Everyone knows (or, in an ideal world, ought to know) the basics of cell phone etiquette: Don’t answer your cell phone in a crowded theater; don’t chat on your cell phone while driving; don’t ignore the poor souls at your restaurant table as you catch up with your cousin in Hawaii. These points are touched upon time and time again — but here are a few finer points of cell phone etiquette that often go unheeded.
Cell Phone Power: Use It Wisely
Few will deny that cell phones have made communication vastly more convenient, mobile and powerful — but one of the responsibilities of having a cell phone is knowing when to use it, and (more importantly) when not to. Using a cell phone while behind the wheel is one of the most oft-quoted examples for a reason. Talking while driving is not only dangerous, but actually illegal in several states and certain countries overseas. A Bluetooth wireless headset will get you around the law in some areas, but overall, it’s wiser (and safer) to just put the cell phone away entirely.
Knowing when to turn your cell phone off is also key, not only for the movie theater, but also for funerals, weddings, emergency rooms, churches, the dinner table, or the concert hall. Knowing your etiquette around the office might be one of the smartest career moves you can make. Sure, your manager probably likes a bit of fun as much as the next guy, but he might not appreciate your cell phone blasting “My Humps” during his carefully constructed Powerpoint presentation. Personal calls while on the job are a particular no-no… chat up your girlfriend on company time, and you run the risk of becoming a humorous stereotype — the fired kind.
Put People First
For some people, however, simply turning off one’s cell phone is not an option. Let’s assume, for the sake of generosity, that your family situation or chosen profession requires your phone to always be on and with you. Even under these circumstances, there are a few points of cell phone etiquette to keep in mind.
First and foremost, recognize that while using your cell phone in public, you are in public. Call clarity is improving all the time, so there’s no reason to bellow into your phone, annoying the person on the other end and passers-by into the bargain. No doubt your friends and family find your anecdotes charming — your fellow passengers on the train or in the checkout line are probably not nearly as interested. Do everyone a favor and keep it down.
Secondly, do your best to respect the privacy of others. Cell phone cameras have made it fast and easy to take pictures, openly or surreptitiously, but just because you can snap photos of complete strangers and upload them to Flickr doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Use common sense, don’t use your cell phone camera in places where it’s prohibited, and don’t take pictures of people without their permission.
Finally, don’t let your cell phone isolate you from the physical world around you, especially if you’re among friends or family. Don’t take a call on your cell phone and turn away from your face-to-face conversation — or, if you must, excuse yourself to the people around you. If you’re visiting at someone else’s house, make the cell phone a secondary priority, and turn it off or mute it if you’re able.
Cell phones are a great resource and one of the most powerful tools of the information age — but, like any tool, they’re best used properly and with a little restraint.
Daniel Swensen is a freelance writer who covers websites like Wirefly.
Tags: cell phone, cell phone etiquette
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