Comments on: How to Use Your Cellular Phone Considerately

on 9/15/2008 Do not use caller ID to replace leaving a voice mail! If you don't leave a message, it meant you didn't want anything.

on 1/31/2006 If you don't already have one, purchase a folding cell phone - the kind that clips to your belt. Set it to vibrate only, and clip it to your belt. Now when you get an incoming call, you won't annoy others with self-important, "Hey look at me!" sounds from your phone. You will also save money by not downloading even more irritating ring tones. An added bonus is that you can feel your phone vibrate in a loud environment such as a nightclub or busy street, which would otherwise prevent you from hearing the ringer!
Seriously, we don't need to hear, nor are we impressed by, your fancy ring tones.

on 1/5/2006 Do not use your speaker phone. Period! I'm sure the person on the other end does not want to have others listen to their conversation. Especially when they think that they are talking to you privately. Others around you have no desire to listen to it either.

on 1/5/2006 One very simple thing to remember; before you take a call in a public area, how would you feel if you were the others around you at that time? Would you want to be the person behind you in the checkout lane who is having to wait longer because you are on your phone while checking out? Would you want to be the employee who is being ignored because you are on the phone? Would you want to be another customer who needs help having to wait longer because of you? And do you honestly want everyone else in the area to know what you are conversing about? And would you appreciate being run into by someone on a cell phone?

If you have no issues with being treated in that way, then feel free to behave in that way. But if you would not like others to treat you in that way, don't do it.

Treat others as you would want to be treated is the golden rule for a reason. Remember that when using your cell phone around others, if you would not want others doing to you something that you do, don't do it.

on 1/5/2006 Many hospitals now allow cell phone use, and they have not approved them on flights because they want you to use their phones and don't want you to disturb others.

on 1/5/2006 The next time you are trapped by that loud cell phone user, who wants to conduct all of his business in the seat next to you (never mind the polite request that they go elsewhere or call later), just take out a pen, grab a handy piece of paper and start taking notes. If they don't get the hint right away, ask them to repeat a few points for clarity.

on 1/5/2006 If the call is dropped, proper etiquette dictates that the person who originated the call is the one to call back. If you follow this rule of thumb you won't get the busy signal or end up on hold while you answer your other line to get the conversation going again!

on 1/5/2006 I don't know why, but I find it very annoying when people are talking on their cell phone while using a public restroom.

It is just rude. I am trying to use the restroom, and now I must listen to half of someone else's phone call.

For those of you that do this, please, stop it.

Also, I don't want to be talking to you when you are using the restroom, and I am sure no one else does either.
Just hang up the phone and call back later.

on 1/4/2006 Yes you may all talk in public, but if you're going to force me to hear your conversation, please be prepared to include me in it. If I must hear about Jon and Sheryl's relationship, then don't be offended when I ask about it, or how your doctor's appointment went. Think about who you're really saying this stuff to. You're the one who brought it up!

on 1/4/2006 Text messaging - preferably using a template - can be used where you respond to those calls that you may consider to be a potential important call.

-- page me important -- (to my secretary)
-- cant talk please page if urgent -- (home)

Otherwise, ignore all other calls.

on 1/4/2006 Working in a call center, where we get lots of calls from mobile users, one of the biggest things preventing me helping the customer quickly is simply being able to hear the person on the other end.

If there is a lot of background noise (a party, windy weather) then go elsewhere or call back later.

on 1/4/2006 While riding my bike, if I find a driver is not paying attention and either cuts me off or just doesn't see me there on my bike, in the great majority of cases, they had a cell phone in their hand. Granted some people don't pay attention even without a cell phone, but in the past month, I started tracking it and every time someone cut me off while on my bike, they were on the phone. The one thing they're supposed to be doing while driving a vehicle is -- wait, here it comes -- driving. It will help me as well as you live a few years longer.

on 1/4/2006 If you are in a public place, such as a restaurant, grocery store, theater, etc., there is no need to be on your cell phone for any reason. If you feel that the incoming call is important, step into an area where you are not likely to disturb anyone, preferably the sidewalk or street.

We survived for many years without cell phones, you can survive a short time period without yours.

on 1/4/2006 Some cell phones do not provide enough side tone (some of your voice sent back to you in the ear piece so you can tell that it is working) and thus people subconsciously speak louder, thinking that the person on the other end of the call can't hear them well either. Don't do this. Cell phone microphones usually work very well and when you talk too loudly you're just annoying the people around you.

on 1/4/2006 As a librarian of a small academic institution, I constantly encounter young people with cell phones. As a twenty-something myself, I am shocked at those in their late teens or very early twenties who know nothing about cell phone etiquette. I get that you feel your phone is an extension of the side of your head. I understand that your life is very busy, so when calls from Mom or Dad or your best friend from home come in, you want to take them. But please, if you have to have your cell phone on in the library, turn it to vibrate. And when you answer, leave the quiet study area. Go outside. Step into a lobby or hallway. Don't stand in the middle of the building pacing back and forth while you scream "What? I can't hear you!" at the top of your lungs, because you have bad reception. You're in a 3-story concrete building, for crying out loud! Your voice will carry in a large facility with high ceilings. Others are trying to study, and they don't need to hear about that great party last night, or how you can't believe that Billy actually asked out Sue. And if I, as the librarian, ask you to step outside to conduct your conversation, do not role your eyes at me and sigh, then continue to talk on your phone. I am happy that you feel comfortable using the library, but your phone conversation can be very disruptive to other students, and I have to ensure that our library is a quiet place where students can conduct research away from dorms.