Recently I saw a phone booth while visiting a museum and it sparked a few thoughts.  First, I must really be old because a phone booth is so outdated that it’s in a museum.  Secondly, I wished phone booths were still available so I could push people with bad cell phone etiquette in them and close the door.  The concept of a cell phone booth, however, might create a win-win situation for the public and the cell phone user’s privacy.  Until then, I would like to provide some tips about basic cell phone etiquette. 

Disclaimer:  These tips are for general purposes and not designed to point fingers at friends, family, or coworkers.  However, if you read this and become aware that your actions may be perceived as rude or unprofessional, then only you can change your cell phone practices.

I found the following tips on cell phone etiquette at www.infoworld.com.

The Ten Comments of Cell Phone Etiquette

1.      Thou shall not dial while driving

In all seriousness, this madness has to stop. There are enough people in the world who have problems mastering vehicles and phones individually. Put them together, and we have a serious health hazard on our hands.

2.      Thou shall not wear thy earpiece when thou art not on thy phone

You there, the one wearing the Bluetooth earpiece because you are just so important that at any given moment, a critical call could come through, and you need to be able to answer it while gesticulating wildly as if to say, "I am so important, I have a Bluetooth earpiece that I must wear at all times." Yeah, you. Knock that off, would ya?

3.      Thou shall not speak louder on thy cell phone than thou would on any other phone

Yes, it's true that cell phones don't relay what you say into the mouthpiece out through your earpiece the way regular phones do, but they still pick up and transmit your voice just fine. No need to shout.

4.      Thou shall not grow too attached to thy cell phone

For obvious reasons, a dependency on constant communication is not healthy. At work, go nuts. At home, give it a rest.

5.      Thou shall not slam thy cell phone down on a restaurant table just in case it rings

This is not the Old West, and you are not a gunslinger sitting down to a game of poker in the saloon. Could you please be a little less conspicuous? If it rings, you'll hear it just as well if it's in your coat pocket or on your belt.

6.      Thou shall not make the cell phone more important than the company thou art keeping

"If [thou wantest] to talk on [thy] cell phone, [thou] don't need my company," is the theory those around you may have.  This also means no phone usage when a waiter is taking your order. If the call is that important, step outside and come back in when you're done!"

7.      Thou shall not leave the cell phone ringing just to show off the "cool" ringtones or refrain from answering for that same reason

"Not everyone wants to listen to a cell phone ringing for minutes, even if it sounds 'cool' to you."

8.      Thou shall turn off thy cell phone at funerals, weddings, yoga class, and anywhere it would be unacceptable to bring a screaming child

If you would be embarrassed to have a crying baby in a situation, then silence your phone.

9.      Thou shall not have a message intro lasting more than 15 seconds

If someone wanted to listen to 'We Are the Champions,' they would have listened to it before they called.  Sure many of us remember George Costanza's answering- machine greeting set to the theme song of The Greatest American Hero. It was a riot, but sorry, you are no George Costanza.

10.   Thou shall never answer your phone while you're in the bathroom

In this information age, we must never lose sight of three very important letters: TMI.

I found these tips quite helpful and the sarcastic descriptions very funny.  I won’t confess or deny any of the above mentioned cell phone sins, but I will share my personal cell phone pet peeve about cell phones and confess my cell phone sin (singular, because I’m sure I only have one, haha).

Pet Peeve:  Individuals who set their cell phone to vibrate and then place it on the table or desk.  During meetings or dinner, a cell phone dancing around is not just distracting to the ears (we hear it vibrating against the wood, sometimes it’s louder than a ring/ringtone) but the eyes too.  I’ve been in countless meetings, conferences and trainings when I hear that sound, I start looking around, because I’m not sure if it’s a cell phone vibrating or a small earthquake.

Sin:  I’m a Texter.  I have been for about 8 months.  My texting sin includes: texting while driving, reading text message during inappropriate times (specifics will not be provided – because I could be held accountable if I admitted to reading or responding to texts during a meeting, for example), texting as quality communication with my children, and sending texts to those who are not text savvy.

Your pet peeves and sins are not required in response to this blog, however tips you would like to share are appreciated.

Jules Bills

Opening Soon Inc.

Program Coordinator