There are business etiquette matters that rarely need to be addressed. They are the topics that seldom present themselves as problems or don’t affect the majority of the population. For instance, how do you ask your boss not to floss his teeth at the staff meeting? Doesn’t happen very often, thank goodness. Then there are the subjects that can be written about every other week because it seems we have all been a victim of this particular rudeness and have a story to share about it. In this case, it’s the obnoxious cell-phone talker. Why don’t people get it? Why don’t they understand that not only is it rude to talk loud enough for strangers to hear your private conversation but also, we, your victim listeners, don’t care about what you are talking about. WE DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT. And most of the time while you are chatting away with your friend making weekend arrangements, hotel reservations or having an argument with a boyfriend, we are trapped in the train, bus or elevator with you with nowhere to run. Many of the offenses occur during commuting time. While some of us look at commuting time as an opportunity to close our eyes and catch a breath before or after a long day, thumb through a magazine or do some paperwork, many others look at the time as a chance to whip out the cell phone to seal an all too important deal that can’t possibly wait until morning, chat with old friends, or call every Acura dealer on the east coast looking for that certain car in that certain color to be delivered in two weeks. It’s baffling. Sure the conversations are not so titillating that they should be censored…but still. Why would anyone want to draw attention to himself in that way? Does he think no one is listening? Does he not care? Those of us who find other’s cell phone conversations annoying and intrusive would like to know. If you cell phone talkers will send in the reasons why you talk so openly and loudly, we’ll print them. Until I’m convinced to change it, my position is that unless there is an emergency, there’s no need to raise your voice barely above a whisper when you’re among strangers and you’re having a conversation with someone present or on the telephone. Anything louder is disturbing the peace. Some Cell Phone Do’s & Don’ts: Turn Your Ringer Off: During All Meetings Library All Modes of Transportation Theatres Museums Houses of Worship Restaurants Don’t talk loudly enough for others to hear. Excuse yourself if you must make or receive a call. If you must make a call while commuting, ask your seatmate if he would mind if you made a quick call. Give him that courtesy. Let your voice mail take a message for you. That’s what it’s for. Don’t disturb others with too many calls. Send a text message instead. Call us for Business Etiquette Training and Business Etiquette Training Materials ©Copyright 2008. CORBY O'CONNOR ETIQUETTE & PROTOCOL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS MATERIAL MAY BE REPRODUCED, STORED IN INFORMATION AND/OR RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY WAY OR BY ANY MEANS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ELECTRONIC, MAGNETIC, DIGITAL, OPTICAL, LASER-BASED, MECHANICAL OR OTHERWISE,WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM CORBY O'CONNOR ETIQUETTE & PROTOCOL.