I have a love/hate relationship with my cell phone. How about you? A modern convenience or incessant intruder? I can't decide.
July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month and I was thinking it's a good time to focus on a few important rules of phone etiquette. I've culled the following from a couple of good cellphone sites. For the most part, I've resisted the urge to editorialize since on occasion I have been known to engage in a few of these phone faux pas myself. But on a few, I couldn't resist.
1. Don't talk too loudly.
2. Don't hold inappropriate conversations in public.
In the last few years I have been witness to at least 3 or 4 separate one-sided conversations about weight loss goals and methods of birth control and their effectiveness. Seriously.
3. Don't interrupt face-to-face conversations to answer your cell phone.
4. Don't check your phone at the movies (or a Broadway show, a high school play or your daughter's piano recital, for that matter) even if you are just using your phone as a watch. (see also #9)
Believe it or not, that little screen lighting up in a darkened theatre is a real distraction to a lot of us.
5. Don't text while driving.
6. Don't text while talking.
7. Turn off your phone so you won't disturb live performances.
I was in church one Sunday when several pews in front of me a cell phone began to ring during the sermon. The parishioner chose to ignore the incessant ringing until finally (and I kid not) the pastor said from the pulpit, "Why don't you answer? We'll wait."
8. Consider your location before you answer your phone.
Number one on my list: never answer your phone while you are in a stall in a public bathroom. Seriously.
