Cell Phone Etiquette

Anthy · Post by **Anthy** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 5:08 pm

What do *you*, the loyal readers and posters of SMU find to be especially irritating, rude, dangerous, acceptable, or decent in the area of cell-phone usage?

I, personally, feel that using a cell phone while driving is the most dangerous and rude gesture. Many studies have shown that using a hands-on cell phone while driving increases the risk of accidents and injury to both the driver and the others on the road.

I've also been in restaurants where I've seen two people at a table nearby... and one of them talked on the cell phone the entire time, ignoring the other.

yoshmaster5 · Post by **yoshmaster5** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 5:29 pm

I say it's pretty insane to use a cellphone while driving. basicly says: I want to get in a car accident!

Car accidents kill people. My mom's Dad was killed on one when she was 2 years old.
Her stepdad and mom died in a car accident when i was a month old.

Talking at a restruant when you are with another person IS awful anthy.

Movie Thearters too. when people start talking on a cellphone during a movie, it just disrupts EVERYONE there. Then again, if you are on Trigger Happy TV or something, that's the whole point of it...

The Moonie · Post by **The Moonie** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 6:28 pm

I hate it when people use their mobile phones (as we british call it) use them in lifts.

Post by **Tiff** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 7:19 pm

^^; I must admit i'm quite guilty of using a phone when I drive. However, I'm extremely careful when I do so, and I try not to do it too often. I would rather people didn't generalize those who use cell phones while driving, becuase not everybody just mindlessly talks on the phone without paying attention to the road. I make sure to slow my speed down significantly, and minimize other distractions, like the radio.

I hate when people talk on their cell phones while wondering around stores, unless they need to ask a legitimate question. (ie: I forgot what kind of jam you wanted. What size shoe does Mary wear again? etc.)

I hate when people leave their phones on AND TALK ON THEM in restaurants. People go to restaurants to have a nice night out, a night AWAY from annoyances. Movie theaters is another thing.

When peoples' ringers are so damn loud, they make you want to hurt things. Is there any reason for your ringer to be so loud that I can hear it on the other end of Wal-mart?

Slrjoecool · Post by **Slrjoecool** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:05 pm

Tiff wrote:I hate when people talk on their cell phones while wondering around stores, unless they need to ask a legitimate question.

*Dodges Tiff's wrath*

As stated in a previous thread, I do talk while walking through the store.

I definitely agree that people shouldn't use their phones at restautants or movie theaters. I know in most of the theaters, they do not allow cell phones, and will kick you out of the movie.

MonkeyDLuffy · Post by **MonkeyDLuffy** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:09 pm

I have used my cell phone twice in the car on the road, and both were to let my mom know I was going to be a little late for gas, and when I was lost.

I hate it when kids talk on their cell phones at school, during passing periods. I mean, the person they are talking to is probably 20 feet away from them, they don't need to talk on the damn phone! I love seeing a bunch of people by each other, talking on their phones, and I think "Why don't they all just talk to each other?"

All the other good ones were taken.

ParaKiss_Groupie · Post by **ParaKiss_Groupie** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:00 pm

Very seldom do I talk on my cell phone while driving. It has to be a special circumstance, i.e. someone important calls, like my mother, or if I'm going to a friend's house and s/he calls.

I don't talk on my cell phone in stores, though, unless I need to ask a question or unless someone important calls (as in the above scenario). I'll answer the phone, and if it's not super-important, then I tell the person that I'll call them back later.

I agree with everyone else about theaters and restaurants. But what really bugs me the most is whenever I'm in class. I can understand that you might need it for an important call, but please, put it on vibrate and if it goes off, leave the classroom.

Sailorasteroid · Post by **Sailorasteroid** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:02 pm

Now, I don't use my cellular phone while driving, because I know it's distracting to me, but I think if you can do both, go ahead. There ought not to be a law. What bothers me about the laws is that someday, when we have cars that all but drive themselves, and we're able to use portable phones, or watch dvds, et cetera, without a risk, that the anachronsitic laws will remain out of inertia.

I also don't see a need for a man to ever have his phone's ringer on. A woman who keeps her phone in her purse maybe can't feel it vibrate, but a man can always.

Now, talking on the phone during a movie or play is a breach of ettiquitte, I'll grant, but keeping it on vibrate, and running out of the theater to talk is ok by me.

