Mai’s Cell Phone Etiquette Tips-Volume 1 table of contents tips 1-14

2014

A quick guide of the Do’s and Don’ts for Today’s Cell Phone Usage-Volume 1

In this manual you will learn the Do’s, Don’ts and Absolutely NOT’s of cell phone usage.

Simple Just got Complicated!

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  Purchase your cellular device inside the store instead of buying it online.
  
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  Ask the sales person as many questions as possible. Even have them demonstrate or assist you with programming the phone before leaving the store.
  
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  Don’t follow the trends, get the cellular phone you feel the most comfortable using.
  
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  Actually read the manual that comes with the phone. This can be really helpful.
  
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  Most phones now come with an easy step by step set-up once you turn on the phone that guides you through each applications of the phone.
  
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  Write down any passwords you’ve used while setting up applications. This is one of the most common problems among new users. Most cellular smartphones require email addresses for set-up.
  
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  Purchase a protective case and/or cover to keep your phone from damage. Which brings me to my next tip.
  
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  PURCHASE THE INSURANCE PLAN! You’ll be glad you did. If you have a smartphone, which most likely you do, it can cost between $300-500 to replace without insurance.
  
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  Don’t be afraid to get to know your phone. So much to learn, but you’ll be happy when you do.
  

Tip 2

1. 
   It’s 11pm on a Monday night, you receive a text message from your co-worker asking, “Sorry to contact you so late, but what time is the mandatory meeting at work tomorrow?”
   

2. 
   Friday morning and you’re getting ready for work and your best friend texts you saying, “Guess what??!!! He proposed last night!!!!”
   

3. 
   You’re on a romantic dinner date at fine dining restaurant, your cell phone rings. Do you answer?
   

4. 
   After getting dropped off at the airport, your ride pulls off and you notice that you left your passport on the front seat!!
   

5. 
   While riding home from work on the train, you realize you forgot to set the DVR to record your favorite show, so you text your wife to ask her to set the DVR.
   

1. 
   If you said, text back you’re right! It may be kind of late, but the meeting do to the content of the text sounds important. It’s ok to reply with something like “its ok, the meeting starts at 9am sharp! See you tomorrow, Goodnight!” Without being rude, you replied back, but still let them know it was a little late for you by saying Goodnight. Or course you can always get away with ignoring the text and pretending to be asleep already and just text back in the morning.
   

2. 
   Drop everything and call!!! Your friend may have texted, but would be delighted if you called to congratulate her! Calls during moments of excitement are always welcome!
   

3. 
   If it’s not a true emergency, DO NOT ANSWER IT! Not only rude to your date, but it could also disturb other guests in the restaurant. The phone call could wait. If you must respond, this would be an appropriate time to send a quick and short text. Be sure to apologize to your date and make this is your 1^st and last time using your phone during dinner. Also be sure to put the phone away.
   

4. 
   Call, call and call!! Do not text because they may not receive the text message right away. Also since they just dropped you off at the airport, a back to back phone call would seem important. In this case, it is.
   

5. 
   Should your wife call or text you back? Text is the correct answer. If someone texts you something of non-emergency, you don’t have to call back. Text back. Most of the time, people text for a reason and this time, the person was on a quite train. In order not to disturb the other around him, the text would be most appropriate.
   

Tip 3

There are exceptions to one word responses:

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  Driving (you shouldn’t be texting anymore, but maybe a quick response at a redlight)
  
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  In the movies (in which if you decide to respond, you should say I’m at the movies)
  
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  Busy at work (most times if the person knows you well, they will know you’re at work during this time)
  
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  If you’re going to respond back shortly after letting the person know you were busy at the moment.
  
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  If picking up the phone is faster to respond to the person, it is strongly suggested.
  

Tip 4

NO!

NO, IT’S DIRTY!

