Even a ringtone that's intended to be humorously dreadful will wear thin very quickly -- it's unlikely anyone really wants to hear a tinny, digital rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In" or "My Humps," no matter how hilariously ironic the idea sounds.

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Show Some Restraint

The chief convenience of cell phones lies, of course, in their portability. You can get a phone call nearly anywhere, anytime, all but removing the need to be "near a phone" to stay in touch. But just because you can take a call anywhere doesn't mean you necessarily should, especially if you're in a public place, in line at the store, or, worst of all, in the movie theater.

Some calls can comfortably be ignored and returned later. However, if you absolutely must answer your phone in such circumstances, keep your voice down, your conversation brief, and, whenever possible, step away from others. Unfortunately, your phone conversations are probably not as fascinating to complete strangers as you might like to think.

Tone It Down a Bit

Personalized ringtones can say a lot about a person. Unfortunately, a poorly chosen ringtone most often says that you're someone with no sense of taste or decorum. A ringing phone in a library or doctor's office is obnoxious enough by itself -- why compound the issue with an annoying ringtone? Even a ringtone that's intended to be humorously dreadful will wear thin very quickly -- it's unlikely anyone really wants to hear a tinny, digital rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In" or "My Humps," no matter how hilariously ironic the idea sounds.

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sn't mean you necessarily should, especially if you're in a public place, in line at the store, or, worst of all, in the movie theater.

Some calls can comfortably be ignored and returned later. However, if you absolutely must answer your phone in such circumstances, keep your voice down, your conversation brief, and, whenever possible, step away from others. Unfortunately, your phone conversations are probably not as fascinating to complete strangers as you might like to think.

Tone It Down a Bit

Personalized ringtones can say a lot about a person. Unfortunately, a poorly chosen ringtone most often says that you're someone with no sense of taste or decorum. A ringing phone in a library or doctor's office is obnoxious enough by itself -- why compound the issue with an annoying ringtone? Even a ringtone that's intended to be humorously dreadful will wear thin very quickly -- it's unlikely anyone really wants to hear a tinny, digital rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In" or "My Humps," no matter how hilariously ironic the idea sounds.

One of th

eep your voice down, your conversation brief, and, whenever possible, step away from others. Unfortunately, your phone conversations are probably not as fascinating to complete strangers as you might like to think.

Tone It Down a Bit

Personalized ringtones can say a lot about a person. Unfortunately, a poorly chosen ringtone most often says that you're someone with no sense of taste or decorum. A ringing phone in a library or doctor's office is obnoxious enough by itself -- why compound the issue with an annoying ringtone? Even a ringtone that's intended to be humorously dreadful will wear thin very quickly -- it's unlikely anyone really wants to hear a tinny, digital rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In" or "My Humps," no matter how hilariously ironic the idea sounds.

One of th

s can say a lot about a person. Unfortunately, a poorly chosen ringtone most often says that you're someone with no sense of taste or decorum. A ringing phone in a library or doctor's office is obnoxious enough by itself -- why compound the issue with an annoying ringtone? Even a ringtone that's intended to be humorously dreadful will wear thin very quickly -- it's unlikely anyone really wants to hear a tinny, digital rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In" or "My Humps," no matter how hilariously ironic the idea sounds.

One of th

Even a ringtone that's intended to be humorously dreadful will wear thin very quickly -- it's unlikely anyone really wants to hear a tinny, digital rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In" or "My Humps," no matter how hilariously ironic the idea sounds.

One of the great advantages of most modern cell phones is that they can download new ringtones -- including several that don't set one's teeth on edge. Pick out something that's distinctive without being utterly regrettable -- or, alternatively, go with a basic ring and define your individuality by something other than how your phone rings.

Hang Up and Drive

Not using your cell phone while driving is probably the most touched-upon point of etiquette out there, and, if statistics are any indication, the most frequently ignored. Despite statistics on the increasing levels of automobile accidents involving cell phone use, the sight of someone blithely plowing through a red light, chatting gaily on their cell phone, is alarmingly common.

Several states have already banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving, restricting cell phone use to hands-free headsets only. While hands-free conversation is an acceptable compromise, it's probably safest to avoid using your phone at all while driving -- it's doubtful the conversation you're having is genuinely worth you