Cell Phone Etiquette Tips for the Modern Age
Cell Phone Etiquette
The invention of the cell phone was a tremendous advancement. Now, everyone everywhere can have access to communication if they need it, especially in emergencies.
Except, the idea of “emergency” has changed. An emergency used to mean a call to the police or to 911. Now, just about every cell phone call is an emergency.
The rise of cell phones came on so quickly and spread so pervasively, that society hasn’t had time to really make up rules for use.
I have. I have made some rules to save our manners. Should anyone ever question the civility of humanity, you’ll have no doubt about our elevated status in the animal kingdom.
Rule #1: Talking on your cell phone in public must be short and G-rated.
The scenario: a guy walks into the grocery store and forgets his shopping list. Realizing this, he calls his girlfriend. It’s an emergency.
“Hey, Baby. Do we need milk?”
“Yes, and eggs,” comes the reply.
The conversation could end there.
It doesn’t end there, though. The emergency continues. “I miss you,” he says back.
“Oh, I love you and I miss you, too,” she replies.
“Do you know what I want to do when I get home?”
Meanwhile, all the shoppers in aisle 7 raise their eyebrows. This conversation could go in hundreds of directions. But, grandma with her two grandchildren thinks it’s getting to be a “rated R” conversation. She quickly grabs her box of grits and rolls off with her cart, quickly dragging the kids.
Biker-dude pretends to stare at a box of cereal. He might be able to learn a thing or two from the guy on the phone.
Teenage Nellie pretends not to listen, though she finds Cell Phone Guy quite attractive and wishes this conversation was with her, except not in public.
Cell Phone Guy must think that he’s having a private conversation. He’s not. Everyone can hear every word he’s saying. He obviously doesn’t believe it, though. He doesn’t even notice his mother standing around the corner pretending he’s not her son.
- When talking in public, please keep the conversation short and G-rated. You never know who is listening, because everyone is.
Rule #2: When You Need to Interact With a Human, End the Call
Back at the grocery store, Cell Phone Guy has carried on his conversation. All the shoppers in aisle 7 know the intimate details of his life. Sadly, this is way too much information for everyone to bear. Their skin crawls with details of some stranger’s personal life.
Cell Phone Guy is oblivious. He’s still talking when he gets to the express checkout lane.
“So, did you ask them about Friday night? Are Brenda and Shawn coming to the party?”
He waits for the response. So do the people who are also in line at the checkout.
“Great, so we’re going to the bowling alley? Which one? Is it B.Y.O.B.?”
He listens again.
“Really? That dump over on 21st Street? I hate that bowling alley. Oh well, I did get some extra beverages for the occasion.”
Cell Phone Guy steps up to the checkout counter – it’s his turn. He puts his items next to the scanner and the patient grocery clerk begins to ring him up. He grabbed some tomatoes that don’t have a SKU number on them.
“Excuse me, sir,” the employee asks, “but are these organic or regular tomatoes?”
Cell Phone Guy is so busy in la-la land with his girlfriend, he doesn’t hear the grocery clerk. She rings him up for organic tomatoes, even if they were the conventional variety. Why? He was talking on his phone and wouldn’t answer the question, leaving her no choice.
Cell Phone Guy hands the employee $40. She gives him $10 in change. It actually should have been $12, but she was in a hurry to get this sappy conversationalist and his drippy sentiments out of there. He wasn’t paying attention either, so Sir Talks-A-Lot doesn’t notice he was shortchanged.
After Cell Phone Guy leaves, the woman in line behind him said to the cashier, “I own that bowling alley. Now, when I see that guy, I’ll know that he has a girlfriend, he drinks a lot, and that he hates my bowling alley. Would I be justified in not being very friendly to him when he arrives on Friday night?”
The other guy in line took notes, too. Now he knows he can go to the bowling alley over on 21st Street on Friday night and possibly score some free beer. He knows what the kid looks like, and Cell Phone Guy obviously doesn’t care about getting correct change. This could work in his favor!
- When you need to interact with other humans, end the conversation, lest people all around you find out about everything you’re doing that weekend . You never know who might be in the checkout lane with you. Not only that, you might save a buck or two. Lastly, it’s incredibly impolite to talk to someone else when you’re supposed to be interacting with the person in front of you.
