ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

I try to keep up with contemparary culture within the work place. I believe that thier are different rules for different situations. During a conference 0r training, cell phones should either be turned off or placed on vibrate. If the call needs to be answered, go to another room and call back the caller. This is out of courtesy for the speaker and your collegues in the conference. The speaker, or the MC should set the rules before the conference begins.
I had always thought that knitting during a conference was rude. A collegue shared with me that it helped her concentrate. I don't see playing games on a cell phone the same way however that may be generational.
I am a home visitor and turn off my cell phone during visits unless I am awaiting an important phone call. In this case, I let the family know ahead of time.
Another issue I have is people bringing their computors to keep up with e-mails during trainings conferences and even classes! When they are done with that, they play solitaire.
The bottom line issue is that when people are engaged in cell phone use or computor use, they are not engaged and contributing with what is going on around them and may even be distracting others.

More folks need to read this article.

I am surprised about this message in this forum. When a parent has a child is in daycare, the cellphone is ignored for no one.

Cells phones have an important place in our daily life. However, people need to be taught when and where to use the phone.

In the work place or at meetings your cell phone should be turned off. It is amazing to me that we should have to tell teachers that texting while working is not appropriate.

I was significantly annoyed by the response from Athena Baldwin. Manners are supposed to be a mechanism to place people first. I am frustrated when I see others getting that backwards, and manipulating manners to serve their sense of entitlement. I am seriously weary of all the folks who believe they are somehow the only thing of importance that others might need to attend to.

To all those folks I hardly know who are offended that I keep my lifeline to my family on my hip, I'm sorry you are welded to a past reality, but now I CAN have access to my child or wife when they are not immediately present, and yes, they trump you. I tend to lump these people into the same category as those self entitled folks who complain when parents dare to bring their children to a "nice" restaurant, or to church, or to the theater.

To all those folks who are offended by the sight of me sitting at a cafe table alone and talking on my phone, please explain why my voice would not be offensive if I was speaking to another person physically present at that same table, making the same noises but not into a phone.

To all those who would dare to express outrage if my child calls while I am listening to a presentation, I look forward to that opportunity to respond with a little outrage of my own. If a child stepped into the room and called out for her Mommy, would we scold the parent?

Personally, I consider the presumption of rude intent the very height of rudeness. If another's lifeline makes a noise, I will - out of courtesy - make the assumption they simply forgot to set it to vibrate, or that vibrate isn't a feature of their lifeline. I might even make the assumption that they are in a better position to judge the relative urgency of that call than I am.

Yes, be courteous. Attend to conversations. Ascribe proper attention as each situation warrants. Use these new means of communication with grace and consideration. And - please - leave your sense of self righteous outrage at home.

The world has changed. Get over it.