Proper Etiquette with Your Cell Phone Use
Most people are now around cell phones for a significant portion of the day. Many people carry one at all times. The prevalence of cell phones is one of the main reasons why good etiquette and manners are important. You should understand the proper etiquette with your cell phone use.
- Keep Your Cell Phone Use Quiet: One of the biggest problems with using cell phones in public or around other people is that they generate a large amount of noise. The phone might beep constantly when text messages come in or could spontaneously blast a ringtone into a quiet room. Even talking on the phone can make it hard for others to hear personal conversations or other sounds in the room. Proper etiquette is to keep your cell phone use quiet. Use silent or vibrate functions. Text message replies in public rather than have a long and loud conversation on the phone.
- Never Favor the Phone over People or Activities: Another breach of etiquette is to favor the cell phone over people or activities that are right in front of you. It can be frustrating trying to talk to a person who is tapping out a text message or glancing at the phone screen every few seconds. You can actually cause real problems and endanger people by using your cell phone instead of paying attention to an activity that you are doing. If you are doing something involved like driving or using equipment, then keep the cell phone off or muted. If you are spending time with someone, then do not pay any attention to your phone unless it is an emergency.
- Do Not Follow the Bad Etiquette of Others: Some people think that it is fine to break proper etiquette if other people in the vicinity already are. This is not true. You should always practice good etiquette even if you see others talking loudly on phones or hear several ringtones. Stick to proper etiquette at all times to show that you are courteous and considerate.
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