Basically I think that ettiquite needs to keep a sense of pragmatism. People want to talk on their phones and generally you can't stop them. So it's best to get what we can out of people (Don't talk in theater/don't talk while driving/use vibrate) rather than what we can't.

Post by **Tiff** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:03 pm

ParaKiss_Groupie wrote:
I agree with everyone else about theaters and restaurants. But what really bugs me the most is whenever I'm in class. I can understand that you might need it for an important call, but please, put it on vibrate and if it goes off, leave the classroom.

I know! WTF! That irritates me so badly. And rather than shut off their phone right when it rings, they dig around in their purse for it, let it ring about four times, and then they dash out of the classroom to have their conversation. >.<

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:12 am

In church.

You know it gets bad when the beginning of every service includes the reader saying, "For the courtesy of others, please turn your pagers and cell phones off or silent." I mean, shouldn't this be one of the first things you think of when you come into God's house? It's one measly hour God's asking you to just put everything aside and listen to His teaching. Yet, there's always ONE person who's phone goes off during the readings, or the homily, or worse yet, during the times when we're asked to pray silently. THINK, people, think!

I always have my cellphone set to vibrate in class, and turn it off in theaters for fear that it'll suddenly go into loud mode. However, I do leave it on in the restaurant, in case someone needs to reach me about something important; I usually tell others about my plans, so if they call, I assume it's something important, and then GO OUTSIDE to deal with it. I agree with all of you; I hate when people use their phones while IN the restaurant, especially when they feel the need to raise their voices to speak. In grocery stores, I only use my phone to call around and make sure I have everything I need. Otherwise, I tend to leave it at home.

Jed-kun · Post by **Jed-kun** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 12:43 pm

Living so close to Tampa we have a lot of H2's [giant-ass cars that could kill you even if you hit IT while it was parked!] running around the streets... I REALLY HATE when those people talk on the phone because I've nearly gotten squished while driving around in my tinny little car like 2 or 3 times.

I don't mind if people use there phones in stores and resteraunts as long as they 1) arn't loud about it and 2) don't give me that evil look for talking to a person that's acctually there! However, I can't stand when people use there phones in waiting rooms of the dentist or doctors, I don't know why it's just really anoying.
If god ment for you to have somebody attached to your head 24/7 you would have been born a siamese[sp?] twin.

DreamEmpress · Post by **DreamEmpress** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:42 pm

Kids having cell phones in high school. Every time I saw that I thought for sure I must have been living in a episode of Clueless. No one needs to be on the phone during school. All the people you need to talk to are right there!

I can understand having one for asking a quick question or getting assistance during an emergency. That's logical. It's just a little frustrating to have to listen to someone's loud conversation on the bus or waiting in line at the grocery store. It just seems like the more mobile technology we get, the less social we become.

On everyone elses's points about locations....I totally agree.

I have one teacher who does a little dance everytime he hears someone's cell phone go off. After the first time he did that, no one left their phone on in class again.

Chibi Son Gokou · Post by **Chibi Son Gokou** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 9:01 pm

However, I can't stand when people use there phones in waiting rooms of the dentist or doctors, I don't know why it's just really anoying.

I somewhat disagree with this considering the fact that 1) There's really nothing better to do in the waiting room except read a magazine or watch whatever is on the TV if they have a TV in the waiting room, and 2) a lot of times people have to use their cell phones at doctor or dentist offices in order to get insurance information and whatnot, and they would rather you use a cell phone instead of tying up their phones when people are trying to call and make appointments. I had to do that, and I also had to use my phone to call in sick for work at least an hour ahead of time because I knew I was going to be waiting in the waiting room for a while.

I'm surprised that they're allowing cell phones in high schools now. I remember my high school banned that sort of stuff and if you were caught with it, you had it confiscated. But I also agree that it's stupid how people are calling each other when they're only 20 feet away. What's worse is I remember the afternoons trying to drive out of the parking lot of my high school. Just to give you an idea of what it's like, there are like 10 billion cars in the parking lot, one car can go through the gate at a time, and my high school is right off of a major US highway. Since there was no traffic light at the entrance/exit of our school, it took FOREVER to get out and traffic was cluttered, and wrecks occured constantly. Well one of the major reasons why wrecks occured because the stupid kids driving would be chatting with a cell phone in one hand and smoking a cigeratte in the other. It was insane.

What's pretty much worse than actual cell phones is the stupid cell phone advertisements. They're just as numerous as car commercials now and they're annoying IMO.

