Ethics Newsline®

Rushworth Kidder’s column last week on cell phone ethics connected with a lot of readers, who speed-dialed us with comments and suggestions for a Cell Phone User’s Code of Ethics.

Before moving on to the code itself, it’s worth noting that while many readers addressed the basic point that proper public cell phone use is a matter of civility, others raised some deeper and unexpected issues.

One, for example, contended that cell phones have become an “instrument of control” — control of the user’s immediate environment as a result of the infliction of the conversation on everyone nearby, and as a method of controlling the recipient of the call:

“I have friends who have provided all their children with cell phones under the guise of giving them ready access to call Mommy or Daddy in case of an emergency. Very responsible, eh? In practice, however, I have found these parental friends of mine are more interested in knowing where their children are every waking moment of the day, calling them 10 to 15 times per day. Now think about it, how would you have felt at 12 years old receiving a call from your Mommy 15 times EVERY day?”

Another reader observed that careless cell phone use has ripple effects, and once handed a thoughtless cell phone user this note: “Anyone who was sitting near you at the airport in Oklahoma City this afternoon overheard your many telephone conversations and would probably think that you are a friendly, intelligent, and successful individual. Your clients, on the other hand, might not appreciate knowing that others knew about the personal business you conducted.”

Another reader picked up on this angle: “Superior officials tend to become indispensable and underlings get all too few opportunities to learn to pick up responsibility. In the old days, when the boss was away, someone else was in charge, made decisions when needed. Today that happens less and less because the phone-carrying boss is always available. I think there will be a price to pay for that down the road.”

Taking these and other factors into account, what, then, should be written into a Cell Phone User’s Code of Ethics? Here is a first draft, extracted from your suggestions. Let us know your reactions and revision suggestions, and over the next couple of weeks we can craft a final version.

As a responsible cell phone user, I promise to:

• Limit any conversation that is audible to others to short and concise moments.
• Make every effort to move to a private place if I do have to take or make a call.
• Turn my phone ringer off when at public events or meetings.
• Refuse to discuss private matters when others can hear. 
• Not talk on my cell phone while driving, because doing so endangers others.
• Not disrespect my friends and co-workers by interrupting our conversations to take a call.
• When in the presence of others, never use a louder voice on the cell phone than I would in a normal conversation.
• Show, by example, that being respectful helps everyone and hurts no one.