Cell Phone Etiquette Is Not An Oxymoron

During 2010, I owned three different cell phones. I have never been one to chase the latest greatest toys, but clearly 2010 was a terrific year for the mobile communications industry. We welcomed the first 4G phone among other major technological breakthroughs. Cell phones today are targeted toward a broad range of diverse populations, ranging from the aged to the poor. More recently, we have begun also targeting babies for cell phone use, even though they are far too young to form actual words. While too young to form verbal language, they are old enough to mimic cell phone behavior.
 

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Given society's preoccupation with cell phones, it has become even more important to teach our children/youth appropriate cell phone etiquette. Cell phone etiquette is not an oxymoron! During the holidays I had the opportunity to travel from the Midwest to south Florida. During my hours waiting in the airport I decided to consciously observe cell phone behavior. I decided to observe phone behaviors as a result of becoming increasingly annoyed by a loud woman who was oblivious and completely unaware her cell phone use was impacting those around her.  Interestingly, several of the individuals I observed using their cell phones in the airport were traveling with others whom they rarely engaged. These cell phone users appeared more content calling others rather than engaging those with whom they were actually traveling. I identified several characteristics in those I observed, which included the following:

1) The majority of cell phone offenders were female (bummer);
2) lack of awareness of their speaking volume and conversational tone;

3) lack of awareness of the inappropriate nature of their conversations (topics were too personal and unsuitable for public consumption);

4) lack of awareness (or concern) for how their conversations impacted those around them;

5) inability or lack of desire to engage the other individual(s) with whom they were traveling;

I do not believe these individuals behaved poorly while using their cell phone for the sake of annoying others, instead I believe they behaved badly because they were simply unaware of their cell phone behavior. The next time you use your cell phone in public or at home, I ask that you use it consciously. Be present in your physical surroundings; be aware of how your cell phone use may be impacted those around you. Be mindful that children/youth may be watching you and will mimic your behavior, it's how children learn behavior. 

While we may never challenge a person we don't know in public who may be annoying us as a result of their cell phone conversations, we CAN monitor and change our own behavior.