Every year, more and more people are getting cell phones or mobile phones as they are also called. In fact, in many parts of the world people will have one or two mobiles but won’t have a traditional land line in their home. While the rise of mass wireless communication has overall been a very good thing and has been able to actually lift people out of poverty by enabling communications for small and micro-businesses, there has been one major drawback; those chowderheads who use cell-phone technology for inappropriate means in public places. This is an experience common to everyone, no matter which country they live in; there will be a nice, quiet public space like a movie theater a lovely setting at a park, the seating area of a transit ferry in a scenic area, or the reception area of beautiful building, and some nitwit with no manners will be shouting obscenities or yelling horrendously personal details into his or her cell phone, annoying everyone around and disrupting what should be a serene situation, ruining it. When travelling on public transit, the situation also occurs; while all around is quiet, there is always at least one person with an obnoxiously loud ring tone who proceeds to bark out a conversation into the phone and drive fellow passengers insane. When such a person is requested to keep quiet, he or she will almost always hiss “Be quiet, can’t you see I’m on the phone?”
The problem is so bad that in some opera houses, theaters and cinemas, radio frequency signal jammers are used to prevent boors from interrupting performances with their mobile phone usage. In some countries, because signal jammers are illegal, new auditoriums have a wire mesh or Faraday cages surrounding them which block cell phone signals without violating signal jamming laws. With mobile phones comes the responsibility to use the technology appropriately and to be polite. For example, while using public transportation, if a cell phone ban isn’t already in place, either turn off your phone to avoid disturbing other commuters (the bus ride or train ride may be their only quiet time in the entire day – let them enjoy it), or keep conversations short, to the point, and quiet. What’s even better is to reply using a text message rather than answering the call. In movie theaters or other places where a performance is taking place, turn the phone OFF. Even texting, although quiet, can be disrupting due to the light from the phone’s screen. Remember that people pay good money to see a film; they didn’t pay to watch you disrupt their movie experience.
Finally, if you’re in a public place, don’t have private conversations that others will be able to overhear. It’s just embarrassing for all parties involved. If the situation ever does arise that a private conversation over a mobile phone in a public place cannot be avoided, do your best to move to an area where you can be alone and avoid disturbing other people as much as possible. Furthermore, speak in quiet tones and avoid yelling. Technology is a great thing, and mobile phones are one of the dandiest devices that have ever been invented. They make life easier and they make life better. In order to keep things pleasant, use common courtesy while out in public, and make the day that much more pleasant for everyone you come across simply by annoying them less.
