Phone owners need to use manners

Let us devise something called "cell-phone etiquette."

To those of you who feel inclined to punch in a quick seven digits on your phone, similar to a smoker lighting up a cigarette, for the treacherous 10 minute journey to class — is it really necessary? Is the walk to class so incredibly lonely that you must dial your significant other and confess your undying love for them every hour, on the hour, wherever you may be? Must you call your friend and gossip so loudly that everyone stuck walking the same pace as you hears every detail from last Saturday night?

Similarly, just as you would leave your phone turned off during church services, movies etc. … turn your phone off during class! I would be willing to bet you couldn't count how many times the haunting jingle of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" has pierced the silence of a lecture, calling out to its owner, only for them to actually muster up the nerve to step out of the room and take the call.

Finally, when you are in a fast food restaurant and the person behind the counter winces as they chime "may I help you" through gritted teeth, do not put your finger up as if to signal "one moment please, this call is more important than the 15 people waiting in line behind me." This is tacky, rude and encourages the person who is preparing your sandwich to "accidentally" spill a bit too much salt on the sub.

Let us all develop a more tactful approach to being trendy. A cell phone does not give you more power or privileges than everyone around you. Leave the phone at home, unless you intend to use it for something legitimate.

Laura Elsner

Sophomore, School of Liberal Arts

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