Wherever there is a cell phone signal, there are rude users. Most crude people don't even realize what they're doing. It might be you?
Steps
Step 1. The First Principle:
It is not the responsibility of other people to manage the use of your mobile phone, it is your responsibility to use the mobile phone harmlessly. Note that "harmless" is not defined by what you expect others to tolerate, but by what others actually find offensive. Ignore this principle, and you are certainly rude.
Step 2. Immediately after the First Principle:
you must assume that anyone who asks you to turn down the volume of your cell phone (or audio player) or turn it off is in good faith, and you should respect their good faith. People have a reason to ask, and they're probably not trying to dominate you or stress you out or limit your God - grant the right to free expression. (For example, people with temporal lobe epilepsy may find that certain sounds trigger the seizure, and some people have sensorineural problems caused by extraneous noises that put them in serious difficulty, rather than a slight discomfort.)
Step 3. Stay away from other people while talking on the phone
If you can, keep a distance of at least 10 feet between you and anyone else when talking on the phone. Most people don't want to hear what you are saying.
Step 4. Try not to talk on the phone indoors, even if you are more than 10 meters away from anyone
Others can still hear you (because it's an enclosed space), and are usually forced to sit there and listen (and maybe even annoyed in some way).
Step 5. Don't speak too loudly
Generally you don't have to shout into the microphone to be heard on the other side. In fact, doing so often makes it harder for you to be understood. Also, yelling on the phone annoys the people around you.
Step 6. Don't put the phone on speakerphone
Just because many people don't want to hear your conversation, they don't want to hear the other person either.
Step 7. Don't talk about personal matters in public
Personal is just that: personal. If the caller wants to talk about personal things, tell them you'll call them back later, move to a place where you can have some privacy, or text them.
Step 8. Avoid multi-tasking
Avoid making phone calls while driving, shopping, at the bank, waiting in line, or anything that involves interacting with other people. In some situations you put your life and the lives of others in danger, while in others you may disturb some people.
Step 9. Know where not to use the phone
Some places are unsuitable for mobile phone use, so avoid talking on your mobile or ringing it while you are in the following places:
- Bath
- Elevator
- Hospital
- Waiting room
- Auditorium
- Taxi
- Bus
- Train
- During a meeting
- Library
- Museum
- Place of worship
- School
- Lesson
- Live show
- Funeral
- Marriage
- Cinema
- While visiting relatives
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Turn off your phone whenever asked when on a plane.
Or, in any case, in any other place where you could disturb people, unless it is important and you cannot go anywhere else
Step 10. Don't use your cell phone when having lunch with someone
Ideally, you should turn it off entirely. If you are expecting an important call, let the person you are with know in advance that you are expecting a call you need to receive. No matter how important it is, don't have a conversation at the table, walk away, follow step 1, and don't stay away longer than you would be about to go to the bathroom. Never send messages while you are at the table, even if the conversation with the other diner subsides. He will see you as disrespectful.
Step 11. Turn off your phone at the cinema
Even though the phone is vibrating, people can hear it in the silent moments of the movie. The light from the display is also very annoying. Don't look at the time, don't check the messages, just turn it off until the movie is over. If you receive an important call that you need to answer, leave the room before answering.
Step 12. Learn to text
When you're in an enclosed space, or can't be 10 meters away from other people, it's inappropriate to talk, but it's potentially acceptable to receive and send messages. In this case, keep in mind the following rules of etiquette for texting:
- Use the vibration function instead of the sound alert.
- Only text when you are still standing or sitting and away from others. Don't text when walking or driving.
- Do not text while doing something that requires attention, such as when you are waiting for the pedestrian sign at an intersection.
- Don't text while in a meeting or conference. You should give your full attention to the speaker.
- Limit the use of the phone when you meet with your friends. Some of them (with or without cell phones) may find it annoying and disrespectful.
- Avoid sending other messages that contain things you wouldn't say in real life. It is very difficult to express tone and sarcasm in text messages and emails, so be aware that some things may sound unusual or offensive. Never send a message that is sexual or that could be interpreted as a threat.
Advice
- Remember this is a guideline. Everyone has different expectations about the behavior to follow. Manage your situation accordingly.
- Not everyone cares much about cell phone manners, but many do. Some people don't feel disturbed at all if you talk on the phone while they're sitting next to you, while others hate it.
- Make sure there is no sound associated with the keys. While texting isn't annoying, the incessant sounds made by pressing each key can be nerve-wracking for others. On many phones the key tone can be raised, lowered, or disabled.
- Many phones have a side button that, when pressed, immediately mutes the ringer when you receive a call. If you accidentally leave the ringtone, try to silence your phone as soon as possible.
- There are some situations where you can just put your phone on silent, and others where it's best to leave it off. Put your phone on silent during meetings, dates and social occasions. Turn off your phone in very formal settings, such as luxury restaurants and especially religious gatherings.
- When you leave a voicemail message, speak clearly and as briefly as possible.
- If you live with roommates, turn off the ringer or turn the volume down when they sleep. If you always keep your cell phone 10 centimeters from your hand, you don't need to keep the ringer at full volume. Also, if you share a room, and your roommate is sleeping, consider keeping the 3m rule above to avoid yelling into the phone 10cm from their head.
- Moderate the volume of the ringtone. If you hold your phone at 30cm, ask yourself if you need to keep the volume at maximum level.
Warnings
- If you are in a doctor's office, hospital, or on an airplane, your phone could adversely affect the equipment. You should turn it off in these places. Alternatively, the phone may have a feature called Airplane Mode which prevents it from communicating with control towers, which is what bothers such equipment. You can't send or receive calls or messages, or stay connected online, but you can still use the camera, media player, calendar, or other features.
- Talking on the phone or texting while driving is dangerous, and in some places, illegal. Do not do it.
- Don't take pictures of other people without asking their permission. Never, under any circumstances, take or send sexually explicit photos.
- Keep in mind that using the bluetooth headset or headset while driving can be just as annoying as holding the phone. The human brain is not meant to focus on more than one thing at a time. If you are having a conversation with someone who is far away, your focus is not on driving. Be very careful, and opt for emergency use only.