Naw, I don’t have it anymore
Using ALL CAPS WHEN TEXTING SOMEONE is like SCREAMING at them via text message!! All CAPS, BOLD, and exclamations signs are all signs of, I NEED FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M SAYING!!! See how wide your eyes opened while reading that. Ha!
When someone texts you, is a response always necessary? In most cases yes! Its good manners to at least confirm you received the message especially when being asked a question, receiving an invitation or given a compliment.
Exception to this tip:

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  Receiving a mass/group text message (you may not want to respond to everyone)
  
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  Being asked not respond
  
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  Sitting right next to the person sending the text.
  
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  You’re given a deadline to RSVP or respond by.
  

Tip 5

One day I was coming from our downtown area and I took the Chicago Transit Authority Bus Line. Everyone was fairly quite or voices to a minimum. A lady got onto the bus while on her cell phone. It was like no one else was on that bus but her! Unfortunately, I learned her taxes weren’t finished, she needed to finish her laundry, her friend is stupid, she worked over-time week and a pleat era of other unless information I didn’t care to hear on my ride home.

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  Text messages should be used over live conversations when possible.
  
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  If you take or make a call, let the person know you’re on the train or bus and that you will call then one you get off.
  
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  Use vibrate or silence your phone.
  
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  Don’t stretch your eyes too far (looking over the should of at ones pictures or text messages is definitely not good.
  

Tip 6

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  If you’re driving with a passenger(s) in the car it’s rude to be on your phone for extended periods of time.
  
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  Texting and driving is not safe and can of course danger you and the passenger(s) life.
  
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  Since most states have hands free law when using cell phones and driving, the call would have to be on speaker phone which can not only be rude, but an invasion of privacy.
  
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  If you must use your cell phone while driving, you should always make the caller aware that others are in the vehicle.
  
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  The passenger, especially the front seat passenger, should also remember to be aware of ongoing texts and speaking on the phone as well.
  
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  If you’re on a date, then cells phones should be put away unless looking up directions, calling to check on reservations, or the usage mutually involves something with your date.
  

Tip 7

Finding out Macy’s has a sale tomorrow or your best friend got a new cell phone may not be the time to discuss it while the movie is on and others have paid their money to watch it. Or making love on the phone to your new sweetheart totally missing you’re next line at the coffee shop could upset the person behind you.

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  Unless you plan on running out of the movie theater, missing the movie and possibly leaving behind the person you came with, put the phone on vibrate and away soon as you get into the theater.
  
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  In a store, give the person trying to assist you your undivided attention. Can the call or text at least wait until after you order your food or purchase your items? If not, wait to complete your conversation before even entering the establishment.
  
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  I know we all think we can multi-task, but DO NOT talk on the phone and try to talk to the salesperson at the same time. End your conversation, then speak with the salesperson.
  
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  While in business meeting at work, you cell phone should be on vibrate or silent. If you receive an important call, step outside and take the call. Remember, just because you’re right outside the door doesn’t mean people can’t hear you. You should still be mindful of your voice.
  

Tip 8

Am I boring you?! That’s how I would feel if my date kept looking at his phone or held long conversations while out with me.

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  Put that phone away!
  
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  Unless you’re expecting a call from the President, then a few hours without your cell phone can be possible.
  
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  Give your date all the attention and your cell phone can be put on vibrate. If it’s an emergency you’ll know because it will most likely ring more than once.
  
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  You also don’t want to come off like you’re not into your date or not interested.
  
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  Answering that call could change your entire attitude on the date by hearing some news that dampers the mood.
  
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  If you do receive an important call that you must answer, politely excuse yourself for a min. and return as quickly as possible. Be sure to apologize for the interruption and then PUT THE PHONE AWAY!
  

Tip 9

How embarrassing it to send the wrong text to someone especially someone’s mom or your boss?! Since most of the contacts stored in our phones are in alphabetical order and we know people with like names or names that start with same letter sometimes this is bound to happen. (Ex. Jones, Mike and Mike Jones)

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  If you have people with the same names, store one by the first name and other by the last name.
  
