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Are you talking to me?

5 Places To Avoid Using Your Cell Phone

Everywhere you go, people are chatting on their cell phones. The grocery store, doctor’s offices, and even in the bathroom! Marketing agency, 11Mark, conducted a study last year – polling 1000 mobile-toting Americans about their bathroom and tech habits and the results might surprise you. They certainly surprised me!

Out of the 1000 people surveyed, 750 respondents confessed to using their cell phones in the bathroom. And by that, I mean … while on the toilet!

You really have to wonder what is so important that it can’t wait until you’re finished in the powder room. According to the survey, 67 percent are reading texts, but 63 percent admitted to answering a call while on the toilet. And a whopping 41 percent initiated a phone call while using the facilities.

Are you talking to me?

Talking on the cell phone while on the toilet – besides encouraging the spread of germs – can cause awkward moments for those around you.

A friend of mine relayed a funny (and very awkward) story that I’ll share. Allen was in a public restroom and heard a man in the next stall say, “How are you?” Allen, assuming the gentleman was talking to Allen as he was the only other person in the restroom, replied, “I’m well, thanks.” The man continued on, asking another question, which Allen of course answered… and then Allen heard, “Hang on a minute, Stan, someone’s talking to me from the other stall.”

Talk about an embarrassing moment! But who, really, was it most embarrassing for? Why would the man be talking on the phone while in a bathroom stall?

Back to the “spreading germs” comment I made above, here’s another shocking statistic that came out of the IT Toilet Survey that I’ll share with you: 92 percent of respondents wash their hands after using the restroom, but just 14 percent ever wash their cell phones. Just something to think about…

Keep it tech-free

The bathroom is just one of the places I recommend turning off the cell phone. Here’s a list of a few others that should be tech-free:

• At a theatre – When the lights are turned off, turn your phone off, too.
• At the dinner table – Give everyone your full attention, whether dining at home with family or out with friends.
• While driving – Goes without saying – keep both hands on the wheel.
• At the gym – Putting your cell phone down while at the gym will not only benefit you (as you are there to focus on your fitness), but is also courteous to your fellow gym-goers.
• In a library – The library is a quiet zone. Be respectful of that by taking your calls outside in the lobby or before you settle in with a good book.
• In elevators, buses or trains. Any place where people are cramped and personal space is limited—refrain from chatting on the phone.

– Margaret

Quote of the Month

“Equipped with cell phones, beepers, and handheld computers, the ‘conspicuously industrious’ blur the line between home and office by working anytime, anywhere.”

~ Jo Ann Davis

Posted by Margaret Page in Newsletters.