Are You a Technuisance?
You are with your friends or colleagues and your phone rings. Should you take the call? Always make or take cell phone calls in private. Excuse yourself and call in a private area where you will not disturb others. If you must use your cell phone in an enclosed place where others may become unwilling listeners, speak quietly and keep the calls to important calls, not idle chit chat with friends. If are expecting an important call you will need to answer, inform others in advance. Then excuse yourself to take the call.
Remember the person you are with takes precedence over someone on the phone and deserves your undivided attention. This also applies to sending and receiving text messages. Texting in the company of others is not multi tasking, it is just plane rude.
Thanks, that's great advice. I think in our fast-paced society we have become at some level 'tech-obsessed' and in part we have lost some of our personal interactive skills and gained a false sense of urgency that has preceded over good manners. I think perhaps this is even more evident in Europe (Italy) where I now live.
Will pass this on!