Jed-kun · Post by **Jed-kun** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 4:07 pm

Chibi Son Gokou wrote:2) a lot of times people have to use their cell phones at doctor or dentist offices in order to get insurance information and whatnot, and they would rather you use a cell phone instead of tying up their phones when people are trying to call and make appointments.

Good point, however, I'm specifically refering to long drawn out LOUD personal conversations. I was in the waiting room this one time and this woman was practically yelling on her cell phone "dude, she love's you, call her... no, she love's you, seriously, just call her... I don't know how you saw the situation but I don't think that's how it went down... no, dude, call her, seriously! [and so on for like 30 minutes]." It's bad enough that there are 20 strangers crammed into one tinny little office space, but to add to the discomfor by carrying on a CLEARLY private conversation really erks me. So really not all Waiting Room Cell Use bugs me, just most of it [since most of it's personal crap that can be delt with later (IMO).]

Akarui Kibuno · Post by **Akarui Kibuno** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:22 pm

Me has various stuff to say. So I'll list them, otherwise I'll confuse you all.

1) Me hates when people talk on their cell phone in their cars. Has been said in most messages, and I agree. I can't do that myself, just because I don't drive, so I'm lucky in a way

2) Me hates, in general, the loud conversation that everyone DOESN'T care about. Like, a few days ago, on the subway, a girl saying on the phone "You bastard, don't fuck with me, I hate you" and all that kind of "happy" things. I was horrified.

3) Cell phone in the movies. I always turn mine off.

4) Cell phone in restaurant. I usually turn mine off except when I know my mom might need me.

5) Cell phone in class. Though we can, at times, warn the teacher we are expecting a very important call and we'll be allowed to answer, but talk outside the class. Otherwise I just leave it on vibrator mode, cause I use it to see the clock, since I broke my watch.

I guess I pretty much agree with everyone, considering my post

jupiter23 · Post by **jupiter23** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:33 pm

I too agree with everyone, and must here point out that I am guilty of none of this, as I do not currently own a cell phone. However, speaking for the other side (not sticking up for it), some people absolutely love talking on the phone so much that they feel they must make others join their circle and they absolutely must keep the person on the phone, no matter how many times the person says they want to get off because they are in a restaurant or movie theater. I actually know people like that, and the person who is in the restaurant or movie theater and wants to get off has to sink down to their level of rudeness and hang up on them. Most, at that point, will turn off their phones, so they will not have to deal with the person again.

Sailor Moon · Post by **Sailor Moon** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:35 pm

Well, this is a car phone pet peeve, so I'm not sure if it counts.

Their are two certain things my dad does on his car phone that involves speaker phone.

One thing is when he calls someone up in the car and puts them on speaker phone while talking to them and having the entire family listen. Hello? How rude is that? What if they were telling you something personal? Do you think they want everyone in the car to hear? At least tell them. Another is when he puts his business meetings on speaker phone, so whoever's in the car has to listen to the entire meeting, and everything the meeting says is heard by everybody. I will be driving soon and I know that I will not let the person I am talking to on the phoen be heard by whoever's in the car.

jupiter23 · Post by **jupiter23** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:48 pm

They have headset devices for that sort of thing. Try talking your dad into getting one.

Sailor Sapphire · Post by **Sailor Sapphire** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 6:14 pm

I leave my phone on vibrate when I'm in class. That way, if someone important needed to call (which hasn't happened yet) I could ask the teacher to duck out of class to see who it was.

If my phone buzzes, I check the number to see who it is before I answer. If it's not a number I recognize, (i.e. my family and friends) I let it ring/buzz

If the mystery number leaves a voice mail, then I'll check to see who it is and what they want (a lot of these are wrong numbers in Spanish or a telemarketer)

Post by **Tiff** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:06 pm

Sailor Sapphire wrote:I leave my phone on vibrate when I'm in class. That way, if someone important needed to call (which hasn't happened yet) I could ask the teacher to duck out of class to see who it was.

If my phone buzzes, I check the number to see who it is before I answer. If it's not a number I recognize, (i.e. my family and friends) I let it ring/buzz

>.< that's just as annoying as the ring. I cannot stand hearing the loud "BZZZZ! BZZZZ! BZZZZ!", especially when someone just lets it go and acts as though they don't hear it. I personally think it's simple respect to the professor and your classmates to have the phone OFF. If it's that important, they'll leave a voice mail and you can call them back.