Cell phones may have made communication easier, but like most gadgets, there’s a time and place. Here are some helpful tips for cell phone etiquette:
1. Mute or vibrate Whether you’re in class, at a movie, church, a wedding — anywhere you don’t need an interruption — put your phone on vibrate. Not only is it embarrassing to have 50 heads turn your way as you scramble to turn it off, it’s a pet peeve for a lot of people. Don’t expect your professor to bump up your grade that’s SO close to a 4.0 if your phone has been interrupting his lectures all semester.
2. Choose the right tone Customizing your phone is one of the coolest features out there, but remember to consider who’s listening. You probably don’t want your grandma to hear lyrics that will send her to an early grave, and you definitely don’t want to make a bad impression at work, especially as a new employee or an intern in a professional environment.
3. Don’t yell For some reason, there are people who feel it’s necessary to raise their voice 10 decibels every time they put a phone to their ear. News flash — nobody wants to hear about your boyfriend problems, especially on the bus riding to their 8 a.m. class. Be respectful.
4. Drive safely Text messaging when you drive isn’t as rude as it is downright dangerous. You might know which numbers correspond to which letters like the back of your hand, but even one wrong glance down can be the difference between a near-miss and an accident. If you have to send one on the road, have a friend do it, send a quick one out at the stoplight or pull over.
5. Excuse yourself There’s nothing more aggravating when you’re trying to have a conversation with someone and they start text messaging. And if you’re on a date? Forget it — nobody wants to sit there all evening while their date texts away to their roommates about the latest episode of “The Hills.” Keep it in your pocket, or at least excuse yourself.
6. Photo and video A lot of cell phones can do everything — call, text and take pictures and video. But if you’re going to snap photos or record a video, make sure you ask permission first. And by all means, don’t post embarrassing videos and pictures onto the Internet. Not only can it be a social disaster, it could lead to missed job opportunities for the person, and, if they’re an athlete, could even lead to a suspension or scholarship revocation.
Source: www.letstalk.com
Support student media!
Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Discussion
Share and discuss “The cutting edge” on social media.
