Friday, August 29, 2008
Blackberry "red card" issued at this company for rudeness
In Canada, the home of the Blackberry and its maker Research In Motion, there is a company that now is issuing Yellow Card for first time blackberry rudeness and a Red Card for second offense, according to blackberrycool.com. Like in soccer this card system is used to control the inappropriate usage of blackberries. If this practice should spread there will be many a "yellow card" issued where I work. However, it will be interesting to see how the social norms change and if it will be considered acceptable to use a smart phone in meetings in the future or if there will be a backlash and the smart phone usage will be curbed. If I were to predict I would vote that it will become more accepted, primarily due to the increased expectation of returning email and texts almost realtime. Without bringing a smartphone into meetings, I am sure many employees could simply never catch up.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Ten commandments of cell phone etiquette
1. Thou shalt not dial while driving
2. Thou shalt not wear thy earpiece when thou art not on thy phone
3. Thou shalt not speak louder on thy cell phone than thou would on any other phone
4. Thou shalt not grow too attached to thy cell phone
5. Thou shalt not slam thy cell phone down on a restaurant table just in case it rings
6. Thou shalt not make the cell phone more important than the company thou art keeping
7.Thou shalt not leave the cell phone ringing just to show off the "cool" ringtones or refrain from answering for that same reason
8.Thou shalt turn off thy cell phone at funerals, weddings, yoga class, and anywhere it would be unacceptable to bring a screaming child
9.Thou shalt not have a message intro lasting more than 15 seconds
10.Thou shalt never answer your phone while you're in the bathroom.
These commendments are brought you by : www.textually.org
2. Thou shalt not wear thy earpiece when thou art not on thy phone
3. Thou shalt not speak louder on thy cell phone than thou would on any other phone
4. Thou shalt not grow too attached to thy cell phone
5. Thou shalt not slam thy cell phone down on a restaurant table just in case it rings
6. Thou shalt not make the cell phone more important than the company thou art keeping
7.Thou shalt not leave the cell phone ringing just to show off the "cool" ringtones or refrain from answering for that same reason
8.Thou shalt turn off thy cell phone at funerals, weddings, yoga class, and anywhere it would be unacceptable to bring a screaming child
9.Thou shalt not have a message intro lasting more than 15 seconds
10.Thou shalt never answer your phone while you're in the bathroom.
These commendments are brought you by : www.textually.org
Fun video about rude cell phone behavior
Found this little gem of a guy using a cell phone like a jackass at stupidvideos.com
10 tips on cell phone manners
Here is a great batch of tips on cell phone etiquette from www.30secondwords.com
Today, I was at Clarendon’s Barnes and Noble in Arlington, Virginia perusing Seth Godin’s Purple Cow: Transforming your Business By Being Remarkable. There were fellow bookstore patrons also enjoying the quiet environs, when a guy sits down two seats from us and makes a phone call to his boss about spilling paint on the stage floor. I did not have an issue with his phone call, but I did have an issue with his volume. It was as if he sought out a quiet place to be loud. When I asked him to turn the volume down, he flicked me off.
If this has ever happened to you, please consider the following tips:
1. You are not alone. Enlist the aid of the people around you.
2. Be confrontational and repeat your request to keep the volume down. Applaud people who initialize a confrontation.
3. Stand next to him, uncomfortably close, and talk to him as loud as he is talking to the person on the other end.
3. Take a few seconds to get the context of the phone call. No need to interrupt a family emergency, but I used the knowledge of his spill, and that he was talking to his boss, against him. For example, my rant went something like this: “Perhaps if you weren’t such a jackass with the paint, you wouldn’t have to apologize to your boss… why are you on the phone in a bookstore rather than cleaning up your mess on the stage?”
4. Talk to the person on the other end of the line. Considering it was his boss, I stated “I don’t know why you would hire someone so rude.”
5. If you have a camera-phone and overtly take a picture of the offender.
6. Set-up a website called “RudeCellPhoneUsers.com” and post picture of the offender.
7. If you want to be a part of a movement, seek out rude cell-phone users and confront them as well.
8. Suggest that Barnes & Noble post “No Cell Phone Zones” signs with suggestions where people can use thier phones. Similarly, take the book you were reading to the cashier and tell them you are going to order from Amazon because you could not concentrate with all the noise. If enough people do this, at least you cost Barnes and Noble the it takes to reshelve the books.
