For National Cell Phone Courtesy Month, here are Etiquetteer’s Top Ten Guidelines for Cell Phone Etiquette:
No one else should have to hear your phone conversation. Let’s say that again, together: no one else should have to hear your phone conversation. That means not putting your caller on speaker just because you can hear better when you’re out in public. This is especially true in places from which no one can escape, like elevators, public transportation, restaurants, and the jury pool. Use distance (Verizon recommends at least ten feet) and/or earbuds to keep your chatter to yourself.
No one cares about your musical choices either. If you are using your smartphone to play music or podcasts, use earbuds. There are no exceptions to this rule.
That also includes children’s games. When your child is using your phone to play a game with annoying quaintsy-waintsy music or other sound effects, earbuds are essential. Yes, it’s important it is to keep your child occupied. That still doesn’t mean everyone around you needs to hear your child’s game.
Private information should remain private. If you can be overheard, it’s best not to go into detail about medical, financial, emotional, political, or business difficulties.
Avoid using your phone while in motion, for instance on escalators (especially irritating), staircases, and sidewalks. Concentrating on social media or even just talking can lead you to slow down or stop, inconveniencing people around you. That’s rude; stop it at once.
Now matter how excited you might be about a stage performance, your phone is not a projectile. Never throw your phone at anyone or anything, no matter how you feel. Your phone is a communications device, but that is not how to communicate with it.
Show respect to the people you’re with by not taking calls in front of them, and by ending them quickly when they can’t be avoided. Etiquetteer can’t say it enough: be with the people with you! If you know you expect an unavoidable call (from the hospital, for instance), say so up front when you first greet your companions.
This is just as important with cashiers and service personnel. Get off the phone entirely before you approach the counter. Cashiers are people, too, and they deserve the respect of your full attention while they serve you. So do the people behind you in line. (A reader once shared a traumatizing example.)
Do keep your voice down. If you can’t be heard at the the other end of the phone without yelling, it’s a sign that you should postpone your conversation until you’re someplace else. This seems to happen a lot on public transportation . . .
Enunciate. You’ll be better understood without yelling if you take the time to enunciate your words correctly.
