Alright, so here we are in a meeting with 20 people in a big circle. We’re talking about important stuff. Somebody’s cell phone rings. Yes, there are people who didn’t turn it off, or turn it to vibrate, for this important meeting. The person fumbles to find the device that is inevitably playing some stupid love song to the entire group.
What does this person do then? I bet you know already.
He stands up, hits talk, then begins to walk out of the meeting while beginning his conversation with the person on the other end in front of all of us. So we have do deal with his unprofessionalism three times: 1) for leaving the nuisance device on, 2) for answering it during the meeting, and 3) by disrupting everybody in the room as he begins his phone conversation during the meeting. My favorite part is when the person tries to talk real softly as if he/she will become invisible to the rest of us.
I can think of maybe one or two situations where this is appropriate. Maybe the guy is a transplant surgeon and there is a kidney dangling on the line waiting for his answer. Please, answer away, Mr. Transplant Surgeon. Or two, the country is getting bombed and some important man or woman - President Obama or President Hillary Clinton, for example - needs to press the magic button to get our special shields up. Totally acceptable.
The rest of you remember this important thing about cell phones: about 99% of the time, you can call the person back using the exact same phone they just called you on. Their cell phone is not going to explode if you don’t answer it, their cell plan will not get cancelled, and they will remember that they called you if you call them back 15 seconds from when they called you.
So let’s get it straight, the proper protocol for receiving a call during a meeting is NOT to answer it and try to rush out of the meeting while you begin your conversation. The proper protocol IS TO hit a button and send the caller to voice mail, quietly get up and leave the room, and then use the call back feature on your phone when you get outside the room.
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I’m afraid this will only get worse as people pay ungodly amounts for the iphone. If someone pays over $600.00 total for a phone, they will think they should be able to talk on it wherever and whenever they want. They will just be dying for people to call during meetings so they can interrupt and have an excuse to display the sleekness.
Do these people wear these things when they sleep too? Are they waterproof for the shower?
I work in the kitchen of a restaurant where it get VERY busy at times. We all know we’re not supposed to have our phones on us at work. They’re supposed to be in a locker or in the office. There are some people who are above the law. One guy couldn’t stay off his phone no matter how busy it was. He had gotten a call while standing at the grill cooking and fussed at the manager when he told him to get off the phone!
It gets on my nerves when people answer their phones like 1) it’s ok to have it and 2) like they don’t have caller ID or voicemail. I’ve heard so many conversations go like this, “Hello? I’m at work” and they keep on talking. The person calling knows the one they’ve called works in a kitchen so DON’T CALL TO MAKE SMALL TALK!!!!
I have a cell phone but I believe they will be the death of us all.
Denine on January 15th, 2008 at 10:48 pm | Link
I agree with every word, the phone is a matter of convenience, it does not dictate your actions. And it’s not an easy excuse for rudeness.
To say that mobile phones are going to be the death of us all is laughable (I’m fairly sure you meant to say global warming or somesuch). But it’s not as laughable as saying that iPhones will make the problem worse. I’m sure you don’t like the iPhone, buddy, but could you have shoehorned that into your comment with any less skill or grace?
James on February 20th, 2008 at 5:23 pm | Link
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD TO THIS DON’T TALK ON YOUR STUPID CELL PHE IN THE CHECK OUT LINE IN THE GROCERY STORE IT IS SOOOOOOOO RUDE!!!!!!!!!!
Pam on March 14th, 2008 at 7:52 am | Link
It’s more rude to type in all caps, Pam.
Cell phones in check out lines? Perfectly fine. In NYC we do it all the time - of course, we’re usually college educated here and actually do important things, unlike hillbillies like yourself.
Jim on August 8th, 2008 at 7:18 pm | Link
Jim you’re an idiot.
Everyone think back to 10 years ago… Seems to me society functioned just as well even though people weren’t receiving phone calls at everymoment of the day!
Everyone thinks they are soooooooooo important. Well guess what, you’re not. Life goes on if it goes to voicemail.
Christin on February 15th, 2009 at 5:26 pm | Link
[…] The phone is a “demanding medium.” It requires complete participation. When it rings, you want to answer it. […]
The Daily Eudemon on May 4th, 2009 at 12:39 am | Link