9. Do not move from you location. Make them move. Suggest a place called “Outside.”
10. When the call is complete, let them know that they were being rude.
11. BONUS TIP: Take the moral high-ground, always be polite. I should not have called him a jackass (even if he was one).
Remember, you are not alone in feeling annoyed when people invade your personal space. If they invade yours, you are well within your right to invade theirs and even “contribute” to the conversation they are broadcasting. So, take this as a call to action against rude cellphone users to let both individuals and corporations know your distaste with this practice.
Today, I was at Clarendon’s Barnes and Noble in Arlington, Virginia perusing Seth Godin’s Purple Cow: Transforming your Business By Being Remarkable. There were fellow bookstore patrons also enjoying the quiet environs, when a guy sits down two seats from us and makes a phone call to his boss about spilling paint on the stage floor. I did not have an issue with his phone call, but I did have an issue with his volume. It was as if he sought out a quiet place to be loud. When I asked him to turn the volume down, he flicked me off.
If this has ever happened to you, please consider the following tips:
1. You are not alone. Enlist the aid of the people around you.
2. Be confrontational and repeat your request to keep the volume down. Applaud people who initialize a confrontation.
3. Stand next to him, uncomfortably close, and talk to him as loud as he is talking to the person on the other end.
3. Take a few seconds to get the context of the phone call. No need to interrupt a family emergency, but I used the knowledge of his spill, and that he was talking to his boss, against him. For example, my rant went something like this: “Perhaps if you weren’t such a jackass with the paint, you wouldn’t have to apologize to your boss… why are you on the phone in a bookstore rather than cleaning up your mess on the stage?”
4. Talk to the person on the other end of the line. Considering it was his boss, I stated “I don’t know why you would hire someone so rude.”
5. If you have a camera-phone and overtly take a picture of the offender.
6. Set-up a website called “RudeCellPhoneUsers.com” and post picture of the offender.
7. If you want to be a part of a movement, seek out rude cell-phone users and confront them as well.
8. Suggest that Barnes & Noble post “No Cell Phone Zones” signs with suggestions where people can use thier phones. Similarly, take the book you were reading to the cashier and tell them you are going to order from Amazon because you could not concentrate with all the noise. If enough people do this, at least you cost Barnes and Noble the it takes to reshelve the books.
9. Do not move from you location. Make them move. Suggest a place called “Outside.”
10. When the call is complete, let them know that they were being rude.
11. BONUS TIP: Take the moral high-ground, always be polite. I should not have called him a jackass (even if he was one).
Remember, you are not alone in feeling annoyed when people invade your personal space. If they invade yours, you are well within your right to invade theirs and even “contribute” to the conversation they are broadcasting. So, take this as a call to action against rude cellphone users to let both individuals and corporations know your distaste with this practice.
How to deal with a rude Cell Phone talker
They’re everywhere—driving in cars, walking on the street, in cafes and restaurants, in the adjacent cubicle at work. While it’s true that cheap, compact cell phones have ushered in an unprecedented age of connectedness, they’ve also enabled the antisocial behavior of generally rude people who revel in imposing their private conversations on the rest of the world. Here’s how to deal with an oblivious cell-phone addict near you.
Step1) Perfect your glare.
Before committing to a verbal confrontation, it’s best to express your irritation silently. Most folks who have been even partially socialized as children will interpret a long, bloodless stare in a crowded elevator as a cue to wrap up their cell-phone conversation as quickly as possible. By the same token, glaring at that clueless guy at the bar may make him clam up (or punch you in the face—but that’s the chance you take with this sort of thing).
Step2) Ask the offender to take the call elsewhere.
Fortunately, most people who engage in loud, boring, public cell phone conversations are more narcissistic than aggressive—they simply aren’t aware that their behavior is objectionable. The trick is to be nice, but firm: say something like “I’m sorry, but I’m really trying to relax during my lunch break. Do you think you could lower your voice or take your conversation to a more private area?”
Step3) Find someone else to take care of the problem.
If you’re being bothered by a loud cell phone conversation in a restaurant, on a train or in a theater, it’s not necessary to confront the perpetrator yourself. Tell your waiter, conductor or usher that you and others are being annoyed. Increasingly, businesses are taking it upon themselves to discourage rude cell phone behavior, and may be more eager to comply than you’d expect.
Step4) Eavesdrop when all else fails.
Sometimes, the only way to get people to shut up is to make it clear that you’re listening to their conversation. During a pause in the chatter, say aloud to no one in particular, “Boy, I’m sure glad I don’t have prostate trouble!” Or whip out a pad and ostentatiously write down any number that the offending cell phone user shouts out to the person on the other end of the line.
Step5) Use a cell phone jamming device at your own peril.
In the back pages of some magazines, you can order pocket jammers that will scramble cell-phone conversations within 10 or 20 feet. This is a tempting option, but think of the chaos that would result if everyone availed themselves of these devices—no one would ever be able to make a call in public ever again. (On the other hand, now that we’ve put it that way, go ahead and order some jammers for yourself and for everyone you know.)
Step1) Perfect your glare.
Before committing to a verbal confrontation, it’s best to express your irritation silently. Most folks who have been even partially socialized as children will interpret a long, bloodless stare in a crowded elevator as a cue to wrap up their cell-phone conversation as quickly as possible. By the same token, glaring at that clueless guy at the bar may make him clam up (or punch you in the face—but that’s the chance you take with this sort of thing).
Step2) Ask the offender to take the call elsewhere.
Fortunately, most people who engage in loud, boring, public cell phone conversations are more narcissistic than aggressive—they simply aren’t aware that their behavior is objectionable. The trick is to be nice, but firm: say something like “I’m sorry, but I’m really trying to relax during my lunch break. Do you think you could lower your voice or take your conversation to a more private area?”
Step3) Find someone else to take care of the problem.
If you’re being bothered by a loud cell phone conversation in a restaurant, on a train or in a theater, it’s not necessary to confront the perpetrator yourself. Tell your waiter, conductor or usher that you and others are being annoyed. Increasingly, businesses are taking it upon themselves to discourage rude cell phone behavior, and may be more eager to comply than you’d expect.
Step4) Eavesdrop when all else fails.
Sometimes, the only way to get people to shut up is to make it clear that you’re listening to their conversation. During a pause in the chatter, say aloud to no one in particular, “Boy, I’m sure glad I don’t have prostate trouble!” Or whip out a pad and ostentatiously write down any number that the offending cell phone user shouts out to the person on the other end of the line.
Step5) Use a cell phone jamming device at your own peril.
In the back pages of some magazines, you can order pocket jammers that will scramble cell-phone conversations within 10 or 20 feet. This is a tempting option, but think of the chaos that would result if everyone availed themselves of these devices—no one would ever be able to make a call in public ever again. (On the other hand, now that we’ve put it that way, go ahead and order some jammers for yourself and for everyone you know.)
Here is a great little aticle on Cell Phone Etiquette from Wired.com -
Waiting in line recently at my local coffeehouse -- an establishment as renowned for its leisurely service as for its place in San Francisco history -- I was blown away by the absolute arrogance of a young woman standing two or three places ahead of me.
She had already irritated everyone within earshot by conducting a very animated cell-phone conversation in her singsong, Valley girl, yuppie voice. But now it was her turn to order and the cafe's irritation turned to cold fury as she impatiently waved off the barista to complete her thought (which no doubt required a herculean effort). Alas for young Brie, or whatever her name was, she picked the wrong guy to trifle with. Our barista tossed her out of line and took the next person's order. She huffed off, still tethered to her phone, to our general delight.
Today, we consider the mobile phone. More than the personal computer and, now, the iPod, this is the technology that even the most technophobic of cats is likeliest to possess. In other words, they're all over the place. It's understood why people use cell phones. What we're concerned with here is how they use 'em.
Too often the answer is "rudely." Yeah, "rude cell-phone user" columns have been done to death over the years. But those columns keep getting written for a reason: There are still far too many of you thoughtless blockheads out there. So let's try it again.
Not everyone who uses a mobile phone is as willfully thoughtless as our friend Brie. But the level of rudeness isn't the issue. It's the mere fact of rudeness itself -- that's the issue.
Mobile phones have helped to make a crass and vulgar society even more crass and more vulgar. Portability makes it possible for anyone to take a private conversation public and that's never a good idea. In its way, some moron babbling into a mobile phone is as obtrusive and obnoxious as the idiot who plays his boombox at full throttle in the park.
Look, the world is not your personal playground. Do not share with us your musical tastes; do not share with us your latest wheelings and dealings. In public places, you have an obligation to hold up your end of the implied social contract by not imposing yourself on those around you. This is crucial to a civilized society and just because technology allows you to act like a braying ass in public doesn't mean you should do it. Quite the contrary, in fact. You need to be more aware of your surroundings than ever.
That said, it's understood that you will use your phone away from hermetically sealed rooms and the solitude of your studio apartment. So, please, observe these little niceties:
1) Don't use your phone in obvious situations where your one-sided conversation can only be disruptive: at the movies, at a concert, in a public auditorium, on an elevator, in a crowded waiting room, etc. I would add city buses to the list, but those are already rolling prison yards for the most part. Use your phone if you must, but use at your own peril.
2)If you're in the middle of a face-to-face conversation with someone, don't take a phone call. It's disrespectful. You can go on the theory that if the incoming call is important enough, the caller will leave you a message. You can then return said call at a more convenient moment, and nobody is offended.
3)If you're expecting an important call and somebody stops by to chat you up, let your buddy know that you might have to take a call. That's fair.
4)Ditch the ring tone and put the phone on vibrate. The only person who cares about an incoming call on your phone is you. Don't worry, you'll feel it. (It feels go-o-o-od.) Most ring tones are not only intrusive, they're inane.
5)Don't have emotional phone conversations in my face. In other words, don't break up with your boyfriend publicly. (Besides, we can't see him and being able to see his reaction is half the fun.) Wait until you get home and then toss his sorry ass out the door.
6)Don't talk on the phone while you're grocery shopping. For whatever reason, the acoustics of a shopping aisle seem to amplify your voice. Also, talking on the phone tends to distract you from what's going on in your immediate vicinity and I need to get around you to reach the Cocoa Puffs.
7)When you're in my cafe, turn off your phone and don't use it at all.
Personal note to my son: Using part of a rap song as a voicemail greeting, where the only intelligible words are "bitch" and "fuckah," is not a felicitous way of welcoming an incoming caller. While your friends may find this the height of wit, your employer and professors and parole officer almost certainly will not.
A final thought: I kind of like those Bluetooth earpieces where you don't use your hands. The ones that hang from your ear and have you talking off into the ether. You look like a crazy guy wandering down the street, the only difference being that a real crazy guy usually has something interesting to say.
Waiting in line recently at my local coffeehouse -- an establishment as renowned for its leisurely service as for its place in San Francisco history -- I was blown away by the absolute arrogance of a young woman standing two or three places ahead of me.
She had already irritated everyone within earshot by conducting a very animated cell-phone conversation in her singsong, Valley girl, yuppie voice. But now it was her turn to order and the cafe's irritation turned to cold fury as she impatiently waved off the barista to complete her thought (which no doubt required a herculean effort). Alas for young Brie, or whatever her name was, she picked the wrong guy to trifle with. Our barista tossed her out of line and took the next person's order. She huffed off, still tethered to her phone, to our general delight.
Today, we consider the mobile phone. More than the personal computer and, now, the iPod, this is the technology that even the most technophobic of cats is likeliest to possess. In other words, they're all over the place. It's understood why people use cell phones. What we're concerned with here is how they use 'em.
Too often the answer is "rudely." Yeah, "rude cell-phone user" columns have been done to death over the years. But those columns keep getting written for a reason: There are still far too many of you thoughtless blockheads out there. So let's try it again.
Not everyone who uses a mobile phone is as willfully thoughtless as our friend Brie. But the level of rudeness isn't the issue. It's the mere fact of rudeness itself -- that's the issue.
Mobile phones have helped to make a crass and vulgar society even more crass and more vulgar. Portability makes it possible for anyone to take a private conversation public and that's never a good idea. In its way, some moron babbling into a mobile phone is as obtrusive and obnoxious as the idiot who plays his boombox at full throttle in the park.
