Cell phone manners!

[PZelda]

I found something really interesting in my March 2004 issue of Seventeen...Perhaps this will make you guys think...And you can also print this out, if you want to, for further reference. I don't own a cell phone myself, but everybody I know does and they annoy me to no end with their rude cell phone manners. So here's a guide to proper cell phone manners.





GO RIGHT AHEAD
GOLDEN RULE - home is pretty much the only place where you can safely blab about almost anything without having to consider the needs of the people around you.


HANDLE WITH CARE (IN THESE PLACES):
Waiting rooms: People here tend to be feeling anxious about their news—not yours.
Shopping: Chatting while you're in line will slow down checkout and irritate other shoppers.
GOLDEN RULE - Make calls quickly and quietly, and be respectful of those forced to listen!


DON'T DO IT! (IN THESE PLACES):
Museums/libraries/places of worship: These are places we go for peace and quiet—it's obnoxious to disrupt that for others.
Movies and plays: People pay to hear someone other than you perform.
Elevators/bathrooms/beauty salons/public transportation: No one around you can escape. Why force them to listen to your chitchat?
Restaurants: People come here partly to get away from ringing phones and enjoy their conversations—so don't subject them to yours.
GOLDEN RULE - Put your phone on vibrate if you must get a call, but always wait until you're outside before you start talking.
While driving a car: It's rude to put other drivers in danger. So instead of going by the Golden Rules above, use a voice-activated phone—and use sparingly.
17 FYI: You are four times as likely to get into a car accident if you're on the phone while you're driving.


FIVE CONVERSATIONS NOT TO HAVE ON YOUR CELL!
1. "I'm calling about the job opening..." - You need to make the best impression, and talking over static or car horns is not professional.
2. "I'm so sorry she died..." - It will seem like you're not giving your full attention if you end up getting distracted in any way—and that's rude. Wait until you're home to offer condolences.
3. "And then we started kissing..." - Strangers don't need to hear your date details—no, not even if they're G-rated.
4. "There was so much blood..." - Sharing gory details is totally unfair to the poor people around you.
5. "Why are you such a jerk?!" - Arguments on the phone get really loud and can make others uneasy.


HANG UP ALREADY! - How to politely ask that loud cell-talker to disconnect
If you're in a place that has a manager, ask him or her to do the dirty work. Otherwise, put on your sweetest smile, tap the offender on the shoulder, and try one of these carefully worded lines:
"Would you please end your call? I can't hear what they're saying." (Try this when you're watching movies and plays.)
"Excuse me, but you're making it really hard for me to concentrate." (Good for museums, libraries, and places of worship.)
"Is it possible for you to speak a little more softly? I have a bad headache." (This will usually work just about anywhere.)


SEVENTEEN SUMMARY - Just because you have a cell phone doesn't mean it's okay to use it anywhere. If you have to talk in public, be brief and discreet.

[Mysty Eyes]

Good rules.

Except:
HANG UP ALREADY! - How to politely ask that loud cell-talker to disconnect
If you're in a place that has a manager, ask him or her to do the dirty work. Otherwise, put on your sweetest smile, tap the offender on the shoulder, and try one of these carefully worded lines:

Sorry. Cell phone callers are being rude. Many of them don't seem to understand the concept of courtesy. The best line is a stern "Take it outside."

[¤I Love Clay Aiken¤]

I hate how parents buy their 12-14 year olds cell phones for emergencies, and then all you see them do is talking to their boyfriends and stuff. Lil kiddies dont need cellphones for emergencies- never needed them before- its just the fact we have gotten so dependent on them. Parents should buy them for the kids if they just got their own car and stuff, but thats about it. Dont even get me started on people who drive and talk at the same time. . .

[Janice]

Originally posted by Mysty Eyes
Sorry. Cell phone callers are being rude. Many of them don't seem to understand the concept of courtesy. The best line is a stern "Take it outside."

I agree that they are being very rude, but I think it's a bad idea to get tough or even stern with a stranger. You never know who you're dealing with....sort of like the road rage nuts, only we're face to face with the nut.

[PZelda]

Originally posted by Janice
I agree that they are being very rude, but I think it's a bad idea to get tough or even stern with a stranger. You never know who you're dealing with....sort of like the road rage nuts, only we're face to face with the nut.

Very good point.

[TheHappyBurgerMeister]

Originally posted by ?MsConanOBrien?
I hate how parents buy their 12-14 year olds cell phones for emergencies, and then all you see them do is talking to their boyfriends and stuff. Lil kiddies dont need cellphones for emergencies- never needed them before- its just the fact we have gotten so dependent on them. Parents should buy them for the kids if they just got their own car and stuff, but thats about it. Dont even get me started on people who drive and talk at the same time. . .

Amen! I completely agree! I think that parents who buy their kids cell phones that young are spending enough time with their kids or don't see them enough. I know quite a few people with cells phone (I don't have one) and my grandma has had one for like 6 years. I swear she's the the only person who actually uses it "properly". As in she only uses it to call her house to see how my grandpa is doing or for emergencies. Most of the time she has it turned off. And if she has real conversations she uses it in her own home just to use up the minutes. Not in a public place.

