(UERJ -2004)DESPERATELY SEEKING MOBILE PHONE MANNE

(UERJ - 2004)

DESPERATELY SEEKING MOBILE PHONE MANNERS

Rudeness among cell phone 1users seems to be all the rage! As cellular or mobile phones proliferate rapidly, with more than 100 million U.S. users, so are complaints about cell phone rudeness. "No Cell Phones" signs are popping up all over. Restaurants, theaters, libraries, museums, doctors' offices have imposed bans on the devices because of boorish behavior.

"People on the street jabbering away, in restaurants, in public toilets for heaven's sake!" said New Yorker Judy Walters. She's not joking. According to an industry-sponsored telephone survey conducted in March, 39 percent of those polled said they would answer a cell phone call in the bathroom.

Cell phone devotees respond that there's way too much blame being placed on the devices and their users. "People should give cell phone users a break and quit slamming them," said Dina Medina of San Francisco. "Cell phones are a fact of life, are not going away and actually help improve people's lives." However, the following tips should be observed:

- Remember that the person you are with should take precedence over a call.

- Use 2caller ID to screen calls and let voice mail take them if they are not urgent.

- Use silent or vibrating options when indoors. Or just turn off the phone.

- Don't yell. There is no need to speak 3louder than you would on any other phone.

- Use text messaging if available.

- Keep your phone close at hand for first-ring answering.

- If it's noisy, call back from somewhere quieter.

- Call other cell users during business hours, and not during meal times.

DAVE CARPENTER

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The author's choice of pronoun - you - while listing the tips is intended to: