Do you own a cell phone? This is a must read. I will note somethings that all cell phone users should know before turning on their phone. I will talk about some common behaviors and describe how they should be changed.

1) Phones ringing in public places.

ARG! I hate people who have their phones go off in a public place. This angers me, and I'd bet I could find a handful other people who find this annoying as well. Solution? Vibrate. It takes about 15 seconds to change the ringer to "vibrate" and saves everyone around you from hearing the hockey night in Canada theme on Wednesday morning.

2) Texting in public places.

I'm not all that against this one, it's better that the one above. When you see people texting, it suggests that they aren't really "into" it. Also a chance you might bump into someone and spill their coffee if your distracted by reading the latest news. How to fix? See that bench three steps away? Grab a seat and then begin sending your message.

3) Talking on the phone with the volume of an auctioneer.

I've noticed that some people talk really loud on their cell phones. Hearing one side of a conversation is really annoying. Who here has see the movie "Inside man" with Denzel Washington? The first bank screen with the woman talking on her phone. Yeah, don't do that. Fixes? Shut the hell up. No need to talk that loud while on a phone.

4) Multiple electronic devices.

No need to have 5 devices going at once. I once saw a guy with a bluetooth in his ear, a blackberry in one hand a cell in the other. This doesn't need to happen, ever. Solution? One device per person, please. A blackberry or half-decent hand held system can do the job of all those devices.

5) Cell phones clearly visible.

Again, zero need for this. I don't care if your cell is pretty. When your eating, keep it in your purse/pocket. Only show it if you must (ie. your using it).

6) Phones at the movies, or at a play, or other performance.

There is a reason they tell you to turn them off. So do it. I know a number of people who don't, and I try to convince them to turn their darn phones off. How to fix? If there's a performance of some kind going on, turn off your phone. If it's a live performance, you'll embarrass yourself even more so than if it was a movie.

I hope after reading this at least one person gets less rude. If that happens, I've succeeded.

If you like this article, please read my other ones at:
http://www.xomba.com/xombyte/taxation

Additional reading:
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/op/xml/00/05/26/000526opwireless.html
http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2006/12/14/12-unwritten-rules-of-cell-phone-etiquette