Journalist Goes On a Rant About Loud Cell Phone Users
Do you think it's rude to talk on the phone when you're interacting with another person?
Rule #3: When Riding On a Bus Or In a Car, Utilize the Text Feature On Your Phone (But Not If You’re Driving).
Little Sally was riding in the van with her grandfather, uncle, aunt, and a couple of cousins. She was in college and had recently started dating the guy of her dreams. Sadly, they are on summer break and she returned home for the summer – three hours away.
They weren’t talking to each other on that van ride, thankfully. They started texting each other. Normally, this would be just the thing to do. No one has to hear pieces of conversation that would make anyone’s hair stand on end.
But, Sally didn’t turn the chime off that alerts her when she has a text. The chime was a tiny portion of her favorite Dixie Chicks song. Every time her new beau sent a text, the same five words played over and over: “I’m not gonna play nice.”
She didn’t notice the smoke coming out of her grandfather’s ears. Her uncle and aunt squirmed uncomfortably while the rest of the cousins were too young to really care – they were blissfully ignorant. Everyone had heard these words 40+ times. Furthermore, they were trying to concentrate on the beautiful drive, not the “birds and the bees.”
Finally, her grandfather had it. He ended up yelling at her, telling her that she had better silence her phone or he was going to throw it out the window.
If only we could say that to all people who bother us with their cell phone transgressions.
- For everyone’s sanity, though, if you’re going to be texting with people around you, silence your phone. It will still light up when you receive a text. Besides, if you’re that in love and that anxious to get a text, chances are you’ll be staring at the thing before the text even comes in.
Rule #4: Talking On the Phone While Driving May Be Dangerous To Your Health
How many times have you been driving and someone callously cuts you off, doesn’t signal and realizes the light has changed and slams on the brakes? Chances are it’s because that person is gabbing on the phone.
That just makes my day. If this were a Western-style movie, I’d get off my horse (car), and challenge my opponent to a duel. Alas, these are more civilized times.
Think about something. How many of us have operated heavy machinery? Think about driving around a backhoe and trying to maneuver it. Certainly you need both hands and lots of concentration. Now, try to talk on a phone while doing that. I don’t think your contractor will like it. You might end up scraping off the side of a mountain and pilling the dirt on yourself!
Think of your car as heavy machinery, because it really is. They often weigh several thousand pounds. You’re telling me that driving while talking on the phone is a good idea?
Before you think I’m preaching here, let me be the first to admit that I’m not a perfect paradigm of cell-phone correctness. I do my share of gabbing and often travel long distances. The temptation to call people is often too much.
Ahead of condemning me to the lowest depths of cell phone bigotry, I will tell you this: I keep it short and I go hands-free. Beyond that I pull over.
Yes, statistics show that even hands-free isn’t ideal. I do have to argue that if you’re one to cut people off while talking on the phone, you’ve probably driven down the road at 70 mph while applying mascara, eating a greasy burger and jamming to the Top 40 at 120 decibels. No amount of etiquette training and scare tactics will affect your attitude about multitasking while driving – that is until you crash. So sorry.
- The bottom line is this: ideally, don’t talk on the phone while driving. If you simply must, try to go hands-free and keep it short. The best thing to do is pull over. Heaven forbid you try to text and drive, too. You would like to live to see another day, right?
That’s it. Four simple rules. Heed them wisely. You’ll be more civilized and go on living out your life, gabbing to the fullest.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
© 2012 Cynthia Calhoun
Comments
I loved this! It is very true! I like to answer people's questions when they're in line. When they talk on the phone, I respond as if I were on the other end. I've had one or two turn around and say, "Excuse me", and I'd respond, "Oh, you were talking so loud and ignoring everyone else, I thought you were talking to me!" Got an applause one by three people behind me in line. Great Job!
Those are great rules. Yeap, almost everyone behaves just as how you come up those splendid rules. Some people will talk on their phones like there is no tomorrow. There was a time when I was in a shop looking at something, then I heard someone talking out loud, imagine how many people will know her itinerary of the weekend!
