Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Cellphone etiquette question

The scene was a washroom at my workplace. I was contentedly washing my coffee cup at the sink and thought I was alone in the two-stall bathroom.

Then I heard a voice and half-turned: was someone talking to me? No, the voice was coming from inside the stall. Sound effects of the other business normally carried out there. Surely she would have hung up by now, I told myself.

No, the voice chatted calmly on. Time for the flush. Would she hang up now? She didn't. Only when she emerged and I stepped aside to let her use the single sink did she say goodbye to whoever she was talking to.

This got me wondering. As cell phones proliferate, who decides the protocol? What rules are evolving around the proper etiquette for their use?

Also, is there anywhere where they aren't used?

My experience in the washroom would suggest not. And what does this tell us about society?

Hmmm. Interesting...

1 comment:

  1. There most definitely should be a cell phone ban in the washroom.

    If you can believe it, I've even seen people use them in the change room of the swimming pool ... despite signage advising them against this!

    Time for Ms. Manners, I think.

    ReplyDelete