We love our cellphones. We really do. We love them so much that it’s interrupting our lives. These little devices that, if you’re like me, manage your whole little world, have made it into our bathrooms, bedrooms, our work offices, our cars—we take them everywhere with us. So, it’s very likely you will encounter cellphone situations in public on a pretty regular basis.
From the restaurant dinner table to work and meetings to waiting
rooms and elevators, cellphones are and have been for quite some time,
considered a nuisance by many, especially when the owner of a said nuisance
isn’t being considerate of proper cellphone etiquette. So, I took it upon
myself to look into what these basic cellphone rules are in America (yes, they
do vary in other countries!).
I gathered four articles from four different sources to
check out these cellphone etiquette do’s and don’ts and how to practice proper etiquette for myself. Here’s what I
gathered to be my top five most important rules for cellphone use in public.
1.
Watch your volume! No one wants to
listen to you talk on the phone. According to emilypost.com, our phone voices
tend to be louder than our normal speaking voices. This can be overwhelming for
those around you are well as the person you’re on the phone with. The article
reminds us, “…you’re the one fighting to hear over
the noise, not the person you’re speaking with.”
2.
The 10-foot proximity rule! Each
article I read discussed the importance of maintaining a certain amount of
space between you (while you’re engaged in a phone conversation in public) and
the public and I agree. Staying this far away as well as not speaking too
loudly is less likely to disturb the people around you.
3.
Just don’t answer! When you’re at the
dinner table, in a face-to-face conversation, in a meeting, or in any public
place where it is an inconvenience for you or those around you take a personal call
let your voicemail do its job. Even if you hate voicemail, that’s why you have
it!
4.
Don’t discuss personal or sensitive
information! Because who wants to hear that one-sided conversation really?
5.
DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE! According to this Huffington Post
article, at any given time 3% of people driving are also
talking on their phones. Texting or talking while driving can distract you from
watching intersections, traffic lights or signs, and pedestrians among other
things.
I
don’t know about you, but I know I’m guilty of breaking all these rules at
least once or twice. It’s something that you would think is common sense, and
it is, but it’s much easier to say than to do. Often, as this article states,
it is a case of “monkey see, monkey do.” When we see someone take out a
cellphone, we’re more inclined to take ours out as well and forget our general
etiquette for cellphone use. How many of these rules are YOU guilty of
breaking???
I am guilty of only breaking three of the rules listed. I didn't know that there were rules of etiquette for a cellphone. But I suppose since people have their cellphones with them when they go anywhere that there needs to be some boundaries on how to use them now.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic you have described! I had no idea there was an official cell phone etiquette rules. I would say I am like you and have broken these rules more than once. I know people who have to always talk on the phone in a very loud voice (my father), I think it makes him feel that he is getting the point across better. The one thing that bugs me the most is when people are having a dinner, they are on their phones instead of having a normal conversation. It is one thing to check it and put it away, but this is one of my pet peeves. I think cell phones have taken over people's lives and like you said; once somebody takes out their phone it gives other people the confidence to take theirs out as well.
ReplyDeleteI think most of us could type for days about this subject! Cell phone etiquette seems to be missing for many just like all other kinds of manners. The five rules that you talk about are spot on. Number five is by far the most important in my opinion. It’s awful that there are even statistics on the deaths and accidents now. Ten years ago, none of that existed. I have to admit that I have broken ALL of these rules also. It is a conscious decision we have to make just like not drinking and driving or having that extra piece of pizza. It’s ALL for the betterment of our health. If only convenience wasn’t the way we seem to be programmed now. What amazes me is that ten or fifteen (definitely twenty) years ago, there was NOTHING so important that people needed to know it while you were sitting at the dinner table, in bed or even on the toilet! Am I wrong? What has happened to “too much information?”
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with all of these. This is a great blog post because it is a real issue. Texting and driving has been, and continues to be such a catastrophic issue that laws have been passed banning it. This does not, however, stop people from engaging in the act. As far as common courtesy goes, I think that just not answering your phone while at the dinner table is most important. Unless it is an emergency, these things can wait when you are experiencing face-to-face contact with someone else.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember if we went over these in class or not, but I feel that I just recently came across a similar article/story. They really are great tips to know because our phones have taken over our lives. I know that personally I have come across people who absolutely do not practice proper etiquette while on their phones, and it's very irritating. Naturally, I too am guilty of these etiquette whoa's, but I can accept that guilt and strive to do something about it. As important as each of these tips are, I have to say that the last is the most important. I think the first four are important for social matters, but to text and drive is to put lives in danger...and that's not cool! I'm glad you brought this topic up. It's nice for us to get a reality check every now and then.
ReplyDelete