OUR TURN: WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS FOR 2006?

CELL PHONE USERS COULD LEARN MANNERS IN 2006
FROM: THE GREENVILLE (SC) NEWS [LINK]
PUBLISHED FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2006

With Nick and Jessica divorcing and Britney and K-Fed on the outs, what's the use in even having hope for the new year?

Well, I guess if I had one dream for this year I'd have to hope for the return of etiquette to society.

I'm not thinking about anything unreasonable like keeping your elbows off the table or not wearing open-toed shoes after Labor Day. I mean cell phones.

First, neither cell phones nor their accessories are designed to serve as couture. Yes, they come with belt clips, but you're not required to wear them. Most people have cell phones, and we assume you have one, too. Put your phone in a jacket, pants pocket or purse. Oh yeah, we also think you look ridiculous when you wear your headset while shopping. Just leave it in the car.

Second, since you're going to stash your phone, go ahead and set that thing to vibrate when you receive a call. We don't need to know when you get a call, and we don't need your Kanye West ring tone to announce that you got one.

Third, if you're in public and receive a call that you have to take, excuse yourself to a secluded area that will allow you to complete your call as loudly as you desire. Not only do we not want to know when you get a call, we also don't care who you're talking to or what you're talking about.

Happy New Year.

Taft Matney, 33, lives in Greenville and is the president of a local public relations and governmental affairs firm. He can be reached by e-mail at taft@taftmatney.com or by phone at (864) 505-8866.