Cell Phone Etiquette
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While cell phones are great for staying in communication with family, friends, and colleagues, they are also a great cause of annoyance for bystanders. I was once sitting in a booth, trying to have a “date” with my husband, when our conversation was overshadowed by a loud-mouthed businessman discussing arrangements for his next trade show. My husband just smiled and shrugged his shoulders and continued to eat his meal. I, on the other hand, was quite annoyed. My husband and I rarely get a chance to have an evening alone and I didn’t enjoy it being overshadowed by the gentleman sitting next to us.

When using your cell phone in public, it’s important to keep the following rules of etiquette in mind:

1. Speak quietly. Keep your voice to a minimum. While it’s your prerogative to speak on your cell phone at all hours of the day or night, bystanders would rather not listen to your conversations.
   
   There is also no need to shout when using your cell phone. If you cannot hear your caller, turn the sound up on your cell phone because shouting will not allow you to hear the caller any better. If your listener cannot hear you, ask him/her to turn up the sound on his/her end. If neither of these resolutions work, move to another area or tell the caller you will call him/her back when you find a more reception-friendly area.
   
   
2. Use hands-free, voice activated devices. When driving in your vehicle, it’s best to keep all eyes and ears on the road at all times. A study conducted by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in July of 2005 discovered that drivers using cell phones were four times more likely to crash.
   
   
3. Pull over when driving. If you must stay on your cell phone for long periods of time, or to discuss important information, pull over to the side of the road or call the caller back when you’ve exited the freeway and have stopped in the nearest parking structure.
   
   
4. Step away from the public. When speaking on your cell phone in public areas, walk away from the crowd. Not only will you show those around you respect, but you’ll prevent eavesdroppers from obtaining private information that can later be used to do harm.
   
   
5. Turn on the vibrator. If you must leave your cell phone on when entering places of quiet, such as the movie theatre, museum, concerts, church service, memorials, funerals, or doctor’s office, turn the ringer off and the vibrator on.
   
   
6. Keep it professional. Business meetings are not the place to discuss personal issues. When entering a business meeting, turn off your cell phone and turn on your message service. Remember, if it’s an emergency, you can be reached through traditional channels, such as calling your place of business directly.
   
   
7. Set the phone aside. When giving directions, placing orders, paying for merchandise, or meeting up with others, don’t continue talking on your cell phone—say good-bye and turn it off. (And that includes text messaging!)
   
   
8. Don’t ditch your company. In our busy lifestyles, it’s rare to find the time to spend with friends, relatives, and co-workers; especially face-to-face. Don’t jeopardize that time by insulting your company by taking calls that aren’t of the utmost importance.
   
   
9. Stay off the pot. While you may think others cannot hear you use the bathroom or flush the toilet, the truth is they can. It’s just gross…next time you need to use the bathroom…think twice about taking the cell phone with you.
   
   
10. Don’t let it ring. If you’ve forgotten to turn your cell phone ringer off during quiet times or important meetings, don’t let it ring twenty times, hoping the other party will hang up. Apologize for forgetting to turn off the ringer, answer the call, tell the caller you’ll call back later, hang up, and then turn off your ringer.