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Chapter 25
CELL PHONES:
TALKING AND
TEXTING
Few milestones in a young person’s life are more eagerly anticipated by girls than the birthday that earns a cell phone. You might be ten or twelve or thirteen when your parents decide you are mature enough to have and take care of your own phone.
Even a kindergartner can figure out how to use a cell phone, but there’s a big difference between knowing how to operate a cell phone correctly and how to use one with consideration for others.
Bad cell phone manners are not confined to tweens and teens; grown-ups who should know better do rude things with their phones all the time. Maybe it’s because they didn’t grow up with cell phones as a standard convenience of daily life.
But you did, which means that as soon as you are given the privilege of having your own cell phone, you should start practicing good cell phone manners.
YOU DO
Know and observe the rules regarding the use of cell phones in school.
YOU DON’T
Try to sneak out a text from the phone in your lap or hidden behind a book.
Why
Besides disrupting the classroom, cell phones could easily be used for cheating on tests and assignments. There is no good reason to use a cell phone during class, and if you are caught, your phone could be confiscated by the teacher and not given back until your parents are informed, which is a good way to lose your cell phone privileges altogether.
YOU DO
Lower your voice if you must use your phone in public.
YOU DON’T
Talk and laugh loudly on your phone in public places.
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Why
Other people who don’t know you and even those who do know you should not be subjected to a one-sided conversation that has nothing to do with them—particularly one that includes personal information or inappropriate language or comments.
There is no need to raise your voice when talking on a cell phone. If you are in a loud place, or the person you are calling is, move away from other people so that you can hear, or so you can raise your voice just enough to be heard. If that still doesn’t work, tell the person on the other end of the line you will call them back.
YOU DO
Turn your ringer off and put your phone in your purse or pocket in restaurants, church, synagogue, movie theaters, and any place where there is an audience.
YOU DON’T
Open your phone in a dark theater to check messages or send a text.
Why
Think of the racket if everyone left their phones on in a restaurant. A ringing phone interrupting a sermon, musician, actor, or dancer is disrespectful to that person and the rest of the audience. Opening your phone in a dark theater distracts everyone around you and breaks the magical spell cast in a darkened room.
YOU DO
Finish your call or your text before ordering a sandwich at the sub shop or milk shake at the ice cream stand.
YOU DON’T
Continue talking on the phone or texting while the cashier or server is trying to do their job and conduct business with you.
Why
Talking on the phone while ordering a cheeseburger and fries may not only result in you getting a chili cheese dog with onion rings; it is the height of rudeness to treat someone in front of you as if they don’t exist. Because this rude habit is so prevalent, many stores now post signs that say, “We will not wait on you if you are talking on your cell phone. Please hang up before reaching the counter.”
YOU DO
Answer your phone when your parents call.
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YOU DON’T
Ignore your mom or dad calling because you’re busy or having fun with your friends
Why
One of the reasons your parents got you a cell phone is that you are growing up and spending more time away from their watchful eyes. That doesn’t mean they don’t worry and won’t want to check on you. Or maybe they have something important to tell you. As long as your parents are paying for your phone, answer their calls.
A lady does not interrupt a face-to-face conversation she is having with someone in order to take a call or read and reply to a text.
A lady does not bring her phone to the family dinner table.
A lady does not talk on the phone at the table in a restaurant, even a fast-food restaurant.
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A lady does not take or place a call when she is a passenger in a car. If it is very important for her to check in with someone, she can say, “Do you mind if I take this quick call? It’s my dad.” Or she can send a very brief text.
A lady does not have an inappropriate ringtone.
A lady does not text while she is walking.