By Leahcim Semaj, Ph.D. Change Agent, ContributorCELL PHONES are being banned, regulated, legislated, and even jammed in more and more places. We need to mind our manners and use our cell phones responsibly NOW before we find ourselves outside in the cold sneaking a cell phone call the way smokers to whom rude cell phone users have been compared are now required to sneak a cigarette. It's not a
trivial matter.
When e-mail exploded on the scene people had to start to learn some basic dos and don'ts. For example, if you carbon copy the boss on an e-mail message to a colleague, it means that you are
serious.
No one teaches us these things in company training seminars; they're just learned on the job. Well, I've reached the point with cell phones where I feel the need to lay down the law. There are some real
abuses of wireless technology being perpetrated all around us; and the time has come to create some social order out of the cell phone chaos. This is by no means an exhaustive list simply because, as the technology evolves, new annoying traits will surely emerge.
Dan Broidy published the first Ten Commandments in Info World. As a public service, we are providing this revised and expanded edition, according to Semaj.
THE 16 CELL PHONE COMMANDMENTS
1. Thou shalt not subject defenceless onlookers to cell phone conversations. When people cannot escape the banality of your conversation on a plane, on a train, on a bus, in a cab, or at the dinner table spare them.
2. Thou shalt keep thy conversation at a civil and pleasant tone. Certain types of conversations may require or inspire some tough talk or emotional tones. Reserve these conversations for more private
settings.
3. Thou shalt not fire employees, chastise employees, argue with a boss or fight with a spouse or teenager on mobile phones in
public settings.
4. Thou shalt not set thy ringer to play "Chi-Chi Man" every time thy phone rings. Or Beethoven's Fifth, or "Get Your Freak On" or any other annoying melody. Is it not enough that phones go off every other second?
5. Thou shalt turn thy cell phone off during public performances. "When the lights go out, the phones go off." Palace Amusement has had to install equipment to block cell calls.
6. Thou shalt not wear more than two wireless devices on thy belt. This hasn't become a big problem yet. But with plenty of technojockeys sporting pagers and phones, Batman-esque utility belts are sure to follow. Let's nip this one in the bud.
7. Thou shalt not dial while driving. In all seriousness, this madness has to stop. Last week New York passed a law banning the use of cells phone in vehicles without hand-free kits or earpieces. To date 42 other states are considering legislation. What are we waiting for?
AT WORK
8. Thou shalt be very considerate if you are allowed to keep your cell phone on at work. Put phone on silent or vibrate, we don't need one more ringing phone disturbing the rest of the office. Limit calls to emergencies or to one minute or less, remember you are not on your own time.
9. Thou shalt not conduct a cell phone conversation with one client in front of another. Remember that the person that you are with usually take priority over a phone call. Having a conversation in their presence can be viewed as being rude and make the person feel unimportant, and make you look bad.
IN PUBLIC
10. Thou shalt not invade a stranger's personal space; it can make them feel uncomfortable. You should try to speak in places 10-20 feet or more away from the closest person. If there is no private, separate space available, you should wait to speak on the phone until a good space is available. Sensitivity to other people's needs and comforts is a sign of good character. Crowded rooms, lines and tight hallways are not good places to carry on phone conversations. If you're expecting an important message, but need to be in a public area, use text
messaging.
11. Thou shalt not wear thy earpiece in the presence of thy friends. This is not unlike being on the phone and carrying on another conversation with someone who is physically in your presence. No one knows if you're here or there.
12. Thou shalt not speak louder on thy cell phone than thou would on any other phone. These things have incredibly sensitive microphones, and it's gotten to the point where I can tell if someone is calling me from a cell because of the way they are talking, not how it sounds. The goal is to communicate effectively without anybody else noticing or caring.
13. Thou shalt not grow too attached to thy cell phone. For obvious reasons, a dependency on constant communication is not healthy.
14. Thou shalt not attempt to impress with thy cell phone. A cell phone no longer impresses in any way. When it is used for that reason, said user can be immediately identified as a Bhutto.
STUDENTS
15. Thou shalt turn off cell phones while is class.
16. Thou shalt be conscious of the financial responsibilities associated with using your cell phone. Utilise your cell phone within your means to pay for your monthly usage.
We welcome new travellers
If you are joining this weekly quest for the first time, you can easily catch up on the past instalments by logging on to www.jobbank-ja.com. On the Download Page, you will find all the back articles. You may also leave your comments or questions on the message board at the same site or E-mail me at lsemaj@jobbank-ja.com. You are also invited to join us on Mondays on Nationwide (HOT102FM) 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. to continue this discussion. Each week we will take you deeper into understanding your self and how to use this knowledge to take charge of your personal and professional life.
