Technology and Rudeness

Have you ever experienced this humiliating scenario? In a public place, you answer a stranger's question only to realize that person is not talking to you or, for that matter,anyone else in your immediate vicinity. You look closer and notice a cell phone, or one of those insidious jawbones perched on his ear. The person is oblivious to you, and engaged with another, an unseen voice in cellular space. You look around to see if anyone heard your mistake. Embarrassing.

Or you're in line for coffee... a sandwich...to pay for groceries.  The person whose turn it is... is trying to wind down a cell phone call before ordering.  Everybody has to wait longer.

I think the practice of talking on cell phones when we're out doing things makes us less social....not more. We have fewer polite surface conversations with strangers.  On the other hand, we know way too much of some people's business because THEY TALK ON THE PHONE ABOUT IT IN PUBLIC...LOUDLY.

Text messaging can be a good way to keep those cellular conversations between the concerned parties.  But then there are those patience-testing situations when we're in a conversation with someone who is who is periodically reading and answering text messages or checking email on their smart phone.  Kinda makes you feel that what you have to say isn't very important to them.

Technology helps us multitask, which can be efficient, but if we're not careful, it can override in-person communication.

In an op ed for the Wall Street Journal, writer, Rachel Marsden, wondered, "Does anyone care that technology is destroying social graces and turning us into rude jerks.?  She suggests a few rules:  One is.....If the person on the other end of your ringing phone "...isn't dying and you aren't a heart surgeon," let it go to voicemail. Another....

"When I set up a meeting with someone, they are the only person in the room." Perhaps I could add to that. When you walk into a meeting or social engagement silence your phone and... that means all the beeps and alarms... and put it away.

If you must talk on the phone in a public place try to go to move out of earshot from the people around you.  If you're in line and must take or make a call, keep it short...and necessary:  What kind of sandwich can I bring home?  See you at 6:30.  Bye.  Be off the phone by the time it's your turn to order.

Philippians 2:3 is a good verse to help keep us from becoming technology narcissists: "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves."

Don't you love being with people who treat you as if you're the most important person in the world...and the only one on their mind at that moment. That's a good principle for technology etiquette.