Cell Phone Manners Matter

Hello! My name is Gelica Salvador
... and I am a textaholic.

I feel like such a hypocrite doing a blog about cell phone manners, when I'm honestly the worst person with my cell phone. I got my first cell phone at what I now realize was a really young age - 12. Seriously, what could a twelve year old need with a cell phone? I guess I've just been really spoiled by my parents, haha. I'm actually like, the worst "textaholic" of life. Talking on the phone has never really been my style - I find it really awkward talking on the phone with a friend knowing that my parents can hear every word I'm saying thanks to my paper-thin walls. I prefer texting because its short, sweet, and oh so portable! I text everywhere, anywhere and almost anytime. I'm texting in school, on the bus, during meals ( I told you I was the worst D; ), at freaking 4 in the morning... every second of my unfortunate teenage life basically. It's really bad because I can be in like, two totally different conversations at a time. I'd be having a really serious conversation with my dad about units and at the same time I'd be talking to Selin about our plans for her birthday via text message. The worst part is he barely even minds because every one is just so used to my behaviour being like this. It's really bad, I know, but I get like unlimited texts a month and my super Filipino parents have raised me to take the most I can out of available resources, especially things labeled as "unlimited", "free", and our favorite - "buffet". I've come to realize that I can make the most of my cell phone privileges but still be respectful of those around me.

Although I can act disrespectful with my phone, that doesn't mean I don't notice when others act disrespectfully with their own phones. A prime example that I experience on an almost daily basis is people talking extremely loud on their cell phones o the bus. I get that I'm on public transit and I shouldn't be expecting people to use their indoor voices on the bus, but still! I don't really want to hear every detail of what went down during last night's party at full volume, thank you very much. There shouldn't be a problem with people talking on the phone in public; all they have to do is be respectful of those around them.

Anyways, this brings me to list five rules on cell phone etiquette that I will hopefully start to follow:
1. Don't use your cell phone when you're having an important conversation. Give the person your full attention.
2. Be respectful when you're in a public area. Don't talk at excessively loud volumes that can disturb the people around you.
3. If you're supposed to be spending time with a friend at their house or wherever, then don't busy yourself with another conversation on the phone. If you went over to their house to spend quality time with them then don't just ignore them and talk on the phone.
4. Dont talk on the phone while driving and definitely don't text either! Drivers should give their full attention to the task at hand - driving!
5. If you're at the movies, don't distract others by taking out your bright bright bright cell phone. Even worse, don't start a conversation! You also paid for the movie... why aren't you watching it?

Our society is so used to the bad behaviour we're practicing because of cell phones that they don't even care about the troubles it's causing some of us.