Mind Your Cell Phone Manners

A recent study conducted by Harris Interactive shows that 1 in 7 adults have given up their landlines entirely and are embracing a "cell phone only" method of communication. With a majority of the U.S. population conducting conversations only on their cell phone, what are the guidelines for appropriate use? Although there has been much written about cell phone etiquette, I am not quite sure how many users are actually paying attention to the do’s and don’ts of appropriate use.

Last week I had lunch with former colleagues in a respectable and upscale restaurant where other patrons were quietly having “business type” conversations. A few tables away sat two gentlemen that apparently thought they were conducting business in their own private office because not only were they unnecessarily loud but one gentlemen kept his ring tone on volume 10 (10 being max). We have all been in situations where we forget to turn off our phones, so I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until I watched him slowly reach for the phone and then leisurely look at his screen to determine if the number was familiar to him, I then became irritated. This happened a number of times during our lunch and finally my colleague asked him to please turn off the ringer or put on vibrate. I couldn't understand whether this gentleman was completely unaware of how disruptive this was to the other patrons or he really did not care. I think it’s safe to say he did not care since he left his phone on volume 10 and could be heard as we were walking out of the restaurant.

I had another cell phone incident happen the other day while standing on line at Duane Reed. A woman in front of me was having her items rung up when she decided to take a phone call from a friend. I can only assume it was her friend because they began to chat about a recipe she was going to try out that evening. In any event, the woman was unable to multi task (pay for items and chat at the same time) and as a result, a long line began to form. I was shocked at how unaware she was of her surroundings. I finally asked her nicely to please finish her conversation as she was holding up a long line of people.

I think it’s great that so many people are embracing technology and taking full advantage of this incredible invention we call the cell phone. However, let’s remember that we are not sitting in the comfort of our own home chatting away with Aunt Betty.

So the next time you reach for your cell phone in a public area, please remember a few rules of etiquette as it will make everyone around you a lot happier.

- Avoid conversations in public areas such as restaurants, places of worship, dentist and doctor waiting areas, buses or subways, libraries or any other enclosed type area.

- Not only adjust your ringer volume, but adjust your "voice" volume. You might be in a high traffic area but that does not mean the person on the other line is. No need to shout!

- Place your phone on vibrant and never look at your screen while in a business meeting or interview. If there is something urgent you are waiting for then state that up front in order to manage everyone’s expectations.

- Never put your phone on speaker in a public area. I was once subjected to a 30 minute conversation about bed linens while in a department store because a woman decided she could no longer hold her phone up to her ear.