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Courtesy Among Cell Phone Users is Being Perfected

Posted on: Tuesday, 5 July 2005, 21:00 CDT

Jul. 3--They are everywhere. But the social mores of the cell phone, a relatively new technology, are still being established. That doesn't stop many from cutting their eyes in ire at those who may not show the highest level of respect while using their wireless devices in public.

There's the driver who nearly clips another car, because the cell phone between his ear and neck make it virtually impossible to check his blind spot. Or the woman at the grocery store who speaks so loudly into her phone, everyone in the produce department can hear about her day at work.

"It's like eating with your mouth open," said local etiquette coach Joyce Tidd. "No one wants to see the inside of your mouth. No one wants to hear all of your conversation."

There are about 81,000 cell phones in Columbus, according to what the city collects in monthly wireless surcharges. There are about 160 million cell phones in the United States by the U.S. Census Bureau's count.

Tidd, 73, has taught etiquette classes to teens and pre-teens for several years in Columbus. When asked if she had a cell phone, she answered, "Yes, of course. Doesn't everybody have one?"

She said cell phones do come in handy, but to be using a cell phone just to be using it is bad. She has taught her students to be considerate of others around them by not talking on their cell phone where people can hear their conversations.

"So many people abuse them and just talk every place," Tidd said. "It's just bad manners to use them when you don't really need them. It just looks kind of bad -- even going to the mall and seeing people on them -- they run into you and everything."

Public phoning When and where to use your cell phone was such a hot issue this year in the Muscogee County School District, the system's cell phone policy was altered.

Now, the school rule is not to use cell phones during the day without permission from the principal.

The big screen at movie theaters displays reminders before a movie starts asking people to turn off cell phones and to not talk during the show, but that doesn't stop ring tones from chiming and people from blabbing.

Nick Garris, 21, said his phone ringer is on the vibrate mode but never audible while in a movie theater. If the phone happens to vibrate, he has been known to answer it.

"It depends on who it is," Garris said.

For Brandon Sparks, 21, he'll pick up his phone for another reason.

"It depends on what movie it is," Sparks said.

If the movie is moving slowly and he's losing interest, he just might answer the phone.

Michelle Elliott, 18, becomes peeved when a cell phone starts ringing in the theater in the middle of a movie. It especially gets to her when she's at work and the person who is ordering food at her register is talking on a cell phone.

She said she often has to raise her voice to get them to pay attention to what she's doing.

"I need to have the full attention of people when they are ordering," said Elliott, who works in the food court at Peachtree Mall.

It used to be a major faux pas to use a cell phone in The Medical Center, because the wireless frequencies would interfere with the operation of clinical equipment, said hospital spokesman Kory Lundberg. But recent technology has all but alleviated that problem.

"We do continue to monitor what frequencies come into The Medical Center to ensure we don't have any interference issues," Lundberg said. "We still ask our customers and visitors to use appropriate cell phone etiquette."

Proper cell phone decorum includes using the cell phone only when necessary, talking at a reasonable volume level and putting the phone on vibrate, if the option is there, he said.

Jacqueline Whitmore is a national recognized expert on etiquette and protocol and founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach. She is also the phone etiquette spokesperson for the wireless phone company Sprint and has deemed July National Wireless Phone Courtesy Month.

She offers these steps to avoid offending others:

--Let your voicemail take your calls when you're in meetings, courtrooms, restaurants and other busy areas. If you must speak to the caller, discreetly excuse yourself and find a secluded area where you can talk.

--Speak in your regular conversational tone.

--Don't display anger during a public call.

--Conversations that are likely to be emotional should be held where they will not embarrass or intrude on others.

--Set the ringer on vibrate or turn off your phone in public places.

--Use discretion when discussing private matters or business in front of others. You never know who is within hearing range.

--Utilize text messaging for quick, discreet correspondence in meetings.

--Save walkie-talkie technology for brief conversations and turn off the speaker function in public venues.

--Practice wireless responsibility while driving. Don't make or answer calls while in heavy traffic or in hazardous driving conditions.

Source: Sprint.com

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Copyright (c) 2005, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga.

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FON,

Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

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