Basic Cell Phone Etiquette
Author: Cathy Peterson

We all believe that we are practicing good cell phone etiquette
when we venture out into the world with our cell phones and our
daily mission. It is not uncommon for us to get a little
wrapped up in ourselves and violate the basic rules of cell
phone etiquette. This can be particularly difficult when we
aren't even sure of the rules when it comes to cell phone
etiquette.

Obviously, talking on your cell phone in public places that a
quiet environment is paramount is considered quite rude.
Libraries, court rooms, and high end restaurants are the most
obvious, and yet people still believe that they are exempt from
this very basic example of cell phone etiquette.

Even more appalling is the basic attention that a cell phone
can require. Regardless of where we are or what we are doing,
we can be reached, and of course, we can be distracted. Whether
we are having a quiet moment with a loved one or a meeting with
a potential client, cell phones can quickly drag away our
attention. There is little that matches the glaringly obvious
communication faux pas as the cell phone that creates the
distraction and the answerer who puts their "live" individual
on hold.

Cell phones come with voice mail, which is to provide us with
the freedom of allowing a computerized voice to take a message
for us. This means we are not obligated to take every single
call, and of course, if we are busy we can reach the individual
when we are through.

Hopefully most of us have enough basic cell phone etiquette to
refrain from answering our cell phones while engaged in
excretion activities. Why is it any less appropriate to allow
the computerized voice to take a message when we are currently
engaged with someone else's time and attention?

Perhaps this is the basic cell phone etiquette
misunderstanding. Cell phones have the capacity to intrude on
the value of other people, whether we are sitting in a
restaurant talking loudly to an anonymous voice on the other
end of the phone, or allowing our boss to interrupt a tender
moment with our significant other. The moment our cell phones
intrude on the respect of other people, we are guaranteed to be
violating basic cell phone etiquette.

Cell phones definitely have their place in our society.
However, with the exception of checking the caller ID to be
assured that it is not a wayward child trying to reach a parent
to retrieve them, cell phones need to come with more convenient
off switches. Perhaps it would be more prudent to ask people to
locate their off switch.


About The Author: Cathy Peterson writes about
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