Cell
It seems as though our obsession with being able to be in touch with people at all times has gotten way out of hand. With technology available at the tips of our fingers, cell phones have taken mobility to a whole new level. From texting, to pictures, and MP3 players cell phones aren't just for making phone calls anymore. The blatant disregard for the safety on the roads, and privacy of one's phone calls has gotten way out of hand. In fact as I was waiting to pick Shelby up from school the other day there was a lady on her cell phone making a doctor's appointment. She said, quite loudly her full name, address, phone number, and date of birth. As a society, when did we decide that such things should be shared as public knowledge? On the way home, the same afternoon I was nearly side swiped by a car full of teenagers. When I looked up to see them about to plow into me I saw the driver texting!
With that being said, I give you The Ten Commandments of Cell Phone Etiquette:
1.
Thou shalt not subject defenseless others to your cell phone conversations. If you are in a doctor's office, taxi cab, elevator, dinner table, etc please spare them. People around you should have the option of not listening. If they do not have that option, zip it!
2.
Thou shalt not disrupt a silent room with a LOUD, annoying ring tone. Think about your tone as you download it. Is it appropriate in all places? If not, don't download it. Just because you like to sing "Push It" in the shower doesn't mean that you want your phone to lay into heavy breathing during a parent teacher converence!
3.
Thou shalt silence all cell phones during any public performance. Do I really need to delve further into this one? I mean, come on, people. If you go to the theater to watch a movie, watch the damn movie and leave the phone off. I was at a funeral one time and someone's phone rang. The sad thing was that the person did not silence said phone. It continued to ring while they walked to the back of the funeral home. Once at the back I heard, "Hello" as they walked out the door! That is the rudest of the rude, if you ask me!
4.
Thou shalt not wear an ear piece while NOT on the phone. It's bad enough that you people walk around with these things on your ear that make you look like something from a sci fi movie, why should I have to guess whether you are listening to me or someone in the great beyond!
5.
Thou shalt not text or dial while driving. It's dangerous, period!!!
6.
Thou shalt never answer your phone in the restroom. I love this one. People actually DO THIS and then you can hear them telling someone on the other end, "I'm in the restroom". This is wrong on many levels!
7.
Never, EVER, and I mean NEVER EVER answer the phone when you are in a conversation with someone already. It's rude and inappropriate!
8.
Thou shalt finish thy phone conversation before entering a drive through, or stepping up to a cashier, or any other person with whom you are expected to have conversation. It annoys the people behind you as well as the person who is giving you their undivided attention, slows down the line, and it's just plain rude!
9.
Don't send pointless forwards via text messages. Some of us don't spend money on texting plans because frankly we don't care to text, so those idiotic forwards that you keep sending over and over are only costing us money and we probably already got them in an e-mail three years ago!
10.
If you have one of those "answer tones" on your phone, remove it immediately. I cannot stand to call certain people in my phone book because when I do I am subjected to their favorite song of the day which in most cases is blaring and I either can't understand it or I can understand it and wish I couldn't hear it.
So there you have it. These are some of my personal pet peeves that I have deemed commandment worthy. What do you think? What are YOUR pet peeves?
Manic Monday - "Cell" Phone Etiquette
http://tishblack.blogspot.com/2009/01/manic-monday-cell-phone-etiquette.html
