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Mobile Phone Etiquette Q & A | |
Some states are planning to legislate how and where we use our phones. (California as of January 1, 2000, will require hands-free operation when driving a car.) Question: How can we avoid the finger wagging (the prude and not-so-prude variety) from being directed at us? Just a little consideration, is the answer! Q: Are there PLACES and TIMES to not use our wireless gadgets (phone or pager)? A: Surprisingly, you wouldn’t think to hear the telltale ring or beep, but, oh no, especially not during a funeral religious service movie theater performance business meeting meal with clients meal with friends (restaurant or private home) romantic date. Etiquette Solution: During these mighty special events the ringer should be off, and preferably, the vibrate option should also be off. Your phone (and pager) should have the storage capability to save the message for later “appropriate time” retrieval. Q: Sometimes, it’s necessary to make (or take) an important call for business reasons because the recipient is only available at that specified time and the call is essential for livelihood! How would someone avoid offending the people in close proximity? A: There are four steps to being considerate in this situation: First, explain and apologize in advance to comrades that you are expecting to take or make the call at a particular time and that it is indeed unavoidable (or you would avoid this problem, right?!) Second, excuse yourself during the call to a quiet outdoor place, or private room, or near the public phones (where it’s expected that you’ll be on the phone!) Third, keep it brief and your voice low. Return to your party with a sincere apology again. Etiquette Incidental: Need we say that one shouldn’t take the wireless phone into the restroom to make/take the call? Hmmm. Yes, it evidently needs to be said, that your side of the call will be attentively listened to, affording you no privacy. Worse yet, the recipient of your call may likely hear sounds that would make them question your meaning when you said, “I was thinking of you…” No matter how close the friend or client, don’t go there! Q: Are there things I can do now to make my necessary phone calls during driving less distracting? A: Don’t wait for lawmakers to decide that it’s up to them to make us responsible drivers who can drive, talk, and chew gum all at the same time with no injury to ourselves or others! Here are some simple solutions to improving driving attentiveness and having a handy car phone: Don’t view the car phone below the level of the dashboard or at the very lowest: the same level as the gauges. Many near-accidents have happened when eyes are focused on a car phone mounted to the center divider at knee level. Specialty stores and car wash mini-markets have mounting hardware options (temporary or permanent). Experiment with view-ability by having a passenger hold the phone in a few positions before you commit to installation of the hardware. Don’t forget that your battery charger adapter will need to reach the car phone resting-place. Input your most frequently used phone numbers in the “direct dial” positions, so you can push two or three buttons to initiate the call. Or, have the “directory assistance” look up and place the call for a fee much less than your auto-insurance accident deductible. Or, look into having the latest in service plan options, the Virtual Assistant who can place outgoing calls and screen incoming calls by voice recognition! (Find out about this through your mobile phone service provider [least expensive option], or [more expensive option] an independent resource on the Internet.) Or, don’t answer when the traffic is challenging, let the voice mail option pick up the message for you to retrieve at a safer time. The least expensive accessory for hands-free use, is the external cord variety that has a tiny earpiece and microphone to clip to your collar. Calls are surprisingly clear on both ends with this doo-dad… but remember to lower the radio and consider other car passengers who can be heard by your caller via the floating microphone! The more expensive option for hands-free use, is having the speaker, microphone, and car phone holder professionally mounted in your car by the “wireless technology” specialty stores or service garage of an electronics accessory store. Etiquette Resolution: Hands-free capability does not mean you have a hand free to write down the information someone gives you over the phone- in your day planner on the seat- while you are driving. (“Female Road Warriors” use that free hand ONLY for applying mascara or lipstick at the stoplight, right?!) Instead, consider having a hand held recorder to quickly record the info… or better yet, suggest they leave info on your office/home answering machine and you’ll pick up the information when you are not driving. Wireless technology- mobile phone usage… aaah… the consensus is in, it’s definitely an ATTITUDE! Hey, you Roam Ranger! Leave a healthy tip for the waiter when you tie up their table for your long-winded phone calls……………. | |
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