Remember your manners when using

With the increasing use of technology, many people seem to be losing their sense of common courtesy. In a recent survey of 150 executives, 63% said that cellphone users are less polite now than they were three years ago. Following are tips and reminders for limiting the negative effects of communication technology.

People should treat e-mail as seriously as they would any written correspondence by using proper grammar, salutations, and spelling. They should also think carefully before sending “flaming” e-mail messages, sending e-mail messages outside the chain of command, or forwarding someone else’s potentially sensitive or confidential e-mail without their knowledge or permission.

Most cellphones and pagers have three setting options: ring, vibrate, and off. Each setting is appropriate at certain times. For professional uses and environments, the ringer option on a phone or pager should be a sound that is neither annoying nor loud. The vibrate mode is appropriate during meetings and in any public setting where a ring is rude and distracting, and when the device can be discreetly carried or held. A device placed on a table that vibrates can be more distracting than an audible ring. During special events (e.g., funerals, religious services) or important meetings (e.g., job interviews), a cellphone should be turned off. Exiting such an event to answer or even check for calls is distracting, and unless the situation is an emergency, it’s rude.