I owned my first cellphone in 1991. I was still in college at that point but thought it would be a convenient possession, not to mention cool. I have since treated the cellphone like an American Express card, I don't leave home without it. In fact, I am not more then 10 ft away from it even at home. Ok, sometimes I forget it and sometimes it's more of a bother than not. Jessica complains that I am too dependent on my cellphone. I agree.
With my cellphone, my biggest fault is... I talk too loudly on the phone, at times. However, that isn't something I can really help. I am a little hard of hearing and I think the deafness causes me to over compensate when I speak, especially on the phone. I am very conscious of the phone and my surroundings and have NEVER forgotten to turn it off in class, theaters, church, pretty much anywhere it is considered rude to have your phone ring.
When I first got into "learning and development" (training), one of the early things I was warned about was the use of the cellphone during classes by the participants. That was in 2003. While cellphone usage had already become mainstream in Asia, the US was just beginning to see the wave. Text messaging (or sms, or whatever you want to call it) was just only starting to become popular, particularly among the Gen Y population. Up until 2006, I still had co-workers who did not own a cellphone. And I rarely communicated with anyone in the US thru text messaging. Most of the people I text are either Gen Y people or Singaporeans living in the US.
As a trainer, one of our concerns when conducting a class was texting during class. Many of my fellow trainers, myself included, had very strict rules regarding texting during class. I would set my ground rules at the beginning of each class and some of those rules dealt with the use of the cellphone.
All cellphones and noisemakers to be turned off or to mute.
No texting during class. If you are caught texting, your cellphone sits at the instructor's desk for the rest of the day and if it was a class that was longer than 1 day, you would "check in" your phone with me every morning and it sat on the instructor's desk.
If you needed to take a urgent phone call, inform me, excuse yourself and step out of the classroom to take the call.
I NEVER had a problem with cellphone use during any of my classes. NEVER.
My biggest problem with cellphone use in the US was idiotic drivers on their cellphones. Driving at 40mph on the freeway on the fast lane, because they were on their cellphones, completely annoyed the living daylights out of me.
Coming back to Singapore, I knew cellphone usage was definitely more widespread. However, Singapore had very strict cellphone laws when driving and thus I assumed that cellphone etiquette was going to be better. Sadly, I was very, very wrong.
The lack of cellphone etiquette is driving me completely crazy. It has probably become my biggest pet peeve.
(1) Bicyclists using cellphones.
Why are they any different from auto drivers using cellphones. Just because what they are operating is not motorized, does not change anything. The laws against usage of cellphones while driving are because the driver gets distracted. The same applies to a bicyclist. He/she gets distracted too. In fact, they are worse. They do not have all that metal to protect them when they crash.
(2) Cellphones in meetings.
In the last 5 meetings I have attended, at least one dumb ass has answered a call during the meeting. I am serious. I thought it was bad enough the phone rang during the meeting. I was shocked when they actually answered the call. In 3 out of the last 5 meetings, my boss actually PLACED A FREAKING PHONE CALL during the meeting. She picks up he phone, dials and speaks to the person on the other end... in a whisper. What happened to common sense, manners and RESPECT???? I am not the most polite person on earth, but this definitely shocks the hell out of me. This takes the cake.
(3) Cellphones in class.
I have not (Thank God) had this problem with any of my classes in Singapore. Maybe it's because I have set my ground rules too. Who knows? However, I am attending a class (as a participant) at the moment and in the last 2 lessons, at least 2 people in each lesson have answered their phones, AT THEIR SEAT, and they not once attempted to leave the room. In fact, yesterday in class, the girl behind me took a call and was on the phone for at least 2-3 mins. Unless someone is dying, I think that was totally uncalled for. It was rude. But obviously not to her. It is driving me nuts. To be amongst a people who have no common sense... and no respect for the people around them.
(4) Cellphones in church or at functions.
I hear the phone ring almost every time I go to church... God help you.
Last night, Jessica and I attended a wedding. It was a solemnization and wedding dinner all at one location. The irony of the phone ringing during this event was... the MC reminded everyone to turn their phone to silent/mute (due to the solemnization event, which was religious based) right at the beginning of the event and that the phone went off as the pastor was preaching. God help that soul too.
I would also complain about the decibel level, but I am not sure if these people are like me, hard of hearing. People talk at the top of their voices in the bus, in the train, along the road, every-freaking-where. I hear people chewing out their maids, spouses, children, whomever all the time...
Alright, I got this off my chest. I am going to sleep better tonight. NOT. The cellphone is going to be the death of manners and respect in today's society and will lead to the complete decay of social structure.
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