands at 10 and 2. You know you shouldn’t drive and talk on the phone at the same time. But if you’re going to do it anyway, at least watch the road and keep both hands on the wheel (wireless headsets are the way to go). There’s nothing more annoying than driving behind a bad driver and when you pass them, you see they’ve been gabbing away on a phone.
Rude ringtones. Maybe you think burps and farts are funny (ok, so do we), but not as a ringtone. Ditto for music clips with offensive language. There are many more ways to personalize your handset’s ring without offending anyone nearby.
Put away the BlackBerry. I don’t care if you’re somebody important — don’t look at your BlackBerry when you’re talking to someone. It’s ok if you’re, say, at a dinner with a friend and say "I’m sorry, but I need to check something for a sec" but don’t type on your phone and stare at the screen when you’ve got someone right in front of you.
Hate to admit it, but the world has changed for good. Implants are next.
Cell phones aren't the problem, it is the people that use them. I have a phone, it can be convenient at times and is always good for emergency purposes.
However, common courtesy has been lost. Society condones the rude behaviour talked about here, ones personal space is invaded constantly by cell phones, Ipods, personal stereo's, etc. The constant barrage of noise as people go about their business lost in their own little world unaware or ignorant of those around them.
If i am told not to talk on my phone in a restaurant, people should be told to keep their bratty kids in check. I'm sorry but poeple's screaming children in a restuarant is far more disruptive then a cellphone
Hey Paul, I guess you dont have kids?!?!? People with no kids are always the perfect parent! that being said, I guess the person with no mobile phone has the perfect etiquiette! We have all made the mistake of annoying other people while we are on the phone, you just have to try to be a little more patient. and for those that are doing the annoying, you just have to try to be a little more considerate.
it bugs me when "poeple" cannot spell, i talk on speaker everywhere i go. got two phones your just jelous you cant afford one
Bad drivers are bad drivers, the use of a cellphone only exacerbates their bad driving.
Rude people are just rude people, that now have a new tool to exacerbate their rudeness.
Inconsiderate people are just inconsiderate people, the cellphone only accentuates that point.
People need to get their priorities straight, use better judgement and examine their own behaviour (instead of simply criticizing the behaviour of others).
It seems to be very popular these days for people to develop and then portray an extremely egocentric personality!
Could mental health problems be on the rise?!?
Or, perhaps "Miss Manners" needs to write a new book or create a video. Once the manual is complete, the Government can create a "Bad Manners Task Force" to isolate these individuals and educate them to their annoyances???
I am an Administrative Receptionist at a major company here in Calgary and I work closely with Human Resourses, screening job applicants. One morning a young man strolled into the office looking for employment with a cell phone on his ear, just talking and laughing away to someone. There was no greeting, no eye contact, etc. with me and he pointed to my clipboad with job applications. Well I had it with these rude people, acting this way, actually expecting to get a job here so I said in a loud voice "Look do you want a job here? then put that phone down and be a little more courteous to me and then I will think about giving you an application." He quickly and regrettably said goodbye to his freind on the phone and I then gave him an application, explaining open interview hours, etc. After he filled out the application and handed it to me, he commented that he felt I WAS RUDE to him asking him to cut his phone conversation short so I just smiled, wished him a good day and after he left you know where I put his application don't you? That's right file 13!
Hey ¨g¨. I suppose then that punctuation or proper grammar isn´t as important to you as spelling? If you are going to complain about someone else´s typo then maybe you should check your own message first.
the blackberry use when you're talking to someone is the worst i'd say.
another that has not been mentioned … shut your cell phone off on the golf course. i can't believe the number of people who talk on their cell phones for 18 holes. it's mainly just b.s. where people are trying to give the impression they are working. in the end, it's rude and very annoying to your playing partners and you're slowing down play.
@ g's up:
Having a cell phone doesn't mean that you can afford it… You never heard about people spending more than they earn????????? This kind of people is like you, they get stuff they barely can pay for just for show off!!!! When you'll have to make bankrupcy,we'll see if you're still cool…
Now back to the subject…
Like some said, the problem is not the cellphone itself, but how people are using it. If I get a call in a waiting line, I ask the caller to wait when it's my turn and after talk back OR I ask them to call back in 5-10 minutes. Everybody is complaining about selfishness, so we have to stop being selfish ourself, don't we?
Get used to it, there will be rude people from now till the end of time. Nothing we can do or say will stop it.
I work in the customer service area, and I would appreciate it if you would get off the phone while we transact our business….a quick "Just a sec" to the other party in your conversation will do…I'd appreciate your full attention while handling your cash or credit card, thank you very much!
