Despite their convenience and necessity, cell phones are now another means whereby we can irritate our fellow man. Theaters, restaurants, trains-even public toilets are no longer safe from the possibility of an untimely call. A fortnight ago I also heard someone who has a cell conversation in a toilet stall. At that moment I knew that if ever there was a reason for voicemail I had found.
Somehow cell phone ownership seems to affect common sense. And on a more serious note, poor label phone can ruin a career. You are committing the following sins?
Sin 1: Annoying or Cutesy Rings
Your lover-cha-cha, the latest pop single, voice-I do not want to hear any of these, nor anyone else. Have pity on the public when choosing a phone ring. Your latest Romeo saying, "Ooh, baby, baby" may be fun for your friends, but it'sa credibility wrecker at the office. Believe it or not, that really happened to my friend. He went to a business meeting and forgot to turn off the ringer. Halfway through the meeting, her purse started talking. He had a fancy ring that was a recording of her voice tell her how beautiful she was. Thank God he did not use his name, just like everyone else, she pretended she did not know the source of the mysterious voice.
Sin 2: Holding Court
"We just landed, and I'm waiting to get off the plane." Do I feel that at least four or five people every time I take a flight. Amid all the benign information that follows, what these rude cell phone users do not say is: "There is a brief, murderous looking woman standing next to me. I can say that she is going to beat me senseless speak loudly about anything on my phone. "People, please: if there is nowhere for the rest of us to go, think about whether you really need to have that conversation.
Sin 3: We Can Hear You
For whatever reason, many people talk out loud when I'm on the phone. Microphones are sensitive. The person called can hear. We do not need. Enough said.
Sin 4: Your help is ruin my conversation
In recent months, I saw signs of fast-food restaurants and retail stores that say something to the effect: "We are happy to help when it is done with the cell phone call." Not surprise me. Many times I've seen people talk on phones while in line (see Sin 2) and then not address or acknowledge the employees whose assistance they need. Simple courtesy will go a long way to get your way.
Sin 5: Taking a Call When a meeting
As the old saying goes, just because something can be done does not mean it should be done. If you call yourself or are participating only at the request of someone, invitation, or order, a scheduled meeting is not the time for phone calls. The rings are only intrusive, their answer is a breach of etiquette even worse. The message received from those at the meeting is that they are less important than the disembodied voice that passes the cell. Unless your intention is to make others feel insignificant (definitely not a cool move if your boss is waiting to get off the phone), then do not answer, turn it off and get it out of sight.
Sin 6: Are you talking to me?
With the invention of the phone hands-free was the double-edged sword of convenience and mistaken identity. Who among us has not been taken aback by the presence of another human being trawling the aisles of Wal-Mart while actively engaged in what, on initial inspection seems to be an animated discussion with himself? After giving this person, who is clearly having a psychotic episode, away, we realize that there is actually a simple headset attached to the skull of the person, but well hidden under a hat. At the risk of being mistaken for a pop singer or an air traffic controller who is away from work, leave the headset in the car.
Sin 7: Too much information
Discuss anything of a private nature that others within earshot might be able to hear is unwise on a number of counts. Think about it: you want your colleagues to know the results of your latest lab tests the doctor's office just called to share with you? or see your "dark side" when the contractor calls to tell you his work will take two more months and $ 2,000 more than he had originally stated? or listen to your travel agent has booked you on that cruise to Nassau for the same week that one should be allowed out for a surgery that so desperately need? Unless you want to raise a lot of questions and eyebrows, calls from those who probably have unpleasant, upsetting, loading or when you have total privacy information.
On a very serious note, too much information during a phone, while others are in your presence could cost you dearly. A friend recently shared with me his experience of standing behind a woman talking on her phone for a technician who came to his house to do some work while she was not going to be there. By the end of the call, my friend had learned the woman's name, address, neighborhood (complete with instructions on how to get there), and location of the spare key she had left for the engineer to come to his house. If he were so inclined, could reach the place of women before the technician and cleaned out, or worse.
Go and sin no more. These tips just might save your credibility, image, work, property - even your life.
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