How Do You Teach Technology Etiquette ?

Perhaps the better title of this post would have been "Just because we can does it mean we should ?" but that may be misleading or altogether confusing.  I'm specifically only referring to etiquette when using technology for communication purposes.

It is almost mind-boggling to consider the communication options that technology affords us.  I remember it being less than a decade ago when I had my first workplace video conference call.  I found it amazing to be able to see and hear business partners that were thousands of miles away.  Sure the images were limited and a little grainy, but I was in awe (and this even with my employer's technology being well behind the curve at that time with the equipment we were using).

Fast forward to this year.  I have been on a few video chats with many different people from many miles away ... on my PHONE!  The picture and sound quality are much better than they were in that office chat, and at least one of these situations involved multiple devices being connected (i.e. my phone to someone else's tablet and they are connected to someone else's phone).  Simply AMAZING right?!

And yet ... the social etiquette of these face to face conversations was nothing near what it would have been had we been speaking in person.  This has also been the case when I have received phone calls during a time that text messaging would have been more appropriate to the topic of conversation.  It also goes the other way, where we get so used to texting others that we forget the option we have to actually call and verbally converse with one another.

It seems to me that we'd all be better served to consider the time, place, mode, and purpose of conversations we are having through use of any electronics.
Does everyone need to be connected in on this call or video chat?  Does this need to be discussed now or would it be better after kids and pets have gone to bed or outside?  Wouldn't it be easier to text since the connection is spotty?

Bottom line: just because the technology exists doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.


Song Of The Day:
I'm sharing "Talking Loud And Clear" by OMD with today's post.  You've likely never heard this song before, but it's a classic 80's synth-pop tune.  But that isn't why it relates to today's post.  If you take the 4 minutes to listen to the tune, I suggest paying attention to the lyrics as they are poetic and beautiful.

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Are You Really That Unaware ?

Cell phone etiquette seems to be a big area of opportunity in the world today.

I refuse to believe that people are purposefully choosing to be that rude, but rather believe they must just not realize that what they are doing on or with their cell phones is completely inappropriate for their surroundings and circumstances.

Here are a few recent examples I have witnessed:
 - A woman answered her phone in the middle of an elementary school program ... and proceeded to have a not quiet at ALL conversation as the program proceeded on.  The conversation was about shoes ... I doubt it was "urgent" in any sense of the word.
 - A prospective employee received, responded to, and even chuckled out loud about text messages ... during the interview!  The laughter suggests that these were not "urgent" communications that required his immediate attention.
 - Another woman played back video she had just recorded for her grandson to watch during the next musical number being played by the band.  The grandson had been getting a drink of water and missed the recorded song.
 - A group of friends in a restaurant spent most of their mealtime together with their eyes focused on their own individual phones.  When the waiter stopped by to check in on the table he was ignored ... then a short while later one of the people at the table loudly complained that their waiter hadn't been by in like forever!
 - During a lesson at church, young men (teenagers) were playing games on their mobile devices instead of listening to the lesson ... and seemed bothered that the teacher kept asking them questions!

So consider this a gentle suggestion to think about your actions and reactions in public locations as related to your mobile devices.  If you don't catch this gentle hint, I am sure I will have your attention when I loudly and embarrasingly call you out for your inappropriate behavior the next time I see you make these mistakes.  :)

Song Of The Day:
The song "Coming Around Again" by Carly Simon is my odd choice for today's post.  The tie in may not be obvious for you, so let me explain my thought process.  In the lyrics of the song, the various characters described by the artist seem distracted or unaware of the way their actions or words are hurting those around them.  Don't be that guy or gal.  You're better than this!  :)

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