Be Courteous When Using Your Cell Phone
http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/1034/1/Be-Courteous-When-Using-Your-Cell-Phone/Page1.html
Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon
Ruth Jones McClendon was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1996, representing District 120 in San Antonio. Her service during the 81st Regular Session of the Legislature marks her seventh term in office.By Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon
Published on 10/21/2009
By now, you have probably read or heard that use of cell phones and other hand-held electronics behind the wheel is causing problems on the road. It’s a big change from when we talked on the phone only at home or work, with a roaming distance only as long as the reach of the curling cord attached between the phone and the handset. We have also passed the point when cordless phone sets gave way to cell phones and texting devices.
By now, you have probably read or heard that use of cell phones and other hand-held electronics behind the wheel is causing problems on the road. It’s a big change from when we talked on the phone only at home or work, with a roaming distance only as long as the reach of the curling cord attached between the phone and the handset. We have also passed the point when cordless phone sets gave way to cell phones and texting devices.
That means we all need to get up to speed and reframe the haphazard ways we use these items for communicating. By that, I mean we need to rethink how our communications (and those of our children) should be governed by safety, courtesy and privacy concerns. Safety must come first.
According to the Houston Chronicle, dangerous electronic distractions behind the wheel cause 330,000 injuries, 2,600 deaths and cost $43 billion annually. Also, the column cites polls that show 80 percent of Americans use cell phones and 20 percent admit to texting while driving; as estimated by the National Safety Council that amounts to about 100 million people. And, according to the Department of Public Safety, Texas has somewhere in the neighborhood of 16 million drivers.
So far, the Texas Legislature has refrained from laws restricting the use of hand-held cell phones on roads other than in school zones. However, safety concerns may call for broader safety measures than prohibiting text-messaging by novice drivers and school bus drivers while driving. Texting while driving means there is only one hand (or none) on the steering wheel, and attention is on the device, not on the road.
Next, there are good reasons to be mindful of courtesy to others, not only behind the wheel but in public places. Although it is often said that there may be a time and a place for everything, sometimes the place where you are, is not an appropriate time to talk or text. For instance, restrooms are not the place to have a cell phone conversation.
Texting or taking a call during a business meeting or presentation, or even while dining, does not leave a good impression with the person who asked you to be there. In fact, it gives the appearance of not paying attention or being more focused on what is happening elsewhere than on what is happening at that moment. It could signal boredom, and that being there simply doesn’t matter that much.
And, what about those ring tones? There must be a gazillion: some cute, some fancy, some plain. All can create a surprising interruption in a public location.
This can be especially irritating to those who paid for admission to a performance, a movie, or a seminar, when the theme from “The Godfather” or “Meet the Flintstones” unexpectedly grabs attention. Sure, it’s easy to forget to turn off the phone or put it in silent mode. The better business etiquette—and personal courtesy—is to make a point of remembering, so as not to disrupt everyone else.
With cell phones in use nearly everywhere at any time, privacy has all but gone out the window. Honestly, would you sit down at the table in front of a complete stranger and start telling them about your latest medical procedure or child custody argument? Sound does travel, which means that talking on your phone in a restaurant or airport waiting area means sharing your personal business with others who do not need or want to know.
A loud, animated conversation within the hearing range of others can be discourteous to the other person in the conversation, as well as those who are standing or sitting nearby. Even the tap-tap-tap of texting creates a disruptive sound in a quiet place. Just as one might stand about three feet away from someone to keep from invading their personal space, respect the personal listening space of others around.
Be considerate of the privacy of others, as well as your own. Having said all that, I must confess I have probably committed some of these electronic blunders. Bad habits are hard to change, but where safety, courtesy and privacy are concerned, it’s worth doing—for everyone’s sake.
That means we all need to get up to speed and reframe the haphazard ways we use these items for communicating. By that, I mean we need to rethink how our communications (and those of our children) should be governed by safety, courtesy and privacy concerns. Safety must come first.
According to the Houston Chronicle, dangerous electronic distractions behind the wheel cause 330,000 injuries, 2,600 deaths and cost $43 billion annually. Also, the column cites polls that show 80 percent of Americans use cell phones and 20 percent admit to texting while driving; as estimated by the National Safety Council that amounts to about 100 million people. And, according to the Department of Public Safety, Texas has somewhere in the neighborhood of 16 million drivers.
So far, the Texas Legislature has refrained from laws restricting the use of hand-held cell phones on roads other than in school zones. However, safety concerns may call for broader safety measures than prohibiting text-messaging by novice drivers and school bus drivers while driving. Texting while driving means there is only one hand (or none) on the steering wheel, and attention is on the device, not on the road.
Next, there are good reasons to be mindful of courtesy to others, not only behind the wheel but in public places. Although it is often said that there may be a time and a place for everything, sometimes the place where you are, is not an appropriate time to talk or text. For instance, restrooms are not the place to have a cell phone conversation.
Texting or taking a call during a business meeting or presentation, or even while dining, does not leave a good impression with the person who asked you to be there. In fact, it gives the appearance of not paying attention or being more focused on what is happening elsewhere than on what is happening at that moment. It could signal boredom, and that being there simply doesn’t matter that much.
And, what about those ring tones? There must be a gazillion: some cute, some fancy, some plain. All can create a surprising interruption in a public location.
This can be especially irritating to those who paid for admission to a performance, a movie, or a seminar, when the theme from “The Godfather” or “Meet the Flintstones” unexpectedly grabs attention. Sure, it’s easy to forget to turn off the phone or put it in silent mode. The better business etiquette—and personal courtesy—is to make a point of remembering, so as not to disrupt everyone else.
With cell phones in use nearly everywhere at any time, privacy has all but gone out the window. Honestly, would you sit down at the table in front of a complete stranger and start telling them about your latest medical procedure or child custody argument? Sound does travel, which means that talking on your phone in a restaurant or airport waiting area means sharing your personal business with others who do not need or want to know.
A loud, animated conversation within the hearing range of others can be discourteous to the other person in the conversation, as well as those who are standing or sitting nearby. Even the tap-tap-tap of texting creates a disruptive sound in a quiet place. Just as one might stand about three feet away from someone to keep from invading their personal space, respect the personal listening space of others around.
Be considerate of the privacy of others, as well as your own. Having said all that, I must confess I have probably committed some of these electronic blunders. Bad habits are hard to change, but where safety, courtesy and privacy are concerned, it’s worth doing—for everyone’s sake.