Look, the world is not your personal playground. Do not share with us your musical tastes; do not share with us your latest wheelings and dealings. In public places, you have an obligation to hold up your end of the implied social contract by not imposing yourself on those around you. This is crucial to a civilized society and just because technology allows you to act like a braying ass in public doesn't mean you should do it. Quite the contrary, in fact. You need to be more aware of your surroundings than ever.
That said, it's understood that you will use your phone away from hermetically sealed rooms and the solitude of your studio apartment. So, please, observe these little niceties:
1) Don't use your phone in obvious situations where your one-sided conversation can only be disruptive: at the movies, at a concert, in a public auditorium, on an elevator, in a crowded waiting room, etc. I would add city buses to the list, but those are already rolling prison yards for the most part. Use your phone if you must, but use at your own peril.
2)If you're in the middle of a face-to-face conversation with someone, don't take a phone call. It's disrespectful. You can go on the theory that if the incoming call is important enough, the caller will leave you a message. You can then return said call at a more convenient moment, and nobody is offended.
3)If you're expecting an important call and somebody stops by to chat you up, let your buddy know that you might have to take a call. That's fair.
4)Ditch the ring tone and put the phone on vibrate. The only person who cares about an incoming call on your phone is you. Don't worry, you'll feel it. (It feels go-o-o-od.) Most ring tones are not only intrusive, they're inane.
5)Don't have emotional phone conversations in my face. In other words, don't break up with your boyfriend publicly. (Besides, we can't see him and being able to see his reaction is half the fun.) Wait until you get home and then toss his sorry ass out the door.
6)Don't talk on the phone while you're grocery shopping. For whatever reason, the acoustics of a shopping aisle seem to amplify your voice. Also, talking on the phone tends to distract you from what's going on in your immediate vicinity and I need to get around you to reach the Cocoa Puffs.
7)When you're in my cafe, turn off your phone and don't use it at all.
Personal note to my son: Using part of a rap song as a voicemail greeting, where the only intelligible words are "bitch" and "fuckah," is not a felicitous way of welcoming an incoming caller. While your friends may find this the height of wit, your employer and professors and parole officer almost certainly will not.
A final thought: I kind of like those Bluetooth earpieces where you don't use your hands. The ones that hang from your ear and have you talking off into the ether. You look like a crazy guy wandering down the street, the only difference being that a real crazy guy usually has something interesting to say.
Here is a great article on Cell Phone Etiquette from phoneybusiness.com
1. Safety - Pay attention to the road.
We have growing evidence that cell phones may distract drivers and cause risks for themselves and other drivers. According to a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) - "Cell Phones and Highway Safety: 2000 State Legislative Update" http://www.ncsl.org/programs/ESNR/2000cell.htm - "Wireless telecommunication technologies are rapidly becoming a significant concern in regard to highway safety." This report lists many states considering rules and regulations to restrict mobile phone use.The cell savvy user never uses a mobile phone while driving unless it is "hands free." Not only are both hands free to shift and steer, there seems to be a very significant difference in the degree of attention deficit when using an ear phone. The ear phone makes it much easier to focus on driving.The cell savvy user is also careful to limit conversations in cars to traffic areas and conditions requiring low amounts of decision-making. In high volume, tricky driving situations, the cell savvy user either turns the phone off or lets it ring.The cell savvy user pulls over to the side to speak if the conversation is important.The cell phone bore pays no attention to traffic conditions, drives with phone in hand and may put surrounding cars and drivers at risk. Too focused on phoning, the cell phone bore often misses what is happening on the road nearby and makes driving moves and decisions at an impaired level. Busy chatting, the cell phone bore may run a stop sign and broadside a car. http://www.geocities.com/morganleepena/ CWD (Chatting While Driving) may cause fatalities.As the Car Talk brothers warn, "Drive Now - Talk Later."http://cartalk.cars.com/About/Drive-Now/ Back to Top
