REGINA – Most places you look, you’ll find someone on their cell phone, texting or browsing social media.
Ahead of July’s “Cell Phone Courtesy Month”, one of the country’s largest phone providers surveyed Canadians on the social ‘faux pas’ and is urging us to improve our etiquette.
So, which phone habits get on your nerves? Global News surveyed people in downtown Regina:
“If you’re with someone, and the whole time, (they’re) texting someone else.”
“People who walk and text. They’re not looking up, they’re walking and not looking.”
The survey says nine in ten Canadians think smartphone use in public is annoying, but less than half of us believe we’re actually bothering other people.
Businesses like Henderson Cafe at the University of Regina have their own way of encouraging you to put the phone down – a sign that reads, “Please end your cell phone conversation before approaching counter. We are giving you our full attention. Please give us yours.”
The service industry might even see the most disrespectful routines.
“They don’t stop talking on their phone when I’m asking them what they need,” said Linda Bordass, who has worked at the Cafe for four years.
What if someone violates the policy?
“Just ignore the person on the cell phone and go on to the next customer,” Bordass said.
The feedback at Henderson Cafe has been positive, which proves you may just have to tell people their device should stay in their pocket.
Reginans agree:
“(I say), ‘Put it away!’ or, ‘Are you busy? Do you want me to go?'”
“If it’s a close friend, I’ll be like, ‘Hello?'”
“I don’t say much actually because sometimes I’m guilty of it too.”
But there may be a bigger problem: it seems only ten per cent of us responded that we regret putting our phones before our friends.
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