The Cell Phone Has Changed — New Etiquette Needed

CWmike writes to share a recent manners-rant that has some great gems about how not to be "that guy" on a cell phone. What rules of engagement are absolutely necessary and what social penalties should become standard practice for repeat offenders? "It's easy to be rude with a cell phone. A visitor from another planet might conclude that rudeness is a cell phone's main purpose. Random, annoying ring tones go off unexpectedly. People talk too loudly on cell phones in public because of the challenge of holding a conversation in a noisy environment with someone who's not present. Cell phones need their own rules of etiquette, or we'll descend into social barbarism."

Comments

not sure which is worse

[Anonymous Coward]

Cellphones or 'social crusaders' who think they know what's best for everyone else. I think we have too many of them now in places of power. This is a far greater concern for me than the occasional annoying cellphone. The last thing we need is yet another stupid rule to obey that does little but reward over-sensitivity.

YOU ARE TOTALLY RIGHT

[spun]

1. It is NOT rude to talk on your cell phone in a public place eg on a train or bus or w/e. just like how it isnt rude to have a conversation with a real person there. It pisses me off that on some busses I take they say "please dont use cellphones, it may disturb others" when it doesnt say "people dont talk, it may disturb others". in fact, on a phone there's less talking to be disturbed bya s thre's only 1/2 the conversation.

TALKING ON A CELL PHONE IS THE SAME AS TALKING VERY LOUDLY WITH SOMEONE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.

Re:Phones.

[Obfuscant]

Why pay $10 so I can be distracted by self-absorbed morons who can't go 20 minutes without checking their messages?

If you are paying more attention to the people around you who are looking at their cellphones than to the movie, don't blame the people around you, blame your choice of movie.

I can't imagine why you'd be distracted by my pulling my cellphone out of my pocket and looking at it, unless you're ADHD or something. In that case, stay home.

Re:Rules 1 through 7 of using a Cell Phone

[Zero__Kelvin]

"talking on a cell phone is far more distracting than talking with a passenger."

You have clearly never seen my passengers tits

Re:Rules 1 through 7 of using a Cell Phone

[Zero__Kelvin]

Right. But the difference is that I really don't overestimate my abilities. I'm just that good. If you don't believe me ask the cops that failed to pull a rolling roadblock on me ;-)