Gadgets go with us everywhere now. Our cell phones are cameras, gaming devices and even Internet portals. Some of us have a utility belt full of gadgets and they can interfere with our life in ways that etiquette gurus would have never thought of twenty years ago. Here are six gadget etiquette tips to keep you from making common mistakes:
1. Only have cell phone conversations in private.
When you are talking on your cell phone, you are not in a phone booth. The conversation can be so involving that you may not realize that there are other people around you, but I assure you, they are. If you are in a public place, the best option is to find a private place to have a conversation. If that is not possible, make sure you keep your voice low and cut the conversation off as quickly as possible (â€Look, I’m on a bus and I can’t talk right now. Let me call you back.â€).
There are two reasons to refrain from talking in a public place. It bothers the people around you. They don’t want to hear you talking about your day, screaming at your kids or financing deals. They want to get home or enjoy the movie without interruption.
The second reason from refraining from talking on your cell phone in a public place is that you may be talking about sensitive information that shouldn’t be announced in a loud voice in a public place. For all you know, your client’s biggest competitor is sitting on the train two seats away from you, soaking up all the information. You owe it to your clients, friends and family to protect their privacy.
2. When you’re with someone, don’t check your phone for voice mail, IM messages or email.
If you have a deal that is so important that you can’t sit through a meal with someone without checking your gadget, you shouldn’t be at the meal. It is very insulting to be with someone who checks their phone constantly for messages. It makes me feel like I’m not important enough for your full attention. Your clients, friends and family deserve your full attention. Setting your phone on the table and checking it every few minutes for messages sends a demeaning message to the person you’re with.
3. Even if the meeting is making your brain explode from boredom, don’t resort to your gadget.
If you are at a company meeting that is boring, checking email on your Blackberry is the wrong thing to do. Managers notice those sorts of things, no matter how clueless they may seem. When your resume comes across their desk for a promotion, they will remember you inattention and pass you by. You owe it to your employer to give them your full attention. You just might catch some glint of information that everyone else misses and use it to your advantage.
4. Gaming in public needs to be quiet.
Now that addictive gaming so portable, you need to remember that the rest of the world doesn’t want to hear it. The sound effects in in the game that warn you that you’re about to get bombed by someone are just irritating to the people waiting for the plane next to you. Turn the volume off or wear earbuds so that you don’t pollute the area with the simplistic beeps and repetitive music of your game.
5. Wireless gaming with strangers is acceptable.
Many games have the capability to play with others, even if your opponent doesn’t own the game themselves. It is acceptable to ask a stranger if they would like to play with you. I know your mother told you not to talk to strangers, but you’re an adult now. Five minutes playing a game with someone from across the bus doesn’t put you at risk. You both could have some fun while in a normally unpleasant waiting situation. Screaming out when you lose to them is not acceptable, however, and badgering someone until they acquiese isn’t either. It’s okay to ask. It’s okay to play. Just try not to bother others around you when you do it.
6. Always ask to take a picture.
Just because your phone has a camera and you can discreetly take a picture of anyone without them noticing doesn’t mean it’s right. ALWAYS ask before taking a photograph of someone. Taking pictures of someone is like petting a stranger’s dog. Most dogs are nice, but every once and a while, you end up with a bitten hand. You don’t want to be fishing your phone out of a toilet because you took a picture of the wrong person.
This is not a comprehensive list of etiquette tips by any means. These are just the most recent offenders that I could think of off the top of my head (most of which, the offender was me…). Being polite is our way of showing the people around us that we respect them. Give them that respect and the world will be a better place.
Update 08-29-06: This article has received some attention.
CNET article: Think before using that cell phone | News.blog | CNET News.com
A Rebuttal: Gadget Etiquette a critique « Showngo’s Mind
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