Family on the Phone

After all the posts I’ve written about cell phones and the family, I’ve never talked about this topic of manners and cell phones.
How is that perfectly respectable and well-mannered people turn into rude, ill-mannered folks when they pick up their cell phones in public?

So, I’ve compiled a list of my cell phone behavior pet peeves and I polled my friends as well. This is what we came up with.

1. Loud Talkers - Why do people feel the need to raise their voice while talking on their phone? I swear it is a phenomenon I can’t quite figure out but it happens all the time.
2. Texting and Driving - This one goes beyond bad manners. It is just plain dangerous and rude to other drivers. While you are at it, get a set of headphones or bluetooth and keep conversations to a minimum.
3. Rudeness to Store/Restaurant Employees - How many times do you see someone talking on their phone or texting while standing in front of a register or while ordering food at a restaurant? It happens everyday to me. I’ve actually seen someone point to what they want on a menu instead of saying it because they were having a conversation.
4. Not Turning It Off - Movie theaters, ceremonies, doctor’s offices, church, libraries; where ever you are asked to turn your phone off and you don’t.
5. Are You Talking to Me? - If you have a bluetooth on and you are talking, people are going to think you are talking them. Plain and simple.
6. Pay Attention Where it is Due - If I’m having an afternoon with a friend, shopping or whatever, it drives me crazy when they sit and chat on their cell or spend the entire time texting their other friends!
7. Bathroom? - I’ve actually had people call me from the bathroom on their cell phone. Public or private bathrooms, it is just plain yucky.
8. Private vs Public Conversations - Please don’t have those very private conversations in public so other people are forced to listen.
9. Ten Foot Rule - As a general rule of courtesy, take your conversation at least that far away from other people.
10. Elevators - See above rule. People are trapped in an elevator and have no choice but to listen to you chat away.

Given these peeves of mine, I found a humorous book on Amazon I  thought you might enjoy.

photo credit: Andrew Feinberg

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