As a society, we have become upon our various, portable, electronic devices. If you doubt this, try finding a pay phone these days! Although cell phones and other portable electronic devices connect us to the outside world, they can also alienate us. And, who hasn't been irritated by someone else using one of these gadgets? Cell phone users that annoy others are as common as house plants. When you talk on a cell phone, you naturally tend to raise your voice and everyone around you can hear everything you are saying. When you have your private conversations in public places, you are bound to annoy an unintentional) audience. I have been subjected to angry fights between lover, stock tips, teenage girl talk, a woman who couldn't stop talking on her phone even at a movie, and the "too-much-information" details of a man's prostate surgery, simply because I had to be near these people on their cell phones. The mere sound of a ring tone can be obnoxious, these days. These rings are downloadable and often, supposedly unique, but so many people have the same ones, you can' tell them apart. At the sound of a ring tone, it is amusing to watch a number people fumbling for their phones, sure that the call is for them! And there's a safety issue too: I've seen people literally walk into walls, into oncoming traffic, and worse, swerve on the highway , because they are distracted by chatting on their cell phones! Another step forward in communications, and even more addictive, are cell phone/email/pda hybrids. Some Blackberry users become so attached to checking their little screen for Emails that they're called "CrackBerries." "It's a bit like playing the slot machine--you never know when something important will show up in email and I don't want to miss it." explained one habitual user. Since so much of the email the average person receives is spam, anyway, is this really a good use of time? Guests at a recent wedding were treated to the sight of a groomsman peeking at his Email during the ceremony! In times past, if you spied someone singing or talking to himself on the street, you'd assume s/he had a mental problem. These days, a person yelling to no one in particular is just likely to be using an earpiece, hooked into their phone or MP3 player. But who really wants to hear someone yelling out a song in public? Men and women, boys and girls--LISTEN UP! The rules of behavior "in public" are not the same as hanging out at home. You are sharing space with other people and you can and will disturb them as they will surely disturb you. The next time you use your electronic devices, consider: if you "do unto others" the world will be a more pleasant place to live in. If we ignore the rules of electronics etiquette, we are contributing to a lifestyle where everyone is rude and annoying, simply because we just don't care!! You can be part of the solution. The following "Advice Sisters" Electronic Etiquette tips are to remind you of the basic courtesies we should be extending to one another (feel free to share them): Electronics Etiquette Basics DO: Keep your voice down! In a public place that your conversation (or singing) is going to be heard by everyone around you within listening distance. If you must talk on your phone in public, find the most private place you can (e.g. hallway, rest room, lobby) or access one of the new, "cell phone booths" cropping up in hotels and restaurants. DO: Watch where you are going! Electronic devices distract you. If at all possible, remain stationery when you're using an electronic device, or you risk hurting yourself, or someone else. DO: Put your device on "mute" at public events (ot least put the ringer on vibrate). Never talk on the phone where your conversation is guaranteed to compete with whatever entertainment or activity is going on around you. If you are at a wedding or funeral, or other formal ceremony, leave that device in your pocket until the activity is completed! DO: Keep strong personal tastes out of the public arena when choosing your ring tone. Racist, pornographic, or foul-mouthed lyrics might not offend you, but they probably will) offend most other people who are subjected to them. DO: Tell your caller right away if the reception is poor or if you are in a location where it's noisy and you really can't talk. Head for a quiet, private place as quickly as you can and/or call back (see #1 'DO" above). DO: Apologize if you must take a phone call in the company of others. If you must deal with something immediately, do it quickly and discreetly as possible. Even better, excuse yourself and find a quiet place to deal with it in private. DO: Clean your phone and your headset occasionally. There's nothing more disgusting than a device covered with of ear....you get the idea. If you share your phone, clean the receiver with antibacterial wipes too, especially if you have a cold. If you don't, you're spreading your germs around, and you could possibly re-infect yourself as well. DO: Remember that everything you say can and will be heard by those around you. If you are talking about something intimate, or you're planning a jewel heist, a conversation (of any type) in a public place is definitely not advised! DO: Share your electronic photos, but don't force anyone to scroll through dozens of them. Pick out just a few to share and don't believe anyone who wants to see a dozen, more! When sharing an MP3 player, save your headphones from being ripped in half by a sudden jolt, by getting a headphone multiplier that lets you plug two different headphone sets into one device. DON'T: Put someone on hold for 'just a moment', which turns into longer than 60 seconds. If someone does this to you, don't feel bad about hanging up. DON'T: Answer the phone with anything besides "Hello" or another polite, basic phone salutation. You will not impress anyone with "Whassup?" or any other familiar slang. First impressions count, and they are lasting--you never know who might be calling you. DON'T Leave long, complicated voice mail messages said so quickly you send the listener scrambling for pen and pad to get all the information. If you don't reach the caller you'll have to repeat what you said anyway, so it is better just leave your name, date, time and a brief reason for your call. DON'T: Walk, cross the street, drive a car, or spend all of your time attached to your cell phone, blackberry, or MP3. It is dangerous to you, and to others. Take time to look at your surroundings, and treat all of your senses to the wonderful world around you. DON'T: Say to the person you are with "this will only take a moment" and then proceed to have a 10 minutes phone conversation or type furiously on your blackberry, while they sit, and wait, and look into space (and probably wonder why they are with you at all). DON'T: Speak in a monotone, or yell, mumble, whisper under your breath, have two conversations at once, or curse. Definitely do not have an argument (on your cell phone in public). It is not only rude and annoying, it makes you look threatening and crazy. If your conversation is deteriorating into a fight, hang up and cool off. This is good advice (cell phone or not) whenever an argument gets out of control. DON'T: Cover the mouthpiece of the phone with your hand and say something private to another person (your hands are not effective muting devices). .Drink, eat, smoke, pop your chewing gum or perform any other audible tasks while you are talking on the phone. Your caller really can hear you shuffling your papers, washing the dishes or flushing the toilet! Each noise is magnified and is really disgusting! DON'T: Plug all of the electronic device's battery chargers in your bedroom. Keep this room a safe, restful haven from electronic communications (unless it's the only outlet in the house). Take the time to truly unplug, every day.
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Dealing With Electronic Devices
a great online resource for advice...