I read the article on PC World's website about so called blunders that people make with their cell phones on the go. I am all for being tactful when using a mobile device on the go, whether it be a tablet, phone, or multimedia device. Unfortunately, the author comes off as snotty. The following is a point by point rebuttal to what they've written.
Texting/Talking in a Checkout Line
The individual in question refers to this as arrogance and an example of being self absorbed. I refer to their point as obnoxious and elitist to boot. Let me explain something, Christina DesMarais. I work for a major retail company in this country as a cashier. There have been countless people who have come through my line while texting with their phone or even talking on the phone. As far as I was concerned, as long as the paid for their items, I was fine. For others who get irritated, that's life. That customer was there first.
Furthermore, I have no problem ringing up items while the customer is on their phone. If I have to ask the customer a question, I simply do so as politely as I can. If their total is showing, I get their attention. It's really that simple and not a big deal.
Walking while texting/e-mailing
This one's really entertaining. I will agree that it's important to have an idea of your own surroundings. Unfortunately, DesMarais stretches this one a bit further. She states that the physical world can be interesting if only people would put away their device and pay attention. Allow me to provide a different perspective on this one.
Texting while driving is a bad thing. Walking is a different matter entirely. While there are those who are obviously not so good with multitasking (and will thus walk into a water fountain if they try to walk and text at the same time), there are others who are quite capable of doing so. Peripheral vision exists for a reason. Bottom line: if they're not hurting anybody, don't make their so called problem your problem. Not everyone's going to think like you do.
Having the speakers on in public
In some places, such as a classroom or a library, I would agree that having your device's speakers on while playing a game or a video is not such a good idea. A family iPad or tablet should come with ground rules so others are taken into consideration. On a bus, at a cafe, or on the sidewalk... it's another story. As for the person who can not filter out certain noises of games that they play privately, they're the one with the problem depending on where it happens. A decent audio player and a set of headphones would solve the problem.
On the John....
Surveys may state that people are disgusted when others use their phone while they are on the toilet. Allow me to flush this one down so to speak. First of all, most public restrooms have stalls with doors that close and lock. So it's not like anybody else in the restroom's going to see what you're doing. Second of all, it's nobody's business what one is doing while on the toilet. Finally, the person on the other end of the line is not very likely to find out what you're doing if texting is going on.
Bottom line: mind your own business and leave the device user alone.
Being less than fully present while talking to others
Just because I'm not looking at your face does not mean I'm not listening to what you're saying. To a degree, I can multitask. Why do I have to look directly in somebody else's eye while talking to them all the time? I'm facing that person, right? They should be able to hear what I'm saying and I should be able to hear what they're saying, right? Then what's the problem if I'm looking at my phone for the latest news? The author mentions somebody she doesn't like because of their mobile viewing habits. In reality, I wouldn't be surprised if she was simply annoyed because the other person was truly capable of multitasking.
Bottom line: Enough with forcing your social views down somebody else's throat. The world does not revolve around you.
Photos and Tagging
This one I can understand. It's always important to respect one's privacy, and when they ask that photos not be taken or tagged, it's a good idea to comply with their wishes. In the example that was given though, the person blowing off the bridal shower should have just told that friend that they were not in the mood for such things instead of hiding the fact that they were simply blowing it off. Now that wouldn't justify the tagging without permission, but it's also important to remember that alcohol will make anybody forget and do something anyway.
Bottom line: No examples were needed of why a person's privacy should be respected. That one should go without saying, and people do need to be educated about it.
Being "antisocial" with the phone
There's family time, but there's also different methods of communication. As an individualist, I don't care what people do at the dinner table so long as no one else is hurt. This is one example where the author tries to pass something off as antisocial. No, it's not. What is going on here is that she finds it unacceptable to her. If a group of people want to be on their devices, that does not mean they're being antisocial. Sometimes, they screw around on Facebook and comment on each others' posts. Other times, they're doing their own thing. Allow me to expand further on that.
I was the President of a campus group in college. I learned the hard way that nobody could force a group of geeks and nerds to socialize face to face all the time. It just doesn't work, especially since face to face is not the only form of communication that exists. As for the whole argument about a family staying together, not all families were designed to hang out and spend time together all the time. I'm an excellent example of that. I get along much better with my sister and my mother because I am not with them every single day. I prefer going off and doing my own thing.
Bottom line: respect the individual instead of forcing group think on them.
Cell phones in confined spaces
I would hardly consider a department store a confined space, unless it was a very tiny. DesMarais wanted to rip that phone from the person trying to help somebody else with a personal problem. and stomp on it. She cites research indicating that conversations on phones can distract the person next to you. She claims she just couldn't tune it out.
In my view, she just did not want to tune it out. Here's the thing. There have been plenty of people who have talked on their phones while they're next to me. I've been able to cheerfully ignore them. If I can do it, so can she! Not everyone is going to consider my presence, and I have come to accept that. I adjust accordingly. The reason I can do that is because I recognize that the world does not revolve around me.
Bottom line: The world does not revolve around you. If a person is on their phone next to you, learn how to shut them out. Contrary to what you may think, it can be done. It simply requires effort.
Shushing another person while on the phone
This point is actually quite valid. I have learned the hard way not to dial numbers that require me to talk to a computer so I can get information on an existing account when there are people nearby talking. Timing is the key, and unfortunately, people don't always get it right.
On the other hand, it's also a double standard to ask device users to be considerate of others and not show the same courtesy on the sidewalk if the person is clearly on their phone trying to give information to a computer system so they can check their account balance. Five more seconds is really not that much to ask.
Bottom line: Don't get mad at the person trying to shush you. Just shrug your shoulders and move on. There's no need to make an enemy out of that person. If you want device users to respect you, you need to respect them too. Consideration is a two way street.
Texting someone within earshot
To a point I can see the point made, but to a point I disagree. On the one hand, walking that 20 feet to get the person's attention is a better way to communicate... sometimes. However, what if the other person was in a different room with the door closed? What if they were sleeping and you didn't want to wake them in the event that their phone was set to vibrate or silent? What if I wanted to joke that I was right behind someone in good fun? Each situation is different to be sure, but please don't refer to it as lazy.
Bottom line: Not all instances of texting within earshot means you're lazy. Each situation is different.
Conclusion
While the PC World article does bring some good points to the table, the majority of it comes off as snobbish as certain social values appear to be pushed upon the reader (at least that's how I felt). Texting during a college course lecture or while driving would have made for a better discussion. Instead, the article comes off as propaganda for how things should be as far as socializing is concerned. I won't tell the author how to live their life as long as they don't tell me how to live mine.
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