Some cell phone etiquette tips to follow

Feb 12, 2023 News

By: Richard Francois

Kaieteur News – The progressive march of technology has brought with it many life changing developments that have completely revolutionized the way we live in these modern times. One such technological invention is the cellular telephone or cell phones as they are commonly called.

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The convenience that cell phones provide to modern communication has enabled real-time global communication on a scale never before experienced. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) inclusive of the availability of high-speed internet, makes the cell phone an almost indispensible device.

While mobile phones play an essential part in modern civilization, there are some unintended consequences that arise particularly from the misuse of these devices.

Today, we focus on some of the conventional rules for proper cell phone use. This code-of-conduct or etiquette rules for proper cell phone use are not rooted in any sophisticated social scientific theories, but more so in common sense. A little thoughtfulness and awareness of your surroundings and the people around you should help you govern yourself in the proper manners when using your cell phones in public.

Here are few things you should practice when using your cell phones:

Check your ringtone settings

Be aware of your surroundings and set your ringtones accordingly. There are certain environments that absolutely require that you set your cell phone ringtones on vibrate or silent. Court, church, meetings, cinemas, conferences, libraries, galleries, hospitals and other such instances require that your cell phone on silent or vibrate.

Especially if your cell phone ringtone is of the obscene variety, all the more you should avoid it ringing in public.

Try to be discreet when speaking

When answering your cell phone, try to not shout. Your cell phone is not a megaphone and therefore you should not shout into it when speaking. Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. When speaking into your cell phone, always be cognizant of the fact that your conversation may be disturbing the people around you. Be aware that your voice may be interrupting the peaceful commuters on the bus or in the lobby or wherever you are.

Intimate conversations ought not to be had in front of people. It is better to excuse yourself and find some privacy for your intimate conversations or call back the person when it is convenient to have such conversations.

Of utmost importance, refrain from indecent language when speaking into your cell phone.

Avoid using your phone when in face-to-face conversations with others

While it may be tempting, try as much as possible to avoid texting during face-to-face conversations. It is also unacceptable to take calls when you are in the middle of a face-to-face conversation. If possible, politely excuse yourself so you can answer your cell phone in private.

Holding up your finger in the middle of a face-to-face conversation to answer your cell phone is considered rude and bad manners.

In the case of an emergency let the person you are having the face-to-face conversation with know: “I have to take this.” Otherwise, to do this flippantly to someone you are having a face-to-face conversation with kind of signifies to them: “you are less important than the person on the other end of this call, I’m just going to drop our face-to-face conversation to talk to someone else who isn’t even physically here; that’s how unimportant you truly are.”

Use text messages for informal communication

Text messages are great for conveying short, instant messages of an informal nature. Do not use them to communicate important information (formal) or anything that needs a lengthy explanation. If per chance you need to cancel an appointment, it is always better to make a phone call rather than send a text; your apologies will be better received this way. There is the modern habit of sending text messages with all sorts of contemporary abbreviations. It is important that you know your audience and are aware of what you are communicating and with who you are communicating. Use as much conventional grammar, spelling and punctuation as possible to make yourself clearly understood. The usual salutations and sign offs can be ignored, assuming the recipient knows who you are.

Do not use your cell phone while driving

Cell phone use while driving has been on the rise for some time in Guyana. More and more persons can be seen driving and using their cell phones. Apart from it being illegal, using a mobile phone behind the wheel significantly reduces your concentration. As a result, you may overlook important traffic signals and respond too slowly to unpredictable road conditions. Such circumstances can lead to a serious car accident.

Here are some safe driving tips from shell.com that can help you avoid an accident by not using your cell phone while driving:

Turn off your phone before starting your journey;
Take regular breaks and use the time to check messages or make calls;
Avoid using your mobile phone even with hands-free technology;
If you need to urgently make a call, find a safe place to park first;
Don’t call or text someone you know is driving;
If you call someone and they are driving, ask them to call back after their journey, when the car is parked in a safe place; and
Remember the only appropriate time to use a mobile phone is in an emergency, to dial the emergency services.

Practising good cell phone etiquette can help you conduct yourself in an appropriate manner when in public. You can also save yourself a lot of embarrassment if you pay heed to the points discussed today. There are many more points about cell phone etiquette that that can be useful to you. Feel free to do additional research on this topic and be sure to share the knowledge with your friends and family.