How to Talk on a Cell Phone in Public

Cell phones have made life so much easier, allowing us to conduct business and talk to family and friends on the go. As easy as cell phones make life, they don't come without their own set of etiquette rules that should be followed so that you don't come off as rude while using your cell phone in public.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Be aware of those around you when you are using your cell phone in public. It is easy to feel like you are in your own world when you are talking on your cell phone, no matter where you may be. So, if you usually use swear words or have adult conversations on the phone, then you need to make sure that you pay extra attention to who is around you when you are talking on your cell phone in public. If there are children around you, then you should definitely avoid curse words and adult topics.

2. Keep your volume under control. If you are a loud talker, then you will need to learn how to speak quietly on the phone. The whole world isn't interested in your phone conversation, so the less of it they can hear, the better.

3. Think about how certain situations would make you feel. The Golden Rule still applies when you are using your cell phone in public. If you were a cashier at the store, how would it make you feel if someone was talking on their phone the whole time you were trying to offer them customer service? How would you feel if you were a driver that got cutoff by someone talking on their cell phone while driving? Ask yourself these kinds of questions so that you can keep your cell phone usage in check.

4. Find a place to rest whenever possible. Even walking through a grocery store while on your cell phone can lead to rude behavior on your part. Anything that keeps you from giving your full attention to the task at hand when there are others around can result in your being rude. If there is somewhere where you can sit or stand off to the side while you are on your phone, then do just that.

5. Ask yourself if it is really necessary for you to be on the phone at that moment. If there is a call that you can wait to make until you are at home, then wait to make the call. Walking around all day with a phone attached to your ear is a surefire way to aggravate at least a few people a day.

6. Don't drive and talk on your phone, especially without a hands-free set. Driving while talking on the phone is so dangerous, and driving while text messaging is absolutely unacceptable. For your safety and for the safety of the others that share the road with you, please wait until you are parked somewhere to make that call.

7. Don't make or take calls while you are out to dinner with others. It is so rude to be on the phone when you are at dinner with others. Think about how you would feel if someone invited you over to their house for dinner and then they proceeded to talk on the phone throughout the whole dinner. Chances are this would make you rather irritated as others will feel if you're on your phone.

8. Don't incessantly check your phone while out with others. Checking your cell phone repeatedly while you are out with others will leave them feeling like you have something better to do. In fact, it is a good idea to turn your cell phone off while you are out with others, unless someone might have to contact you for an emergency situation.

[masahiro]

on 3/17/2009 You are right, especially step eight. so many people are rude enough to talk and text during whole dinner with somebody. Good observation!