| 
It's come to my immediate attention that some, not
all, black people need a lesson in how to avoid mass ignorance.
While at the bank the other day, I found myself waiting in an unusually
long line. Now, I bank with a black owned bank and this bank,
no matter how many people are in line, will only open two teller
windows max at any given time, adding to the frustration of their
customers. But I digressed. Believe it or not, this
isn't about the horrible customer service of the bank.
As I am waiting in a line intertwined in my own thoughts, I am suddenly
jolted back to reality when I hear a loud beep followed by a loud,
"Where you at!"
Immediately I look around to find the idiot who is in the bank with
their chirp on full blast so the whole world can partake in their
conversation.
Then, as if that wasn't enough, the person chirps back, "I'm
in the bank," which is followed by "What you doin’,"
which is followed by “I said I'm at the bank. Don't worry
about where I be at!"
Well for starters, I say to myself, you can get behind a preposition
and learn to speak English properly. If the entire world has
to be subjected to your conversation, the least you can do is speak
correct English.
Much to my amazement, this conversation
goes on for several minutes and I realize by looking at the line
that I am not the only one rolling my eyes and annoyed by the loud
and intrusive conversation.
I realized at that very moment that like driver's licenses and children,
everyone doesn't need a phone with two-way capabilities because
there is a certain amount of phone etiquette required these days
that many of us have not learned.
First, there is a reason why all phones
come with a vibrator and the option for silent mode. Don't
be afraid to use it, especially when you find yourself in public
areas.
Second, it's okay to let your phone go to voicemail, that's why
we have it. Don't feel compelled to answer your phone every time
it rings, especially when you're in a theater full of people  trying
to watch a movie that we paid a ridiculously large amount of money
to see in the first place.
And speaking of voicemail, we don't need to hear the entire song
play before we can leave you a message. Unlike you, we actually
have a life and don't want to be forced to listen to a song that
we don't even like in the first place just to have the opportunity
to say our name before we are cut off because your song took up
all of the time allotted for any type of message.
Now I know you take great pride in your newly downloaded ring tone,
but please don’t let your phone ring on and on just for the sake
of “showing off.” Answer the damn thing or turn it off!
Next, if you work in an office, respect your co-workers and turn
the volume down or off on your phone.
Please don't have me standing at the check out stand waiting to
be checked out while you send a text message to your boyfriend.
I know it doesn't seem like this rule applies any more, but
I am the customer and the customer is always right.
Finally, as if driving in Los Angeles
wasn't dangerous enough, now I have to look out for DWT drivers,
"driving while texting." Often times these drivers are
worse than the other drivers because they just flat aren't looking
at the road, but rather their phones key pad in an attempt to spell
out a message that could wait to be sent at another time.
Please take this the wrong way.
Phone etiquette, like manners at the dinner table, is very necessary.
As much as you don't want me in your business is as much as I don't
want to be in your business. So for the good of the order, let's
avoid mass ignorance when using our cell phones.
Kennedy Johnson is a black writer who lives
somewhere in Los Angeles and can be reached at [email protected].
|