2. Volume - Speak softly.
The cell savvy user is careful to speak in hushed tones, knowing that a mobile phone has a sensitive microphone capable of picking up a soft voice.The cell savvy user also sets the ring tone at a low level with a tune that is soft, gentle and not annoying.The more crowded the situation, the quieter and softer the volume of voice and ring.The cell savvy user moves to vibrate in any situation like a church, a workshop or a meeting where a ringing sound would prove disturbing to other people.The cell savvy user tries to gain as little phone attention as possible. The goal is to communicate effectively without anybody else noticing or caring.The cell phone bore speaks loudly and employs loud, obnoxious ring tones at all the wrong times and in all the wrong places. The cell phone bore calls attention to herself or himself.Some people seem incapable of speaking on their cell phone in a normal tone of voice. Perhaps they are subconsciously worried that the party on the other end cannot hear them very well, so they double and triple their volume. Sometimes it seems as if they are shouting.Watch the reactions of people near the cell phone bore when the voice or the ringer are too loud. The cell phone bore is not a popular person. Back to Top
3. Proximity - Keep your distance.
Each person is surrounded by a personal space. This space provides feelings of safety and calm, especially in crowded places.When strangers come into our personal space, it can make us feel uncomfortable.The smart cell phone user respects the personal space of other people and tries to speak in places 10-20 feet or more away from the closest person.If there is no private, separate space available, the smart cell phone user waits to speak on the phone until a good space is available.Sensitivity to other peoples' needs and comforts is a sign of good character.Crowded rooms, lines and tight hallways are not good places to carry on phone conversations.Next time you find yourself in a crowded space, watch the reactions of non mobile phone users to those who speak loudly into their phones while standing next to them.The cell phone bore ignores the private personal space of others and seems oblivious to the discomfort caused by such behavior. Unconscious, unconcerned and unaware, the cell phone bore acts as if no one else matters. Back to Top
4. Content - Keep business private.
Many personal and business conversations contain information that should remain confidential or private. Before using a mobile phone in a public location to discuss private business or issues, the cell savvy user makes sure that there will be enough distance to keep the content private. Some stories, some issues and some conflicts should be saved for times and locations that will allow for confidentiality.The cell phone bore does not think strategically about content and handles a full range of issues and topics in a wide variety of settings without paying much attention to the surrounding audience. This lack of discrimination can have dangerous consequences as business deals, relationships and future plans may all be endangered by leaks and loose tongues. Back to Top
5. Tone - Keep a civil and pleasant tone.
The cell savvy user knows that others might overhear a conversation, so they are careful to maintain a public voice that will not disturb others. At the same time, the cell savvy user knows that certain types of conversations may require or inspire some tough talk or emotional tones. They reserve these conversations for more private settings. They do not fire employees, chastise employees, argue with a boss or fight with a spouse or teenager on their mobile phones in public settings.The cell phone bore will sometimes air dirty laundry in public and share emotionally intense conversations with nearby strangers. The cell phone bore will speak in loud and angry tones that often cause other people to move away if they can. Back to Top
6. Location - Pick your spot.
Some locations are better for conversations than others. They offer more privacy and less noise. By keeping the mobile phone turned off much of the time, the smart cell phone user is able to handle incoming calls under good conditions rather than struggling against interference of various kinds such as flight announcements in the hallways of an airport.The cell savvy user learns which spots will offer the best signal and the best conditions. Rather than hold an important business discussion or negotiation under poor conditions, the cell savvy user waits for good conditions in order to make the best impression and provide a professional communication experience.The cell phone bore is an anywhere, anytime phoner, taking and making calls in public rest rooms, during church services and riding along in the rental shuttle while squeezed alongside of others. The cell phone bore sacrifices effectiveness and professionalism for convenience and immediacy. Back to Top
7. Timing - No cell phone before it's time.
The cell savvy user thinks about when to turn the phone on or off. There are many situations where it would be rude if a phone rang, interrupting the transaction at hand.Stepping up to a service counter, entering a restaurant or joining a meeting, the cell savvy user turn off the phone and relies upon voice mail to take incoming calls.There may be sometimes when a particular incoming call or message requires an exception, but the vast majority of callers do not require immediate access.The cell phone bore leaves the phone on all the time in all places regardless of the situation. The cell phone bore answers the phone no matter what else is happening and expects others to sit and wait while they chat with the caller. Back to Top
