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“ Increased, Irritating, Invasive, Inconsiderate, Insensitive, Interruptions of Cell Phones and Their Users”

Written by: Glenn Ebersole

Article Overview: My personal experiences the past few weeks have provided “up close and personal” confirmation of people becoming more and more rude with their cell phones. And the personal observations are backed up by many polls, which indicate such findings as: cell phone rudeness is the #1 complaint of diners (Zagat Restaurant Survey); the most abhorred uses of cell phones (according to USA Today) are over dinner (86%), in a meeting (88%), in a movie (96%) and at a funeral (98%); and the worst cell phone habit is unnecessarily loud conversations in public places (Spovate market research). So you ask me what can be done to try to reverse the rudeness of our cell phone environment? Here are my suggestions for some simple guidelines for cell phone etiquette.

“ Increased, Irritating, Invasive, Inconsiderate, Insensitive, Interruptions of Cell Phones and Their Users”

“ Increased, Irritating, Invasive, Inconsiderate, Insensitive, Interruptions of Cell Phones and Their Users”
By: J. Glenn Ebersole, Jr., Founder & Chief Executive of J. G. Ebersole Associates and The Renaissance Group ™

My personal experiences the past few weeks have provided “up close and personal” confirmation of people becoming more and more rude with their cell phones. And the personal observations are backed up by many polls, which indicate such findings as: cell phone rudeness is the #1 complaint of diners (Zagat Restaurant Survey); the most abhorred uses of cell phones (according to USA Today) are over dinner (86%), in a meeting (88%), in a movie (96%) and at a funeral (98%); and the worst cell phone habit is unnecessarily loud conversations in public places (Spovate market research).

What an embarrassing commentary this is! Please permit me to share my personal experiences in the last couple weeks that exemplify the above:
1. While meeting with a client for dinner, a business executive at the next table in this fine dining restaurant took a cell phone call and held a conversation without leaving his table. He spoke in a loud voice and we could not help but hear his conversation.
2. At a well attended professional association leadership conference and during the keynote speaker’s remarks, a bank executive attending the conference took a cell phone call in the middle of the speaker’s remarks and then proceeded to talk to the caller without leaving his seat.
3. During the viewing of the film, Good Night & Good Luck” at one of our local movie theaters, a patron’s cell phone went off with an irritating ring tone and the
patron took the call and talked loudly during the film, until he was asked to leave.
4. At the memorial service of a dear friend & business associate, someone’s cell phone rang loudly with a distinctive ring tone during the minister’s remarks about the life of my friend.

And sad to say, I could list even more examples within the same time frame. Whatever happened to common sense and common courtesy? Why do we witness this rudeness, bad manners and selfish behavior all around us today?
In another article I wrote, I raised the question of “Do we control our email or does our email control us?” It seems a valid corollary question for this article is “Do we control our cell phones or do they control us?” It is shameful to admit I believe the latter is true.


1. Turn off your cell phone when you enter movie theaters, churches, museums, libraries, art galleries, live theatre, concert halls and other public places. Or if you have some valid compelling need to have your sell phone there, please turn your cell phone on “vibrate” and if called, please leave the room to take the call.
2. Keep any public conversations brief and arrange to get back to the caller when you are not in a public place.
3. Use common sense and turn off your cell phone before a board or other business meeting or a job interview.
4. Turn off your cell phone when you are at someone else’s home or office.
5. Do not set a ringer to play some favorite ring tone, that although you may
love to hear, others will find it irritating.
6. Use your normal speaking volume on your cell phone.
7. Control your cell phone instead of allowing your cell phone to control you.
8. Do not use your cell phone to try to impress others, because using a cell phone is not really that impressive any more.
9. Show respect for others you are with and do not take cell phone calls while on business or social engagements.
10. Follow airline rules for cell phones whenever traveling by air.

Would you like more information on what you can do to make sure you are not being found guilty of increased irritating, invasive, inconsiderate, insensitive interruptions of cell phones and their users? If yes, please contact Glenn Ebersole at www.renaissanceman4u.com or by email at jgecoach@aol.com today!

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