Haha, ya, really makes you wonder if they would even notice. I should print this up and hand it out to those people :)
Very informative. I know that we need this stuff, but again....we should use it wisely. Thanks for writing and share with us. Voted up!
It drives me crazy at work when people come to make a payment and hand me their bill while on the phone.... I NEED TO SPEAK TO YOU!!! People assume I will know how much they're paying without actually speaking, because I am a mind reader, obviously. If I stop to ask how they are paying I get rude stares like I'm interupting. Don't go to a cash when you're on the phone, we're not bill payment machines, we're people and we deserve your attention for the 2 minutes that it takes.
Love the post! :)
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It does seem that the more cell phones you see in public, the more people are prone to bad manners while using them. I really don't need to know the details of your breakup with your boyfriend or hear a description of the rash on your behind while in a restaurant!
Your basic rules of cell phone etiquette should be included with every cell phone!
Informational, and enjoyable too :) Voted up and useful.
Congratulations Cindy on Hub of the Day, a fantastic hub and well deserved!
Wow, this was great. I'm a big fan of cell phone etiquette. I can't tell you how many times I can't take an order because the customer is on their cell phone. Also, my biggest pet peeve is when I make time to spend with a friend, who can't tear themselves away from the phone for 2 seconds, and all conversation must stop for this uber-important text. Thanks for making me laugh with your Hub (and letting me vent!)
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When Riding On a Bus Or In a Car, Utilize the Text Feature On Your Phone (But Not If You’re Driving). This is a rule we should pay much attention to.
In the grocery store nowadays, you feel out of place if you're NOT talking on your cellphone. Maybe your next hub should highlight some of those crazy ringtones!
So true! Love this hub :)
I love to interrupt others if they hold people up at work. Especially if it is an annoying customer holding others up.
Loved your hub! This was very entertaining to read!
Congrats on HOTD. This is a great hub. I so agree with these rules and would like to add a few. When you are a cashier, do not check your cell to see who called. I have really had this happen. He was just a young boy at his first job. He learned in a hurry when every person in line complained. Then he complained to me that they complained. I let him have it and told him the rules. His boss walked up as I was finishing and told him I was right and if it happened again, he was fired.
Yesterday, I went out to lunch with my husband and we got to listen to a woman discussing her bowel problems with our lunch. Very appetizing conversation.
Great sense of humor. Love this hub. Very useful and voted up.
Congratulations on Hub of the day award! You earned it.
LOVE IT! My hubby rides the train and will not answer his cell, we text or use gmail chat if we need something during the commute (with the ringer silenced). If someone with bad cell manner if yapping noisily away the commuters shoot them the evil eye until they notice
Hey cc! I agree, it's annoying when you're working and you want to service your customer the best you can but you can't because they're talking on their phone. It's also annoying when you're talking to someone when their phone rings, they pick it up and proceed to have a 10 min conversation and forget that you exist. One time I was at a restroom in a store when this lady in the stall next to me got a call and started having a conversation. In the stall! I was thinking 'what is so important that you need to answer a call while you're going potty??' ahaha. Great tips here and congratulations!
wow great hub and I so do agree. so glad I saw this shared on Facebook
Debbie
Brilliant hub all those things you stated really annoy me. We seem to live in a world of people shouting into phones and extremely annoying text and phone tones. I long for peace and quiet sometimes.
Congrats on HOTD! Well done! I so agree with you. It is damnably annoying to be grocery shopping and have to listen to half of several conversations. There is NOTHING so all-fired important that you must be on the phone the entire time you are shopping!
Every now and then, I'll call one of my (adult) daughters, and glean the information that they are in the store. My reaction is "Ooops...ok, well, here's my question... ok. thanks, talk to you later." Keep it short and sweet. In that case, I did not know they were shopping, needed information, and ended the call when I found out what I needed to know. THEY did not initiate the call--and they never do while shopping. These people who can't put the phone down, or are using the BlueTooth--I SO feel like sticking out my cane and tripping them, then saying, "That was just to teach you to pay attention to your primary task!" Alas, I'm not willing to stoop to their level.
We don't even own cell phones, per se. I have a pay-as-you-go "Trac Fone" and it IS for emergencies, or getting directions. It is a phone, only! It doesn't text or access the Internet.
