You are in line and in a rush at the grocery store when the customer ahead of you has a cart full of groceries and takes a cell phone call. Your wait time to check-out has just increased five to ten minutes because the shopper ahead of you is engrossed in a conversation and you are frustrated by the delay. Rather, you are sitting quietly in the library cramming before tomorrow’s final exam and at the table behind you an obnoxious ring tone goes off. It sounds like fingernails down a chalkboard and you cannot concentrate on anything. These scenarios just touch the surface of inappropriate cell phone usage. At one time or another, everyone has fallen victim to poor cell phone etiquette.
Make sure you are not the victimizer when it comes to cell phone etiquette by heeding the following tips regarding using your cell phone wisely. It takes nothing more than common sense to use your cell phone wisely and not offend the people around you. There are several social functions where using your cell phone is faux pas. When you attend a wedding, especially during a wedding ceremony, always turn your cell phone off. An interview for the stellar job you have waited so long for can quickly turn sour with an unexpected call from a long lost buddy. Live performances, movies, observatories and libraries are also all public situations that warrant a double-check that you have turned off your ringer.
When receiving calls is unavoidable, use keen cell phone etiquette. If you are taking a client out for dinner at a first class restaurant and your sitter calls, excuse yourself from the table and take the call outside if possible. If it is a simple matter to resolve, be brief with your conversation and do not keep your client waiting. Follow the same guidelines when out to dinner with a friend or a significant other. Your companion wants to be the center of your attention.
Further, avoid ring tones that can be misconstrued as annoying or offensive. You can’t go wrong choosing the traditional sound of a phone ringing or setting your phone to vibrate all calls and text messages. Additionally, practicing good cell phone manners while driving helps to keep you safe on the road. Wait until your vehicle is stopped safely to make or receive phone calls and never text while driving. Whether you are in public or in an intimate private situation, showing your savvy with cell phone etiquette is sure to impress.
