Cellphone Manners

Your Cell phone is an invaluable part of your life now. You use it at work, in the car and at home. It keeps you connected to all the things important in your life. And you’re a responsible cell phone user. So, let’s just take a moment to review some of the more important do and don’ts of cell phone etiquette.

1. DO keep your calls brief and to the point. While you may have unlimited minutes and time available, the person you are speaking to may not.

2. DO use an earpiece in high traffic and/or noisy areas. This will help keep your call private, but more importantly you can speak naturally and not subject everyone around you to the details of your call.

3. DO let the person you’re speaking with know that you are on a cell phone. That way if they can’t hear your or you get dropped, they won’t be surprised.

4. DO remember that there are places in your life where it might not be appropriate to be on a phone – churches, restaurants and taxi’s come to mind quickly.

5. DO encourage your friends and coworkers to adopt similar rules of cell phone etiquette.

6. DON’T take a personal cell phone call during a business meeting or while at the doctor or dentist office. It’s okay to let the cell phone take a message – that’s why your carrier provides voicemail and it’s usually free.

7. DON’T have emotional or stressful conversations in public. You need your privacy and so do the people around you.

8. DON’T use loud or annoying ring tones. You may enjoy it but the people around you may not be amused.

9. DON’T invade anyone’s space or allow anyone to invade yours while on the cell phone. You can step out of the room if you need to.

10. DON’T multitask while on the phone. Eating, drinking are not appropriate pastimes while on the cell phone.