Don't you hate it when someone fails to follow cell phone etiquette or constantly uses his cell phone in public? I'm first going to mention that I've been guilty of both of these things and for that I am not proud of myself. It's a flaw of mine that I try to improve as much as I can because I feel like there is an appropriate time and place for cell phone use. I guess each person has his own idea of cell phone etiquette, but I believe that most people follow a general protocol. For example, I cannot stand it when I'm sitting in church right about to say the lord's prayer and I hear "Juicy" by Notorious B.I.G. As much as I love that song, I want to hear it on a Friday night when I'm hanging out with my friends and not when I'm trying to connect with my god. If listening to Lady Gaga helps you connect with your God then more power to you, but please do it on your own time and be respectful of the other people in the public place of worship. Another place where having your ring tone on is inappropriate would be in a meeting. There a fewer things I can stand less than when someone at a meeting is speaking and proceeds to be interrupted by "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga or some other loud ring tone. If not silent, at the very least one should put his cell phone on vibrate. I understand that in some extreme circumstances people will have family emergencies or something along those lines, but more often than not people keep their cell phones ringers on for convenience. More than being annoying though, I think these people are acting disrespectfully. It won't kill you to not use your cell phone for an hour or two, so try it out sometime. Most of the church services and meetings I attend last less than an hour and I personally find it relaxing to NOT have my cell phone with me during those times. In today's fast-paced and always connected society it's actually nice to have some time to yourself and allow yourself the opportunity to not be contacted. A final example that really gets on my nerves is in the movie theater. I came to the movie theater to watch the movie in the dark because it adds to the experience to me. This is especially terrible during a suspenseful or frightening part of the film. Someone lighting up the theater with his cell phone and clicking on buttons really takes away from the movie experience that I paid for. Personally, it's tough for me to concentrate on the movie when I'm surrounded by people sending text messages and on occasion answering a phone call. If it's so important that you must answer, please step outside and have respect for the other people in the theater.
An additional cell phone habit that I find frustrating is when someone is constantly using his cell phone in public. If someone is using it non-stop in a private venue then I don't really care because he's privately by himself and I don't even know the difference. In public though I just find it to be annoying. Many of us have probably experienced a time when we're randomly hanging out with friends and EVERYONE in the room is sending a text message except for you. Not only do you feel like you're the loser with no friends other than the ones you're sitting with, but you can't even have a conversation with someone because everyone is too busy sending a text message. It's just downright rude. Let me reiterate that I send text messages while I'm hanging out with my friends, but I try not to be excessive about it. Yes, we all have our own versions of "excessive" but I can barely stand when I'm trying to have a conversation with someone and he is text messaging then when he's done sending his message he looks up and goes, "what? Sorry I was texting." That is so frustrating to me. A related frustrating example is when you see someone in passing and you hear him say a generic phrase like, "hey how's it goin" and you respond because you think he's talking to you, but you then realize he's talking on his phone. This occurs more often with blue toothes (blue teeth? I honestly don't know but I feel stupid typing the word toothes) than with regular cell phones, but it still occurs with regular cell phones. This situation is similar to the misinterpreted wave I discussed in an earlier entry. It's nothing major but just an unfortunate social failure that makes you feel like an idiot. Oh well, worse things could happen. Having that in mind, please try to use courteous cell phone etiquette in the future and maybe turn your phone off once in while when you're at a social gathering. After all, what were you doing 10 years ago when most people didn't have cell phones? Exactly what you should have been doing: socializing with the people around you.
Until next time,
Zac
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Def with you on this one Zac. In church makes me the most mad. I am trying to reflect or listen to the speaker and you have ringtones blaring in the background. Very distracting.
ReplyDeleteI really think texting is a degenerate of society. People don't know how to speak voice to voice anymore. Like yourself and many of our peers, I text message, but there is a time and place for it.
ReplyDeleteWhat bothers me more than anything is when people give their phone priority over someone they are with. Say me and Carl are hanging out at the Fawn. How often do I hang out with Carl? Probably not often enough, which is why if you text me, I likely won't answer.
In going out with people (to bars, Pens games, dinner, etc) I always suggest that people let their text messages wait (at least avoid having a full-fledged conversation via text). On countless occasion the cellphone user will reply with something to the tune of "If I don't respond they will be mad at me." That irritates me to no end. Very rarely should an electronic conversation take priority over a real life one.
Couldn't agree more Zac you bring up very good points that I didn't never thought of. I have to agree with the Church one. My church service last an hour and people can not be respectful to God and those trying to connect with God for that 1 hour.
ReplyDeleteLets be honest here.The only person who really needs a cell phone is a transplant surgeon. There is a difference between NEED and convenience. The loudest cell phone users seem to have the most inane conversations. Enjoy the interaction right in front of you. Nature makes the prettiest sounds around think of waves breaking, birds singing, etc. Let people have dinner conversations. it is so rude to answer the cellphone in anothers presence.You might as well say hold on this may be something better for me!
ReplyDeleteSermon over.
I just called JT out on Part II of your note the other day.
ReplyDeleteAlso, take the safe route and say "Bluetooth devices" or "Bluetooth headsets."
Kudos to you on this piece. I am of the opinion that there should be etiquette classes for cells phones, blackberries etc. I find the conduct to be rude and disrespectful. People in meetings, golf courses, performances etc. It is a privilege, like many others that is abused in our culture. In some ways, I think it makes people feel like they are popular and more important than another. That is certainly not my position on this epidemic. I read once that is the worlds longest umbilical cord. I think it falls into a place where technological advancements have exceeded our social skills. Shame on all the violators and kudos to the author.
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