Are you a menace on the mobile? You may not think so but have you ever done any of the following:
- talked loud enough on public transport for everyone to hear?
- kept a waiter or shop assistant waiting because you were on your mobile?
- had a long mobile conversation or sent multiple SMS during a social occasion?
- interrupted an important meeting to answer your mobile?
If you’re guilty of any of these acts, you’re not alone. But no matter how busy you are, there’s always time to mind your mobile manners. What seems okay to you might be quite irritating to someone else.
Here are some things you may want to avoid discussing on your mobile when you're within earshot of others:
- personal matters - particularly when you're in a business setting
- your company's finances or any other information that may be confidential about the company you work for
- negative or derogatory comments about your company or individuals
- offensive language
- inappropriate conversations containing explicit details.
And there are certain places where you may wish to avoid using your mobile completely such as at the movies or in a theatre.
Top tips for mobile etiquette
- Be aware of others.
Personal space is a relative thing. It's all about where you are and who you're with. So be aware of your surroundings and remember, move away, make it brief, and keep it down. - Be photo sensitive!
A picture can tell a thousand words. But you should always ask before you take a photo of someone with your camera phone particularly if your photo involves children. - Use Caller ID.
It's a natural reflex to answer your phone when it rings. But next time, why not use the Caller ID feature? Caller ID will let you see the number of the person who's calling. So if the time isn't right to answer the call, you can divert it to MessageBank. - Mind your table manners.
If you must take a call over dinner at a restaurant, keep it short and sweet. - Adjust your ringtones to your environment.
If you're out and about, it's fine to use a loud ring. But when you're at home or at work and it's relatively quiet, there's no need. So why not switch to discreet, silent or vibrating mode. - No loud ringtones please!
While you may like your ringtone, others may not, so do the right thing and keep the volume down.
