Cell Phones

[DavidB]

A few months ago I got my oldest son his first cell phone. He's 15. I'm finding myself having to teach the young lad "cell phone manners", which to me seemed pretty obvious, but, maybe not. Here are the things I keep hammering on my son:

1. Unless you are expecting the have an emergency call come in, turn your phone off when you are at the movies, in church, at meetings, in a restaurant, etc.

2. Don't use your Bluetooth headset unless you're driving or really need to be hands-free.

3. Use a simple ring tone and beware of what the ringtone you choose may say about you!

4. Use an inside voice when speaking on the cell phone in public.

5. Don't interact with others while you're on the phone... it's rude to the person on the other end of the phone!

6. If other people are around when a call comes in, excuse yourself before taking the call.

7. Don't talk and drive in city traffic! I'm guilty of this, but try to keep it to a minimum. Can't tell you how many "close calls" I've had because i was on the phone.

What am I missing?

[calgarydetail]

if he is going to have his phone is school ( or meetings for that matter) vibrate is agreat idea. It still allows texts and calls to come in but does not disturb anyone.
I know i keep my phone on vibrate all the time so I never forget to turn it down or off when needed.

[RDAVEX7]

Good points about cell phones, also texting or email while youre in a face to face conversation. Im guilty of this myself and it makes people feel like they dont have your full attention. My phone has become my life line to the point where I will answer it at the dinner table because im so worried about missing a important call or a customer. I have to stop this and my wife doesnt like it at all.

Im posting from my phone right now and I carry my laptop every where I go so if any one of them were stolen or lost I would feel naked.

[DavidB]

Originally Posted by calgarydetail

I know i keep my phone on vibrate all the time so I never forget to turn it down or off when needed.

I do the same. I'm not fond of ringers.

[bigfish528]

Dave you may one of the few people trying to instill manners for cell phones I wish more people would follow your list.

[DavidB]

Originally Posted by RDAVEX7

Good points about cell phones, also texting or email while youre in a face to face conversation. Im guilty of this myself and it makes people feel like they dont have your full attention.

This is a very good point. In fact, if I'm going out, I rarely take my phone with me at all. The person/people I'm out with deserve my full attention.

[weekendwarrior]

I don't know where this fits in (or if it does), occasionally I dial a wrong number, and the person's voice mail picks up, and I then realize it was a wrong number, so I hang up. Every once in a while, some self-absorbed person will call back from my misdial (from their caller id), and start demanding to know who I am, and why I called them.

[pharmboyrx]

I had a lady on her cell come through my drive-thru at Walgreens to pick up a Rx for Flagyl. I tried to tell her that if she consumes alcohol with this medication it will make her very sick. She held up her phone and goes, "can't you see i'm talking to someone? Just give me my medicine."

She wasn't too happy that I refused to sell it to her until she put the phone down and listened to me. I can't believe people's rudeness sometimes. Would she talk on the phone during a doctor's visit?

[Accumulator]

My wife and I simply never use our cells unless it's an emergency (or at least something of unusual urgency). I still tell people to "write me a letter". But OK, we're retired so I guess that's different from people who need to speak with customers/clients.

But to me, cellphones/etc. seem a lot like electronic leashes. When friends come over, it seems like their kids/spouses/whoever call for no good reason and they feel like they *must* take the call even though it's never anything that needs immediate attention.

As far as taking it with you, I *do* think that's a good idea. It's just like always carrying your [whatever your everyday carry stuff is], and with today's technology allowing you to always have communication capability, well, better to have it and not need it..

DavidB- Good list I can't for the life of me understand why people think cellphones are immune from the laws of common courtesy

pharmboyrx- Good for you too I bet few pharmacists are that conscientious.

[DavidB]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

I can't for the life of me understand why people think cellphones are immune from the laws of common courtesy

Because the world has changed to "It's All About ME!"

[Accumulator]

DavidB- Oh yeah, I keep forgetting

Somewhat related to this topic, I was just reading (on another forum where very serious people discuss serious stuff) about how little privacy you really have when using a cell. It's not the old "guy with a scanner" concern, in some ways it's a whole lot worse than that. The stuff govt. guys can do with/to your cell is right out of science fiction.

Never say anything on a cell phone that you wouldn't want somebody to hear. If you have reason to be really paranoid, take the battery out of it when you're not using it.

[DaGonz]

On this same note...

On one of the last calls I ran as a Captain on an engine company, we were returning to quarters when the driver of the Engine stated "Cap... take a look at this idiot..."

He was driving his car, texting on his Blackberry and steering with his elbows!

He was weaving and out of his lane and Dave ( the driver of the Engine) said "Cap, I think he's going to hit us!"

I turned to Dave and Said "well, let him know we are here..."

It's amazing how quickly a pair of Grover air horns can get one's attention....

The Blackberry went into the air, the driver gripped the steering wheel with both hands for second, then flipped us "the flying fickle finger of fate"...