THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO MOBILE ETIQUETTE
As a digital gentleman, I’m not just here to show you my exquisite collection of rare vintage Italian motorcars and discuss the cost benefit analysis of importing your own Jamaican coffee, I’m also here how to show you how to act like a gentleman (or gentlewoman) in an age of information and instant gratification. Here are my thoughts on actions becoming a gentleman in the digital space.
1) Don’t use your mobile device in a social setting.
Face-to-face interactions have precedence over virtual ones. Don’t check how the Red Wings are doing, or tweet about your meal while at dinner with your better half.
2) If you’ve got to take a call on your mobile phone, keep your voice down!
Other people don’t really care that you just sold 5,000 reams of paper to that new client. Be especially mindful if you’re on a bluetooth device, since it’s more difficult to muffle your conversation.
3) No one likes a know-it-all.
Your phone isn’t just a phone, it’s literally gives you access to the sum of all human knowledge. But that doesn’t mean you should fire up Google every time a bar bet gets out of hand. Put the phone away and look up trivia later.
4) Really? A picture?
We love using our cameraphones to document our life: the food we eat, places we’re at, fun times had. But remember that some people feel extremely uncomfortable in front of or around the camera. While it’s not usually illegal to take snaps of people in public, it can be extremely bad manners. And remember food is meant to be savored, not archived.
