"Is it OK to talk on your cell phone when you're ordering food, getting your hair done at a salon, making a transaction at a bank, etc.?"
The Real Simple experts agreed with most of you. Joni Blecher, editorial director of LetsTalk.com, said, "It's rude to talk on the phone when you're interacting with others--no matter who they are."
Anna Post, resident technology-etiquette expert at the Emily Post Institute, added "And don't forget about the people around you--they will hear your conversation."
Jodi Smith, president of Mannersmith Consulting in Boston, agrees, "You should treat everyone with common decency and respect. So don't do it to anyone."
I have to admit I have been guilty of this as well. Although, unlike the majority of the female race, I am a horrible multitasker (Kory, on the other hand, is a great one!). If I am on the phone with someone, while trying to check out at a store I do both the person on the phone with me and the checkout clerk a huge disservice!
I don't hear what either of them are saying. So, I try to avoid it.
Why is it so hard to ignore a ringing phone! (Leaving the phone in the car is a great idea if you struggle with this like I do!)
You want to try another one?
What do you think, Can you ignore someone who "friends" you on a social-networking site?
(question and responses taken from September 2008 issue of Real Simple magazine. Article was titled "Manners 2.0 and written by Katie McElveen)
12 comments:
If I don't know the person, I always ignore them because I really don't even have the time to spend on the computer that I spend on it already! :)
You can totally ignore someone you don't know - it's the people who you know but don't really care to keep in touch with that are tricky...like the ex-colleague you never really got along with...
I ignore the people I don't know at all... I figure that they have the wrong person and if they don't then it creeps me out that they want to be my friend and I have no clue who they are.
Is it really that big of a deal to acknowledge an aquaintance on lets say Facebook? Being "friends" on Facebook doesn't mean they are coming for dinner on Saturday night. Just friendly contact in my opinion.
Now total strangers, I ignore.
Friends I have lost touch with have contacted me via Facebook, it is nice to reconnect.
I don't even know what you are talkig about! I am over 50, you know!
Mom
I agree with Laura - I acknowledge only if I have time & the inclination to.
lol...okay, I almost posted this question on my blog because I am having this problem! I just joined facebook and one of my friend from high school's sister wants to be friends. I think she is a sweet girl but I'm not sure what to do. My goal in facebook isn't to have 1000 friends like some other people. I just wanted to connect with my friends and maybe some old classmates not everyone and their sister. :)
So I have no opinion here and I will await the answer!
oh, and for the record, if I don't know someone I don't feel bad at all about ignoring them. It's the people that I know or know of that puts me in an awkward position because I don't want them to think I'm mean.
Hmmm, interesting questions. If it was me, I'd ignore. Ben & I share an account though. I think we'd both agree to ignore total strangers. However, Ben is nicer than me and anyone he vaguely knows who requests he will allow. That's why he has like 400 friends, I guess. Most are students, etc. I guess I figure its the same as a blog; don't post anything that you wouldn't want a lot of people to see.
As far as the etiquette goes, I do think it's ok to ignore. Some people choose to reach out further than others and I think it's a personal choice.
I agree with ignoring total strangers. Anyone else that I know I would accept because I don't post anything online that people don't already know about me. I'm always worried about hurting someone's feelings if I ignore their request and I know them.
a person who always knows weirdly lots about me (even though we practically NEVER have any contact) just asked to be my friend. i SO wanted to say no because it's already a weird relationship, but i felt i had to say yes to be nice. but i don't think it's etiquette that would demand that i say yes. i think it's my tendency towards people pleasing.
and i'd say no to a stranger in a heartbeat without worrying about etiquette or niceness.
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