8. Multi-Tasking - One thing at a time.
Some folks are better at juggling many tasks at the same time than others, but there are some things in life that deserve your full attention. The busy person multi-tasking at a desk can be a wonderful model of efficiency, handling, phone, keyboard, coffee cup and remote control all at the same time, but at other times, multi-tasking can be hazardous, rude and inefficient.The cell savvy user reserves multi-tasking for situations and times when it is safe, convenient and appropriate. Approaching a counter to work through a problem with an airline ticket, the cell savvy user turns off the phone or its ringer to protect the coming transaction from interruption. One thing at a time. Focus. Efficiency. Manners.The cell savvy user often stops other activities such as typing when a call comes through in order to give the caller, full attention. Free of distraction, the cell savvy user makes the most of the call.The cell phone bore often juggles multiple tasks at the wrong times in the wrong places and often drops a ball or makes someone else angry.Stepping to the counter to work out a problem with a ticket, the cell phone bore takes an incoming call right in the middle of the transaction and holds up the employee as well as all the other customers lined up waiting for service. Oblivious to the inconvenience and inefficiency caused, the cell phone bore allows a mobile phone to interfere with the performance of the employee and the needs of the other customers. The cell phone bore puts personal wishes ahead of civility.
1. Safety - Pay attention to the road.
We have growing evidence that cell phones may distract drivers and cause risks for themselves and other drivers. According to a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) - "Cell Phones and Highway Safety: 2000 State Legislative Update" http://www.ncsl.org/programs/ESNR/2000cell.htm - "Wireless telecommunication technologies are rapidly becoming a significant concern in regard to highway safety." This report lists many states considering rules and regulations to restrict mobile phone use.The cell savvy user never uses a mobile phone while driving unless it is "hands free." Not only are both hands free to shift and steer, there seems to be a very significant difference in the degree of attention deficit when using an ear phone. The ear phone makes it much easier to focus on driving.The cell savvy user is also careful to limit conversations in cars to traffic areas and conditions requiring low amounts of decision-making. In high volume, tricky driving situations, the cell savvy user either turns the phone off or lets it ring.The cell savvy user pulls over to the side to speak if the conversation is important.The cell phone bore pays no attention to traffic conditions, drives with phone in hand and may put surrounding cars and drivers at risk. Too focused on phoning, the cell phone bore often misses what is happening on the road nearby and makes driving moves and decisions at an impaired level. Busy chatting, the cell phone bore may run a stop sign and broadside a car. http://www.geocities.com/morganleepena/ CWD (Chatting While Driving) may cause fatalities.As the Car Talk brothers warn, "Drive Now - Talk Later."http://cartalk.cars.com/About/Drive-Now/ Back to Top
2. Volume - Speak softly.
The cell savvy user is careful to speak in hushed tones, knowing that a mobile phone has a sensitive microphone capable of picking up a soft voice.The cell savvy user also sets the ring tone at a low level with a tune that is soft, gentle and not annoying.The more crowded the situation, the quieter and softer the volume of voice and ring.The cell savvy user moves to vibrate in any situation like a church, a workshop or a meeting where a ringing sound would prove disturbing to other people.The cell savvy user tries to gain as little phone attention as possible. The goal is to communicate effectively without anybody else noticing or caring.The cell phone bore speaks loudly and employs loud, obnoxious ring tones at all the wrong times and in all the wrong places. The cell phone bore calls attention to herself or himself.Some people seem incapable of speaking on their cell phone in a normal tone of voice. Perhaps they are subconsciously worried that the party on the other end cannot hear them very well, so they double and triple their volume. Sometimes it seems as if they are shouting.Watch the reactions of people near the cell phone bore when the voice or the ringer are too loud. The cell phone bore is not a popular person. Back to Top