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  Add things to the names in order to tell the difference (Ex. Marc Smith (School)
  
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  Select the name before typing in the message, type the message, then check the name again before sending.
  
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  If you type the message first and you select the name most time you send before you figured out it was the wrong person.
  
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  If your employer/boss allows you to text message them, be sure to store them separate or possibly not at all. This way, it will be much harder to include them in your mistakes.
  
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  Remember, we are not perfect. Mistakes happen, so in the event be sure to apologize and try not to let it happen again.
  

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  Do not monitor someone’s actions on how they communicate.
  
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  Someone may have missed a call, but when they look at the phone, there is a notification on the screen they respond to first.
  
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  A person could be in a place where they can’t talk or bad signal.
  
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  The phone could have gone straight to voicemail.
  
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  Someone else could be using the person’s phone.
  
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  If someone checks Facebook more then they return phones calls, send them a message on Facebook instead. Problem resolved.
  

Tip 11

Since most people send text messages more than picking up the phone to talk, “text language” has become very popular. As shown in the photo above, acronyms like btw (by the way), ttyl (talk to you later) and the most popular lol (laugh out loud) are amongst the language used during texting.

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  If you don’t check voicemails, don’t set it up. Another option is to advise the caller the fastest way to reach you on actual greeting.
  
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  Leaving a 5 min. voicemail is not cool. Keep all the long details to a live conversation.
  
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  A pet peeve of mine is when someone says “I got your voicemail, now what did you say?”
  
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  Listen to your voicemails if you’re allowing others to leave you messages.
  
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  Know the person you are contacting and how to communicate with them. I had to teach my mom some text language so that she understands my texts.
  
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  Also be mindful that because you phone may do everything under the sun, the person contact may have a basic cell phone and can’t video message you or send pictures.
  
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  Be nice
  

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  Don’t post pics of others on social media unless you get their approval.
  
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  It can be a little creepy liking photos at 3am, you might be a Night Owl or bored, but others may not see it that way. Wait until a decent hour of the day.
  
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  Do not post things you will later regret. If you have to ask, “Should I post this?” then the answer is probably no. Once you post it on the Internet, it out there for life!
  
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  Posting pictures of your workplace maybe against company policy. Don’t lose your job because of a funny photo.
  

Tip 13

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  During a wedding ceremony when the bride is walking down the asile. The focus should be on the bride, not you.
  
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  You may look very handsome or even cute, but while waiting for a job interview, NO SELFIES!
  
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  During surgery! It was said that Joan Rivers doctor took a selfie of her next to Joan Rivers while in the hospital without her permission.
  
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  On a date, but not of you and your date. He is sitting across from you talking, but instead you start taking selfies. Now if he run in the store to for something, while you wait in the car, go ahead and Selfie While You Wait
  

Tip 14

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  ALWAYS ask permission before sharing or posting photos.
  
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  Advice people that get in group pictures if the picture will be shared on social media.
  
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  If you notice something in a picture inappropriate or a wardrobe malfunction, don’t post it. You’d like the same done for you.
  
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  Find out your workplace policies when posting/sharing photos from work on social media sites.
  
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  Remember once you post it, even when you delete it, it’s can still be out there someone where.
  

Tip 15

Privacy and confidentiality is very important! Since cell phones are used for business and personal, journal writing, etc. it is necessary to be careful about information.

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  If you have your emails attached to your phone, be sure to log out of emails when not using or use the screen lock function.
  
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  Do not share your passwords with others.
  
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  Our cell phones have become our everyday cameras also. It is bad manners and an invasion of privacy to look through someone photos without permission. It they show you one picture, look at that picture ONLY. DO NOT scroll down or swipe left/right to view others.
  
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  If you ask to use someone’s phone, use it for the purpose you asked to use it for and nothing else. Don’t check their emails, text messages, pictures, or social media accounts.
  

Everyday cell phones are changing growing and it’s always more exciting ways to communicate and share information. I’m by next year it will be more new and unbelievable features added to our phones.