I have to agree with Josh, Aug 2/07. When I witness an "idiot" on a cell phone I used to get mad, but now I just look at them, nod my head and laugh. You have no idea how steamed the "idiot" gets.
It's fun to watch them give you the frowning of a lifetime. I think what everyone needs to accept is that cell phones are a part of today and I can almost guarantee they will always be there because cell phone companies are making too much money to not protect themselves. And it would not surprise me if the Government is also making lots of money off of cell phones.
Technology is here, it has been for a long time and like the elderly people say, you get better with age.
Maybe one day they can surgically implant cellphones into our heads so nobody will see or hear anything.
Smile, life is too short!
Love it or hate it, we can't control other people…unfortunately, only Laws can attempt to do that. Even with Laws in place people steal, cheat and kill. This is why we need to assess what the reprocussions are to society when we introduce something new – once it's out, there isnt much we can do to prevent the negative impacts…ie: guns, drugs, casinos, surgery advances, the internet, cloning – all start with good intentions, but are always abused and misused by a portion of our society!
I had a professor last year who totally hated having cell phones ring while he is trying to give his lecture, which I can understand. So if he caught someone's phone ringing he would make the person give him their cell phone and he would answer it and say something either funny or mean to the person calling in an attempt to embarrass the person who left their phone on. My friend has a phone that keeps on for emergencies and sadly one day it went off in class. The professor answered it and said something pretty rude to the person calling and hung up on them. It turned out her mother had a bad accident and her brother was calling her to tell her he was rushing her to the hopsital. Needles to say the professor never did that again.
So what was my point? Cell phones are a part of life, get use to it and stop complaining. If a cell phone goes off in class kindly ask them to leave. If you find a conversation someone is having on the bus is annoying, then don't listen. It'd be just as bad if the person who they were calling was next to them on bus. I have to make calls on the bus because I live a good 45 mins from the last stop and walking that distance in the rain or snow isn't very fun (so turn up your music or read a book while I'm making my 2 second call and stop complaining). I aggree with Paul, I'd worry more about controling your screaming brat then a cell phone converstaion. People are allowed to have conversations just because it's on a phone and not in person doesn't make it such a bad thing. I can understand people being rude but it's not the phone making them rude. Rude people are rude weither they have cell phones or not.
So next time you hear a cell phone ring try to be understanding and think maybe just maybe this person has a good reason for talking on their phone (like my friend's mother who almost died). We're not all dumb idiots who blab on their phone all day for no reason.
The bluetooth things are incredibly irritating. I can't stand people who stand in front of you with the damn things on and start talking…you only realize they've got 'em on when they say something that embarrasses you.
i am 82 i haave a cell phone my wife is 78 and has a heart condition, so we use the cell phone to keep in touch and emergency only. last month we were on the air 19 minutes it cost us $53.00 a month that is $2.79 per minute i think we pay well for what we get we think it is worth it for the assurance we get out of our contacts amen , the cell phone is not to blame its the people using it . Thats our $oo.02 cents woth .
I also find it rude when someone in the checkout line is on their cellphone and not paying attention to the server… BUT I find it difficult to understand when you as a customer are standing in front of the customer service/check-out etc….. and then THEIR phone rings, and they answer it, and deal with the customer on the phone, while you wait. I just do not get that.
With regard to Melissa's comment, yes, cellphones are a part of life now. So are defacating and spitting, there are rules about doing those things in public. We have etiquette around those issues to make ourselves less obnoxious to others and to not make public spaces so oppressive and uncomfortable.
I am a mother that would go to pick up my children after school everyday. One day, at a crossing, waiting for the light to change, a couple of young boys from the same school came to cross at the same cross-walk. Their little game was to wait for the red on the opposite street and to cross while their cross-walk light was still red, just before going green. As it happened, a driver crossed on the red almost hitting those boys. The driver was on his cell phone. Would it have been the same scenario if the driver was not on his cell? Would he have been more alert to the traffic signals?
I agree, there has to be some kind of etiquette set up for cell phone users. The most irritating for me is having someone not excuse themselves to go to another room to take a call or to text message. I, too, am in customer service and have found it out of place for a customer to be on their cell phone while I was assisting them at the cash register. A simple, Can you hold? or Can I call you back? would have been appreciated. If you don't have their number, then ask them to call you back in however many minutes you think it will take to finish paying for your purchase.
My point? Cell phone and driving don't mix. Proper etiquette, good manners, or being polite is always appreciated.