Voted up, useful, interesting, awesome and shared!
Finally, something in writing on the subject! Great Hub, helpful, funny and interesting. Voted up.
Excuse me, my cell phone is ringing.
These should be posted for all to see. It is amazing the crazy things people do with cells. Using texting in close quarters is so the thing to do. It is amazing when I am on the elevator and someone beside me is talking loudly on their phone.
This is well done...so glad you shared this with us.
Congratulations on hub of the day, too. :)
Cyndi, great hub. I was once on a bus when a teenager (maybe 18 or 19) was on her mobile on a more or less silent bus. She talked about her girlfriends' sex lives and of a new girl in the gang possibly being gay. She said the girl's name and spoke the whole time really loudly completely unaware that we had no choice but to eavesdrop on her conversation - it was so embarrassing, little grannies were tutting and sighing and I was doing my best not to laugh out loud - what a twonk!
Congrats on Hub of the Day!
Congrats on the HOTD!! Seriously great article and very insightful. I was grocery shopping before going away recently and there was a woman on her cell phone while shopping telling every last detail of her life including how she hurt her hand and was wheeling the cart with only one hand while talking. True story and couldn't make this one up if I tried. I remember just thinking seriously put the damn phone down if you already are minus a hand and just get your grocery shopping done. So I totally agree with you about Rule #1 after living through that recent experience. Voted up and shared too!!
Excellent points to keep in mind. If it annoys you, it may annoy others too hence keep yourself in check everyone! :)
Congrats on a great hub of the day!!!! Yes! Agree, agree, agree....oh why don't people get it? Perhaps after this important Hub, they will! Many thanks.
You go, girl! So true, so true. Congrats on Hub of the Day! You deserve it with this hub. Great layout and info! Love your sense of humor!
I would just like to give you a big ol' amen on all these cell phone etiquette tips. Just the other day a friend of the family came over to swim at my parent's pool. She had a 4 year old son to watch but instead her eyes and ears were glued to her cell phone. Drove me crazy!! How I wish everyone would read this hub and adhere to your tips! Congrats on your hub of the day!!
Useful and informative.
Congrats for well deserved HOTD!
Great tips on etiquette with a dash of humor. Congratulations on a well deserved hub of the day!!
Great hub and congrats on hub of the day! Just the other day I was at a waiting room and there was a middle aged women who was hammering away on her cell phone. The problem was, it made an annoying 'beep' every time she pushed a button! I couldn't understand why she would continue to be annoying to a group of 20-25 waiting people. Oh well, I guess she needs to read your hub!
Hello again. I wasn't surprised to see you've been awarded the HOTD. You deserve it for such an interesting hub. Congrats!
Congrats Cyndi on a well deserved HOTD. I have met most of the types in your hub. My other pet peeve is people who can't take the time to watch their kids sporting events by staying off the phone. Kids love to know that you value them enough by watching them. It is a sad world when we ignore even our kids achievements to focus on phone conversations that can clearly wait! Voted up and shared!
Wow, you have many followers!!! You should, you are a great writer!
I so agree with you on many things here! I used to wait on people who were always on cell phones and ignored us! It was so rude!
I like your examples...so great!
Brilliant piece that deserved the hub of the day!!!
Great rules and a well-deserved hub of the day. Congrats!
Just popped back to say congrats on HOTD!
Congratulations on another beautiful hub and a well-deserved Hub of the Day!
Great hub! It made me laugh, but I completely agree with all of your points.. Congratulations on the Hub of the Day - it's well deserved!
Congrats on HOTD! Great Hub! People are becoming slaves to their cell phones! My biggest pet peeve is when I go to dinner with a friend, and they answer their cell. I just sit there patiently waiting for them to hang up! I think that is so rude.
I voted this UP, etc.etc. and will share.
Congrats on getting HOTD. May I add one...if you are at someone's house visiting, don't answer your phone. You are there to visit them, not text. To me, it is rude when my in-laws are sitting down to eat dinner with us, and the phone beeps that they have a text. They feel compelled to check it between bites. OMG, really? I find this so rude.
My house is now a no cell phone zone!
