Mobile phone manners

It’s my observation that shortly after the mobile phone was introduced to society, we rewrote the book on manners. Here are seven things about mobile phone manners that really set me off:

Checking for and responding to every call and text immediately doesn’t make you important and indispensable nor does it make you look important and indispensable. It does make you seem like a person who can’t stand to be on their own for five minutes. The off button is the most important feature of your phone – use it regularly.

It’s hard to believe, but there are some places where it is inappropriate to hear mobile phone rings/beeps and alerts. At the top of my list are restaurants, churches, movie theatres, restaurants, hospitals and did I mention – restaurants? Once again the key here is utilising the oft-forgotten off button or silent mode.

Don’t answer/make calls at the same time you are ordering your coffee or lunch. The person trying to take your order thinks you’re an idiot, and so does everyone else in the queue.

Texting has its benefits, but it’s not the medium for cancelling work meetings, social dates or relationships. It’s an easy out for those who can’t be bothered explaining themselves or having a difficult conversation. It is however, brilliant for confirming both work and social appointments

Ringtones – Anything sounding vaguely like an actual ring is acceptable. Most music clips don’t make the grade, only for the fact that the tinny quality of the phone detracts seriously from he enjoyment of the actual music. There’s no question that I would love to hear a three second riff from Rhianna’s latest (particularly but not limited to – Under my um-ber-ellaaaa, um-ber-ellaaaa , um-ber-ellaaaa) but the phone just doesn’t do it justice.

The obvious and clear exception to this is Who Let the Dogs Out, which should be installed as a default ring on all mobiles.

Under no circumstances should you use the speaker phone functionality when other people are within hearing distance. This is doubly important for any personal calls. There are no circumstances under which we want to know about the inner workings of your family feuds or current status of your relationships

Never drink and dial or drink and text – the risk of saying something you’ll regret, or something that is actually true but you never intended the other person to know – is extremely high.

Have you got any more unacceptable mobile phone manners to add?

Come to Flying Solo LIVE! to see Megan Tough present Mastering the art of delegation
Wednesday 17 September, 2008 at The Australian Technology Park, Sydney.

Megan Tough runs Complete Potential, a company that helps businesses solve their strategy and people problems. She loves being a solopreneur, and when she doesn't have her nose to the grindstone, is fulfilling her other passion of fitness and health.

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Re Megan Tough's article about mobile phone manners: In my opinion, using a mobile phone in front of anybody else, without at least excusing youself or apologising in advance, indicates a complete lack of courtesy and respect for the other person. Anybody who has sat and looked at their hands for a time will know exactly what I mean! I don't know what the law is like in Australia, but my husband regularly speaks/texts when he's driving at high speed too... Jill Gerrish from Monchique, Portugal
Texting while driving is against our laws here Jill. Best tell your husband he is dividing his attention dangerously!! Megan from Sydney
Megan can I add to #2, in a training/class/seminar room when I am teaching MYOB ~ please don't makes calls or text. It is distracting for those around you trying to learn & for me the presenter. Jump up take a break and go outside. Heather Smith from BRISBANE
I got so fed up of the flowery default ringtones on my new mobile, so I sought out one that just went 'ring ring'. I chose to buy one off one of those premium lines. It was called 'ring ring'. Imagine my dismay when I received a call and heard Abba!!!! "Ring Ring, why don't you give me a call!" What a waste of a dollar. I feel 100 years old when I say it, but is a 'normal' ringtone too much to ask from Nokia et al? Sam Leader from Sydney | Read my articles
Heather - when I'm in training, I absolutely refuse to let people text. I always make sure at the beginning of the session I make my feelings clear to turn phones off completely - not silent or vibrate. They give me dirty looks but I don't care Megan from Sydney
I work at a college, and just today, I went on a 5 minute rant about this. I even threatened to fire her (jokingly), if I ever caught her doing this:
Using the phone IN THE BATHROOM! Outside and INSIDE the stalls.
I even overheard one girl talking to a business contact while, well, you know. Unbelievable. C. Ray from Poughkeepsie, NY

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