Employ cellphone etiquette for well-mannered modern life

Cellphones have invaded our lives!

It seems they are an indispensable part of our daily life. Whether it is in a meeting, at the office, on the street or in restaurants, classrooms, theaters – you find people on their cellphones.

Have you ever realized cellphones can be a nuisance if not used properly – for example, insensitive usage of cellphones in worship places and hospitals, where silence matters so much.

Your phone doesn’t have to be on all the time, and you don’t always have to answer it immediately. Learn to use your phone’s features like silent ring, vibrate and voicemail to handle the times when your phone would be bothering others if it rang and you answered it.

Cell phones are great for keeping in touch with friends and family and can be life savers in an emergency – but they can also be annoying if not used thoughtfully.

You might have unknowingly violated cellphone etiquette. As in any other social behavior, cellphone usage also demands certain kind of etiquette.

· Be in control of your phone; do not let it control you.

· Avoid texting in meetings, classes or a meeting at your job.

· Be courteous to those you are with; turn off your phone if it will be interrupting a conversation or activity.

· Put your phone away at the dinner table.

· End phone conversations when paying for purchases.

· Speak softly; never shout when talking on the phone.

· Never text or use a cellphone when driving.

· Turn off the phone in places such as a church, temple, library, theater or your table in a restaurant.

· Avoid talking on the phone in a waiting room; but if you must, leave the area first.

· Avoid using a phone on public transportation.

· Don’t take a call in the middle of a face-to-face conversation.

· Avoid talking about personal or confidential topics in a public place.

Etiquette is part of social life, and social life is an important part of human life. Good etiquette affects the impression you make on others. Human social life depends upon relationships, and etiquette is an important factor that has the capability of making or breaking these relationships.