Don't break the rules of cell phone etiquette

By LILIANA GARCI

It seems everyone has a cell phone. They areconsidered by many to be an everyday necessity.

However, that does not give everyone the right to talk on them every minute of the day, and especially not during interactions with other people.

Cell phones have many features. They have distinct ring tones, screensavers, games and the list goes on.

The most important features, though, are silent mode and the end key.

That’s right, turn your phone off, and end your conversations. No, not all the time, only when it’s appropriate to do so.

Too often sales clerks, food service workers, bank tellers and other workers are subjected to rude customers chatting away on their cell phones while conducting business.

If you are one of the many who chats while you are purchasing something or being helped, please stop. You are being rude and inconsiderate. The person on the other side of the counter is giving you his or her undivided attention; shouldn’t you give him or her yours?

Have some manners. The person who is calling you deserves your full attention, as well. Perhaps the person calling you is calling about a private matter. The public does not need to hear your phone conversations.

Don’t be a slave to your cell. If you are considerate enough to not start dialing numbers on your cell while waiting in line, don’t answer your cell.

There is a feature called voice mail, this enables the person calling you to leave a message. When you are through with your interaction, you can call that person back.

It’s time for us to show respect for one another. If everyone refrains from chatting away on their cell phones, perhaps lines in supermarkets, banks and other places will become shorter. Perhaps we will get better customer service.

Just think about it.

If everyone had some manners, no longer would we be subjected to hearing about bad dates, how many drinks someone had the night before and anything else the general public doesn’t need to know.

One more important cell phone courtesy: Once you step onto campus, shut them off, put them on silent, whatever. Just don’t let them ring during class. It’s disrespectful to your fellow classmates and instructor.

It’s time we take control of our lives and stop being a personal phone service.