Tuesday, July 3, 2007
about cell phones and signs....
I agree with minimizing the negativity. If it were up to me, I wouldn't make signs that said "NO," or "Absolutely Not," or "NO EXCEPTIONS!!" Also, if it were up to me, I would be tolerant of people who were using their cell phone in the library but being reasonably quiet and respectful. My unasked-for two cents, inspired by this funny comic strip:
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3 comments:
I don't know. I think it's a generational difference in manners - I'm 35, my friends who are in their 20s not only answer during a dinner of just the two of us, but go on to have 20 minute conversations. People use them while they are peeing in the Target bathroom. Idiot drivers won't hang up and drive. Rude people talk on their phones while paying for things in stores and the post office, completely ignoring the clerk. Their rudeness has reached the point of needing "ABSOLUTELY NO" type of signs. They just don't get it. BTW, I mean this about most cell phone addicts, not just those in their 20s.
Becky
I should clarify... I feel that in the context of a public library setting, there have to be ways to let patrons know we expect them to be courteous with their cell phone use without resorting to the punitive connotations of the "absolutely no exceptions" terminology.
I also feel that a lack of manners associated with cell phone use (or for that matter, rude behavior in general) is not limited to a particular generation, age group, or class of people who may or may not be "addicted" to their cell phones. I meet just as many polite teenagers as rude senior citizens, and so on. Unfortunately, bad manners are equal-opportunity offenders.
Good points. In this day and age, it's difficult to separate people from their cell phones, even in the library. The noise level of some libraries is also growing in volume. A library can be more welcoming and useful to people if they are allowed to use phones, but reminded of being courteous and setting them to a low volume or on vibrate.
The signs in the library definitely need to be updated. I'll try to start a discussion on the staff blog soon. We can post possible ideas for wording there or on people's own blogs. I'd like to have the negative words changed to positive, welcoming ones.
Vanessa
p.s.: That's a neat image you've uploaded.
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