New Year’s Resolution: Improve Your Tech Etiquette

Love social media? Great. But what about social reality?

You might feel the need to tweet about having dinner “W/ my bestest” but consider the potential animosity that may be silently shooting your way from across the table. Face it: Our attachment to our mobile devices has hit an extreme, so much so that a Pew survey revealed that 75% of us consider it okay to use a smartphone from inside a public bathroom. A bathroom? Really? Is our need for digital down time that low?

(More on Techland: New Year’s Resolution: Clean Up Your Search Results)

When it comes to technology etiquette (techiquette, if you will), it seems as though we’re in two camps: 1) The habitual users, and 2) The frequently annoyed by camp number one. Etiquette expert Anna Post explained to Discovery News in September that what may be rude to some is absolutely fine behavior to others. “It’s just so funny sometimes the difference in mentality between generations,” she said. “I might be a little annoyed if my boyfriend took a call at the table, whereas for a younger generation, this is a normal action. Its considerate to answer the phone because it might be important, and to me that’s just a fascinating distinction.”

So courtesy is generational? I’m sorry, but I don’t buy that. I’ll never forget my first iPhone toting friend and her abrupt decent from our semi-serious conversation at dinner one night as she thumbed through her latest apps. I felt boring and put out, and since then, fiddling with a phone while I’m speaking has become my top gripe with humanity. (Really. I even hate this more than people who cut in line.) “When the technology almost changes before the society can adapt, it can be confusing for people,” Post said. “We don’t want to be offensive to others, but we have to be using the technology to even start to figure out what can be offensive.” No offense to Ms. Post, but I think the jury is REAL IN.

(More on Techland: New Year’s Resolution: Send Smarter Emails)

It’s rude to leave your phone on the table during a date, just as it’s rude to light up that distracting glowy screen so that you can live-tweet the plot of Black Swan to the world. (Yeah, I’m looking at you, girl two rows over.) The fact is that I love technology and that I can connect with friends without being in front of a traditional computer screen. But, I don’t love what it’s doing to our culture. So next time you’re at dinner, turn your phone off, keep it in your pocket, and for goodness sake don’t chew with your mouth open.

endicott1962

And please don’t judge me in church when I use my iphone app to follow along in the bible online. This gives me immediate access to dozens of versions of the bible. I am NOT following facebook or emailing. Honest
http://thecaffeinatedramblingsofchris.wordpress.com/ Chris

I do the same thing. I actually use my to take notes. I can type ten times faster on my phone than I can write, so it just makes sense.
jroddz

You are still being rude, since of course not everyone in church has a shiny new smartphone with a bible app. You are creating a secret class envy right in church. Something Jesus would probably frown on.
Rorschach

Lost cause. 100%
RichardSRussell

Remember when people walking down the street, all by themselves, talking out loud to the air, were universally considered to be crazy? Take it from me, jerks, crazy would be an upgrade to what we think of you now.
r1zr1z

In olden times, important people left their names with the ushers/Maitre D so they could be alerted in the event their presence was required elsewhere. Please feel free to leave your phone on the table while we dine when you are waiting to hear that:

1. Your patient has gone into labor/emergency surgery and your presence is required at the hospital.

2. The jury has come back with the verdict for your/your client’s (capital) case and your presence is required in the courtroom.

In both cases, of course, you will have to leave immediately, and I completely understand.

In all other cases, I assume that my being there in person will be more important to you than a phone call from someone who isn’t, and you will turn your phone off and keep it out of sight. If this is not the case, please accept my apologies for attempting to dine with you at an inconvenient time. I’ll be leaving now, please let me know when you are free so we can try this again (not).

Just so you know I walk the walk, when I was home for xmas of my sophomore year in college, I had a finger amputated (by accident). The hospital called my mother, who was a nurse and worked there. We did not call my father, who had no medical skills. We told him when he got home from work that evening.