[Mysty Eyes]

Originally posted by Janice
I agree that they are being very rude, but I think it's a bad idea to get tough or even stern with a stranger. You never know who you're dealing with....sort of like the road rage nuts, only we're face to face with the nut.

While I agree with the unknown aspect, I was referring primarily to someone in a theater or other such location. And again, sorry, but a simple "please turn it off" frequently won't work. This kind of person is so self-absorbed that they probably will just tell you to mind your own business, and then go right on talking on their phone.

And what makes you think that being polite will make them any less reactionary? If they're going to go ballistic on you, they'll do it whether or not you are being "polite." It's not like I'm saying that you should pick a fight with the person. But I do think that you have to be a bit forceful or else the offender won't take you seriously.

Also, the advice given in the original post about "tapping them on the shoulder"... No, no, no, no, no! Never touch another person like that! Now that might get you killed, at least here in L.A.

[TJL]

I'm going to print out two hundred copies of those cell phone manners and distribute them to the good citizens of New York.

Make that two thousand.

[Janice]

Originally posted by Mysty Eyes
While I agree with the unknown aspect, I was referring primarily to someone in a theater or other such location. And again, sorry, but a simple "please turn it off" frequently won't work. This kind of person is so self-absorbed that they probably will just tell you to mind your own business, and then go right on talking on their phone.

And what makes you think that being polite will make them any less reactionary? If they're going to go ballistic on you, they'll do it whether or not you are being "polite." It's not like I'm saying that you should pick a fight with the person. But I do think that you have to be a bit forceful or else the offender won't take you seriously.

Also, the advice given in the original post about "tapping them on the shoulder"... No, no, no, no, no! Never touch another person like that! Now that might get you killed, at least here in L.A.

I had the same thought when I read that tapping on the shoulder advice. Most people don't like strangers coming within two feet of their personal space, much less touch them.

I realize you're not suggesting picking a fight with someone. I still maintain that it's not wise to be forceful with an offender. There are simply too many crazies out there. I also think that even a nut is less likely to go off on someone if they are confronted in a polite manner. They feel less challenged.

To each his own I guess. I would never, in a million years, be stern or forceful with a stranger. Like I said, too many crazies out there with a chip on their shoulder just waiting for reason to hurt someone.

[PZelda]

....it was not my advice...look it up on page 110 of the March 2004 issue of Seventeen...it has Drew Barrymore on the cover. The shoulder thing might work here, because I'm in such a small state and stuff...

[robyrob]

Originally posted by Janice
I had the same thought when I read that tapping on the shoulder advice. Most people don't like strangers coming within two feet of their personal space, much less touch them.

I realize you're not suggesting picking a fight with someone. I still maintain that it's not wise to be forceful with an offender. There are simply too many crazies out there. I also think that even a nut is less likely to go off on someone if they are confronted in a polite manner. They feel less challenged.

To each his own I guess. I would never, in a million years, be stern or forceful with a stranger. Like I said, too many crazies out there with a chip on their shoulder just waiting for reason to hurt someone.

the trick is to APPEAR crazier THAN they are - start PULLING out your hair and SCREAMING at the top of your lungs at them that THE WORLD is ABOUT to end, they'll prolly want to take themself and their CELLPHONE very far away from YOU

[¤I Love Clay Aiken¤]

Originally posted by robyrob
the trick is to APPEAR crazier THAN they are - start PULLING out your hair and SCREAMING at the top of your lungs at them that THE WORLD is ABOUT to end, they'll prolly want to take themself and their CELLPHONE very far away from YOU

Either that, they call security!

[Janice]

Originally posted by robyrob
the trick is to APPEAR crazier THAN they are - start PULLING out your hair and SCREAMING at the top of your lungs at them that THE WORLD is ABOUT to end, they'll prolly want to take themself and their CELLPHONE very far away from YOU

Gotta be careful you don't get fitted for one of these though...

[¤I Love Clay Aiken¤]

Originally posted by Janice


Gotta be careful you don't get fitted for one of these though...

LMFAO. Yah, and then you try to explain yourself, and next thing you know- youre being placed in a padded room.

[-*Leah*-]

Originally posted by ¤MsConanOBrien¤
I hate how parents buy their 12-14 year olds cell phones for emergencies, and then all you see them do is talking to their boyfriends and stuff. Lil kiddies dont need cellphones for emergencies- never needed them before- its just the fact we have gotten so dependent on them. Parents should buy them for the kids if they just got their own car and stuff, but thats about it. Dont even get me started on people who drive and talk at the same time. . .

exactly!!! Thats why I don't have a cellphone yet. I have a car, but I don't drive it by myself yet, so there is no reason for me to have one. I do plan on getting on for my birthday, when I will be driving alone, in case of emergencies, but other than that I see know reason people should have them. Especially not kids!