Woohoo CC !!! Congrats on your HOTD. As a smartphone addict I could use some of these etiquette tips. One day. Not yet. Way to go! :)
Congrats on HOTD! This is a fantastic hub! Love it! Voted up and Shared! Kelley
Congrats on the HOTD! You definitely deserve it. I find myself laughing so loud about your stories here. Those people who are doing these scenarios should read this hub. Awesome! Shared in FB.
BTW, I don´t like to be invited in a party where most of the guests are holding their cell phones texting instead of talking to each other. It stinks!! I don´t stay long on that party. What´s the use? " It´s a bad manner guys"...to those who don´t know.
it was a really useful hub, indeed you reminded us of the the precaution we should keep while operating moblie
My pet peeve are people who talk on the phone in such a way it's like they WANT other people around to know what's going on in their life!
"I'm just having the biggest problem. I make so much money that I just run out of things to spend it on. Yeah, I don't know, Bob. I just keep telling them to just put the money on my big money pile."
Congrats on hub of the day! This is totally an awesome fantabulous hub (yeah, I did it. I made up a word.) Totally well-deserved. :P
Walk aside of a building and away from people when you need to make a cell phone call. I try to limit the number as well because honestly you probably can say whatever you have to say, and say it in a more meaningful way when you see someone in person.
My pet hate is cell phones which are on at work and ring loudly, lengthily and persistently from someone's handback/deskdrawer whilst they're not even in the office.
All good points in this hub.
Very useful and practical hub. Voted up
Very useful and practical hub. Voted up and shared:-)
This is an excellent Hub and Im going to share it all over the place for years and years (ok, I DO tend to exaggerate). I wish more people would practice cell phone etiquette. I have a lady at work who walks INTO the restroom blabbing on her phone. I have been in the stall when she's done this and it makes me uncomfortable that I dont know who can hear me pee!!! And another you mentioned already is the x-rated conversations I overhear in stores. Oy =)
Cell phones drive me totally crazy. I wish people appreciated the people in the room with them more than the people on the phone. Honestly, it is not even the calls that drive me crazy so much anymore. I can't stand all the stupid games people obsess over. Once and for all, people need to give up on fake farms. They don't really have cattle and the crops are not real. I wish people would give up on those games on their iPhones and socialize with actual people more. Great hub and voted up!
YES YES YES and YES! These are so simple that I do not understand how people do not understand them! I used to be a cashier and I still work in retail. My biggest biggest pet peeve is a person who is on their phone unless it is needed. I am okay with the person who is calling somebody to find out if this item or this item would be okay for the birthday present, but not okay with them having an adult conversation in a toy store of all places. Or just totally ignoring me when I am trying to help them... especially if they asked the question first or came to me for help! Grrr that just gets my blood boiling. Anyways, another great hub and some great advice to those who need to learn it!
I was needing a good laugh and found one here. I think you are right that a segment of the brain turns off when the phone turns on. Ha ha! Loved this! Sharing. Take care, Kelley
Nice job! Seriously, it is not that difficult to be respectful of others when talking on your cell phone in public places.
The conductor stopped the music, because the ringtone was as loud as, but not in key with, the music!
oh this is such a great Hub! Your first rule- rated G content is a must! I love all your examples. This should be inserted in every new cell phone you buy ;)
One other thing about the concert hall incident. He answered it AFTER the conductor stopped the music and he had about a thousand pairs of eyes glaring at him.
LOVE the hub, pardon the rhyme. I'd like to suggest a new rule: Turn off ringtone when in public and/or if you live with someone. I can't tell you how close I was to breaking my roommate's phone after a whole semester of the same song going off every 5 minutes from his needy girlfriend.
A great hub CClitgirl.
You never know when someone is listening in to your conversation.
Personally I like my privacy and I'd keep the convo as short as possible and not reveal any information.
One thing I find helps quite a bit, is if you know another language ;)
I hate the people that are trying to talk to somebody in person and then trying to carry on a conversation on the phone. People do not know how annoying that is when it comes to trying to interact with that particular person.
As well as the theater or concert hall, you should put it on virate/silent in the Library, the Court and your Church, or house of worship.
Super nice hub! This actually made smile and laugh. I can totally relate.. one of the things that also pisses me of are those people who uses his cellphone while talking to you. :/
Voted up!
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