It, sadly, seems that I may not be the Queen Of Cell Phone Etiquette that I proclaimed myself to be when I first addressed this issue in a post several years ago. If I were the true queen my edict suggestion would surely have been more universally accepted. Well, as we queens say "never give up" so I want to make my suggestion one more time.
There's a lot of talk about cell phone etiquette, but there is an issue that I never hear discussed and I think it needs to be addressed. When you are talking to someone and one or both of you are on a cell phone it is not unusual to be talking, talking, talking and suddenly realize that no one is listening. The call has dropped.
Here's what usually happens with me when a call is dropped. I realize I'm talking to no one, so I immediately call back the person I was talking to. The call goes right to their voice mail because, of course, they are trying to call me back, getting my voice mail because I am trying to call them back. I think, oh, he/she is calling me back, so I wait a minute for the phone to ring. He/she thinks, oh, she is trying to call me back, and they wait a minute for the phone to ring. When the phone doesn't ring within a few moments, I think, oh, he/she is waiting for me to call back, so I call and he/she........well, you get the picture.
I'm suggesting an easy solution that will save us all a lot of time if only you will accept me as the Queen of Cell Phone Etiquette and follow this rule: The person who placed the original call is ALWAYS the one to call back. Simple. Easy. Problem solved.
You're welcome.
I guess if I were the real queen I would be able to come up with an edict for that guy standing next to you in line at Starbucks loudly describing his "conquest" from the night before.
Can you hear me now? :)
ReplyDeleteHi, dear Jeanie! This is so true! Call backs can turn into an endless game of phone tag sometimes and your rule should be law. It would save a lot of aggravation.
Re: that guy standing next to you in line at Starbucks. Sorry, it wasn't very gentlemanly of me to "kiss and tell." :)
I hope your week is going well, dear friend Jeanie. Thanks for the smiles!
Or send a text..."Call dropped, I'll call back."
ReplyDeleteMakes sense to me. Even better -- leave the phone at home!
ReplyDeleteI like your edict, Jeanie. I don't know why some people feel they need to discuss such a thing like the guy at Starbucks and in a public place of all things. I think discretion is the better way to go in situations like this :)
ReplyDeletebetty
This ingenious suggestion could only come from one of the beautiful minds that was the Tulsa Edison Class of. '65
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good idea. I hope everybody follows it.
ReplyDeleteI am posting this rule on my Facebook today! I am noting my source as the Queen Of Cell Phone Etiquette. That should be enough said. You have resolved quite an issue for the cell users world wide.
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestion!
ReplyDeleteGood idea Jeanie. As long as everyone who is ever likely to ring you knows that simple 'rule', there would be no problem. But, they probably don't, and you and the caller will go around and around in circles, ringing, can't get through, ringing again..... and so on! Can you, as the Queen of Cell Phone Etiquette make a world wide proclamation soon, much thanks!!! *smiles*
ReplyDeleteThis does seem like a simple solution!! I have been in this scenario several times :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! That sort of thing happens to me all the time and it makes me CRAZY.... the dropped calls AND the inappropriate conversations overheard at Starbucks.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a nice long weekend planned.
xo jj
I've had that happen with my husband before and called him--only because I hope he'll hear the call beep and realize I'm not still there. He tends to keep talking for a LONG stretch without realizing I'm no longer there! But if I don't get him on that first call back, I hang up and wait for him to call.
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