Practice Cell Phone Etiquette

Rude cellphone users are much anywhere that there's a cell phone signal. Most people who are being impolite don't realize what they're doing. Could that be you?
















 

Steps

  1. 1
    Keep a 10-foot (3 meter) distance between you and anyone else whenever you talk on your phone. No exceptions.


  2. 2
    Don't talk too loudly. Generally you don't have to shout in the microphone to be heard on the other end. In fact, doing so often makes it harder for you to be understood. In addition, shouting on the phone disrupts people around you.
  3. 3
    Do not talk about personal details in public. Personal is just that: personal. Tell callers you will call them back later, move someplace where you can have a little privacy, or switch to text messaging.
  4. 4
    Don't multi-task. Don't make calls while driving, shopping, banking, waiting in line, or doing almost anything that involves interacting with other human beings.
  5. 5
    Don't talk on the phone in any enclosed spaces, even if you're more than 10 feet away from anyone. They can still hear you (because it's an enclosed space) and usually, they're forced to just sit there and listen.

    • Bathrooms
    • Elevators
    • Waiting rooms
    • Auditoriums
    • Taxicabs
    • Buses
    • Trains
  6. 6
    Don't even let your phone ring in any of the following settings:

    • Meetings
    • Libraries
    • Museums
    • Places of worship
    • School
    • Lectures
    • Live performances
    • Funerals
    • Weddings
    • Movie theaters
  7. 7
    Don't use your phone when having a meal with someone. Ideally, you should turn it off entirely. If you're anticipating an important call, let the person you're with know beforehand that you're expecting a call that you'll need to take. No matter what, don't hold a conversation at the table; step away, follow Step 1, and don't stay away any longer than you would for a bathroom break. Never, ever text at the table, even if the face-to-face conversation dies down.
  8. 8
    Turn off your phone at the movie theater. Even if your phone is on vibrate, people can hear it during quiet parts of the movie. The light from your phone's screen is also very distracting. Don't check the time, don't check your text messages; just turn it off until the movie is over.
  9. 9
    Learn to text. When you're in an enclosed space, or you can't put yourself 10 feet out of everyone's way, it's inappropriate to talk but it's potentially acceptable to receive and send text messages. In such cases, keep the following rules of texting etiquette in mind:

    • Use the vibrate feature instead of an audible text alert.
    • Only text when you're standing still or sitting and out of anyone's way. Don't text while you walk or drive.
    • Don't text while doing anything that requires you to be attentive, such as waiting at an intersection for the pedestrian signal.
    • Don't text while at a meeting or conference. You should give the speaker your undivided attention.