3. Proximity - Keep your distance.
Each person is surrounded by a personal space. This space provides feelings of safety and calm, especially in crowded places.When strangers come into our personal space, it can make us feel uncomfortable.The smart cell phone user respects the personal space of other people and tries to speak in places 10-20 feet or more away from the closest person.If there is no private, separate space available, the smart cell phone user waits to speak on the phone until a good space is available.Sensitivity to other peoples' needs and comforts is a sign of good character.Crowded rooms, lines and tight hallways are not good places to carry on phone conversations.Next time you find yourself in a crowded space, watch the reactions of non mobile phone users to those who speak loudly into their phones while standing next to them.The cell phone bore ignores the private personal space of others and seems oblivious to the discomfort caused by such behavior. Unconscious, unconcerned and unaware, the cell phone bore acts as if no one else matters. Back to Top
4. Content - Keep business private.
Many personal and business conversations contain information that should remain confidential or private. Before using a mobile phone in a public location to discuss private business or issues, the cell savvy user makes sure that there will be enough distance to keep the content private. Some stories, some issues and some conflicts should be saved for times and locations that will allow for confidentiality.The cell phone bore does not think strategically about content and handles a full range of issues and topics in a wide variety of settings without paying much attention to the surrounding audience. This lack of discrimination can have dangerous consequences as business deals, relationships and future plans may all be endangered by leaks and loose tongues. Back to Top
5. Tone - Keep a civil and pleasant tone.
The cell savvy user knows that others might overhear a conversation, so they are careful to maintain a public voice that will not disturb others. At the same time, the cell savvy user knows that certain types of conversations may require or inspire some tough talk or emotional tones. They reserve these conversations for more private settings. They do not fire employees, chastise employees, argue with a boss or fight with a spouse or teenager on their mobile phones in public settings.The cell phone bore will sometimes air dirty laundry in public and share emotionally intense conversations with nearby strangers. The cell phone bore will speak in loud and angry tones that often cause other people to move away if they can. Back to Top
6. Location - Pick your spot.
Some locations are better for conversations than others. They offer more privacy and less noise. By keeping the mobile phone turned off much of the time, the smart cell phone user is able to handle incoming calls under good conditions rather than struggling against interference of various kinds such as flight announcements in the hallways of an airport.The cell savvy user learns which spots will offer the best signal and the best conditions. Rather than hold an important business discussion or negotiation under poor conditions, the cell savvy user waits for good conditions in order to make the best impression and provide a professional communication experience.The cell phone bore is an anywhere, anytime phoner, taking and making calls in public rest rooms, during church services and riding along in the rental shuttle while squeezed alongside of others. The cell phone bore sacrifices effectiveness and professionalism for convenience and immediacy. Back to Top
7. Timing - No cell phone before it's time.
The cell savvy user thinks about when to turn the phone on or off. There are many situations where it would be rude if a phone rang, interrupting the transaction at hand.Stepping up to a service counter, entering a restaurant or joining a meeting, the cell savvy user turn off the phone and relies upon voice mail to take incoming calls.There may be sometimes when a particular incoming call or message requires an exception, but the vast majority of callers do not require immediate access.The cell phone bore leaves the phone on all the time in all places regardless of the situation. The cell phone bore answers the phone no matter what else is happening and expects others to sit and wait while they chat with the caller. Back to Top
8. Multi-Tasking - One thing at a time.
Some folks are better at juggling many tasks at the same time than others, but there are some things in life that deserve your full attention. The busy person multi-tasking at a desk can be a wonderful model of efficiency, handling, phone, keyboard, coffee cup and remote control all at the same time, but at other times, multi-tasking can be hazardous, rude and inefficient.The cell savvy user reserves multi-tasking for situations and times when it is safe, convenient and appropriate. Approaching a counter to work through a problem with an airline ticket, the cell savvy user turns off the phone or its ringer to protect the coming transaction from interruption. One thing at a time. Focus. Efficiency. Manners.The cell savvy user often stops other activities such as typing when a call comes through in order to give the caller, full attention. Free of distraction, the cell savvy user makes the most of the call.The cell phone bore often juggles multiple tasks at the wrong times in the wrong places and often drops a ball or makes someone else angry.Stepping to the counter to work out a problem with a ticket, the cell phone bore takes an incoming call right in the middle of the transaction and holds up the employee as well as all the other customers lined up waiting for service. Oblivious to the inconvenience and inefficiency caused, the cell phone bore allows a mobile phone to interfere with the performance of the employee and the needs of the other customers. The cell phone bore puts personal wishes ahead of civility.
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