Shhhh! They're On The Phone

At one point or another we have all read or overheard suggestions for proper etiquette when using our beloved cell phones in public. Although on an almost daily basis I encounter people who seem to have left their manners at home. Example; I was at the bank the other day and watched as the poor teller had to try to get a word in edgewise with the guy standing in front of her as he carried on a casual conversation over the phone. How rude! And what can be more inappropriate than sitting down to dinner with a group of friends/family and having someone at the table answer a phone call and carry on while the rest of the party sits quietly as not to “interrupt” the conversation? I won’t even tap into the drama you could create taking a call while on a date! With the advance of technology, cell phones have made our lives easier and much more productive. We now have instant access to communicate with anyone nearly anywhere in the world. The flip side to this is now we are almost too accessible, especially at times when it is not appropriate. For instance, I was riding in a friend’s car the other afternoon on our way to lunch when their phone rang. To my surprise the call was answered, carried on (in more detail than I needed to hear) over the car’s speaker system via Bluetooth. And to make the situation worse my friend never mentioned to the person on the other end of the line that I was in the car, and that they were on speakerphone! What an invasion of the caller’s privacy. I don’t think it’s really necessary that there be a list of Do’s & Don’ts posted here but rather a simple reminder to be courteous of the people who are actually in front of you when your phone rings. We should be able to tolerate a person talking on the phone while in an elevator, or waiting in line, or at the doctor’s office. As long as the person is using a respectable tone I don’t see the difference in having a conversation with the person standing next to them, or on the other end of a call. However, if you are in the company of others it is no longer personal time, it becomes everyone’s time. Spend your personal time as you please, but don’t cash in time spent in the company of others without first investing some courteous thought. Writer’s Thoughts: Remember as a kid, being disciplined at home for not being quiet and courteous while someone was on the phone? Imagine one day having to extend that courtesy in public while a nearby stranger is on a cellular call…. Hey, it could happen!