Last week while standing in line at a local fast food restaurant, minding my own business I might add, I was forced to listen to another customer who was also in line talking on her cell phone; the conversation went something like this: “So what he do with my $1,500.00? Now ya see, girl I work to hard for my money! So what about the $50 I give him to go to the washhouse? Girl he’n spend my money blah blah blah”….
Now if the grammar wasn’t bad enough, imagine the neck moving, hand raising theatrical performance that the other customers and I had to endure during this three to four (3-4 ) minute conversation.
I wanted to scream “sista girl”, in addition to Toastmaster you need some cell phone etiquette, but like the other customers I didn’t dare open my mouth. Instead we rolled our eyes and shook our heads hoping that this young woman by some miracle would understand the signals that we were sending her way.
Sadly this young woman is not the only perpetrator of improper cell phone etiquette. This lack of civility can be seen all around town and what amazes me is that the offenders see nothing wrong with divulging personal and confidential information via their cell phones in a public forum.
If this rude and insensitive behavior continues, can you imagine what society will be like in 2010 and beyond when over one billion cell phones would have been sold and now has the potential of being owned and operated by the uncouth? Surely here at home Batelco will soon run out of subscribers because to be honest I don’t know anyone who doesn’t own a cell phone. Then just as I was pondering that thought my eight year old niece came up to me and said “Aunty you could buy me a cell phone for Christmas please?”
Houston we have a problem!
To help expedite a return to civility, please adhere to the 10 commandments of cell phone etiquette listed below and teach your children to do the same.
Commandment # 1: Thou shalt not subject defenseless strangers to your loud conversations in public places. If thou must use thy phone, remember to use thy “soft voice”, or try to maintain a 10 foot zone from others while talking.
Commandment # 2: As a professional thou must consider thy brand at all time remembering that thou will only have one chance to make a positive first impression. In that vein thou shalt not ask thy teenage children to program thy cell phone with ring tones that are not age appropriate or in line with thine personal image or profession. In addition thou art strictly forbidden to set the volume of thy cell phone to its highest level (especially if thou hath selected annoying ring tones or distorted songs for thy ring tone) then purposely allow thy phone to ring several times before thou answereth it, because thou want other people to notice thee. Thou art hereby commanded to GROW UP!
Commandment # 3: Thou shall turn off or put thy cell phone on silent when thou art in church, in a meeting, in the library, at the doctors office, at the movies, in an interview, attending a wedding or funeral etc. While on a date thou are strictly forbidden from texting, constantly checking your blackberry messages or answering any calls that are not a matter of national security! This is a cardinal sin that will cause you to be kicked out of heaven.
Commandment # 4: Thy cell phone is not an accessory. Thou shall not wear thy cell phone on thy belt at work and stop in the middle of serving a customer to answer it. Worst of all thou shall not stop in the middle of a business presentation to answer thy phone. This offense will result in immediate loss of business for your organization and possible termination of thy services.
Commandment # 5: Thou shall not take thine eyes off the road to search for thy ringing cell phone in thy bag. Neither shall thou attempt to dial a number from thy cell phone while driving. This is very serious offense and if caught in the act thou shall be charged with “almost causing an accident while attempting to use cell phone”.
Commandment # 6: Thou shall not coveth thy neighbors new iPhone, Palm Treo, Blackberry or any other “cool” phone that cost more than thy weekly paycheck. Thou shall learn to be content and “live within thy means.”
Commandment # 7: If thou cannot afford to keep minutes on thy cell phone, thou shall refrain from purchasing the phone until thou art financially equipped to maintain it. Be warned if thou art self employed and uses thy cell phone as thy primary means of contact, failing to keep minutes on thy phone will cause potential clients to perceive thee as unreliable and unprofessional.
Commandment # 8: Thou shall not find a “lost” cell phone and claim it as thine own. This is stealing. Instead thou shall immediately contact the rightful owner and make arrangements to have the cell phone returned.
Commandment # 9: Thou shall not return a miss call to an identified number and ask “were you trying to reach someone at this number.” To do such a thing will only cause thou to sound desperate and others will question thine unhealthy attachment to thy cell phone.
Commandment # 10: Technology is a powerful tool. Thou shall be careful not to leave any voice messages that can be used against thee in a court of law. At the same time thou should also be mindful that most cell phones come equipped with camera and video features. Beware, lest thou be caught in a compromising position that thou cannot explain.
