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What I think is interesting about this topic is that there is much of it that is generational. Older generations, who can remember way back to the early 90s, when only super rich people or spies had cell phones, tend to get a lot more worked up about cell phone "etiquette" than younger people. My opinion is that there are some things that are rude, and some things that older people are just crotchety about and should just get over.
Let me try to be more clear. There are some things that are absolutely rude. There are some things related to cell phones that are dangerous. Then there are some things that old people just don't like.
Here's an example. I'm talking in a restaurant. If I'm in a restaurant with you and we're talking, it's okay. If I'm in a restaurant with you, and I'm talking on my cell phone, it's not okay. I get that. But if I'm in a restaurant by myself and I'm talking on the phone, I don't see a problem. The only difference is that you can't eavesdrop on the entire conversation. But many people suggest that this is also rude.
Same goes in an elevator. If I'm having a conversation with you in an elevator, most people wouldn't consider it rude. What's the difference between that and my speaking to someone on a phone.
Of course, all of the same rules of etiquette would apply to the nature of the conversations. In other words, the nature and tone of the conversation should be appropriate.
And to be clear, I'm of the older generation. And in many ways, I'm plenty crotchety.
older people are just crotchety about and should just get over.
Nature of IT/telecom means I have occasionally been an etiquette offender when I didn't want to be.
Tonight I was out with my girlfriends and took a call. We were all sitting at a table when I got the call. There were certain times I would say something, and they would look at me as if I was addressing them (I wasn't). Plus me talking with my colleague took away made it a bit noiser as rather than having us sitting together and talking amongst ourselves about whatever it was we felt like talking about they were trying to have their casual conversation against me walking someone through troubleshooting an IP routing issue. I ended up stepping in to a back hallway to finish my conversation. I didn't want to be interjecting my on-call BS in to their night out. I also don't like how many times I talk louder on the phone than I would to the person next to me.
Nature of IT/telecom means I have occasionally been an etiquette offender when I didn't want to be.
Tonight I was out with my girlfriends and took a call. We were all sitting at a table when I got the call. There were certain times I would say something, and they would look at me as if I was addressing them (I wasn't). Plus me talking with my colleague took away made it a bit noiser as rather than having us sitting together and talking amongst ourselves about whatever it was we felt like talking about they were trying to have their casual conversation against me walking someone through troubleshooting an IP routing issue. I ended up stepping in to a back hallway to finish my conversation. I didn't want to be interjecting my on-call BS in to their night out. I also don't like how many times I talk louder on the phone than I would to the person next to me.
I guess I'm weird. Generally, if I'm in a group, and I get a call and if take it -- I step away. At home, I answer my cell, and I go to another room if my wife's in there. (She doesn't do this...) Hearing half a call is annoying -- and often, it's not anybody else's business in the first place. When we grab lunch at work, I may text briefly, or even check the news or email, but if we're actually talking, not just eating -- then it waits.
When I'm with someone -- I'm with them. Not someone on the other end of the phone.
No you're not weird. I would have stepped away from the very beginning tonight had my phone had enough charge.