8 Places to Turn off Your Cell Phone ...

8 Places to Turn off Your Cell Phone ...
By Jennifer

In a lot of places, it’s illegal to use your cell phone while driving. But in many, many more places, it’s very annoying to use your cell phone, not for you, but for those around you. Here’s a list of 9 places to NOT use your cell phone, all places where I myself have been irritated by people on their phones…

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1. Church

Church Photo Credit: Mark Austria

Any even that takes place in a church, whether it’s a wedding, funeral service, christening, or just a service, requires that you shut off your cell phone or (better yet) leave it in the car. Here’s a hint, too - you may think you’re being sneaky leaving it on vibrate and texting quietly, but everyone can still hear you, and it’s still incredibly rude!

  • Turning off your cell phone in some places is just a matter of respect and courtesy. You don't want your ringtone echoing through a peaceful place or your conversation drowning out an important event. Plus, it's a nice way to disconnect and focus on where you are.

  • You'll often find places like movie theaters, hospitals, airplanes during takeoff and landing, and during a wedding ceremony asking you to shut off your cell phone. In these spots, a ringing phone or texting can be really distracting or even disruptive.

  • Absolutely, keeping contact for emergencies is important. In most cases, you can switch to silent mode instead of fully turning it off, or use vibrate. Just be mindful of when it's appropriate to check it, especially in a setting where silence is cherished.

  • Personally, I find it refreshing to switch off from the digital world from time to time. It's like a mini-break for the mind. It helps me be present and enjoy the company or environment I'm in. Plus, it's a unique kind of freedom!

  • Yes, in places like hospitals, it can interfere with sensitive equipment. On airplanes, it's more about the potential interference with navigation systems. And in public settings like theaters, it disrupts the experience for others.

2. Doctor’s Office

Doctor’s Office Photo Credit: JeffCam

If you’re a patient or friend of relative of a patient, it’s rude and distracting to be using your cell phone in a hospital room or doctor’s office. If you need to make or take a phone call about the patient, or yourself, then excuse yourself and go into the hallway.

  • Turning off your cell phone in some places is just a matter of respect and courtesy. You don't want your ringtone echoing through a peaceful place or your conversation drowning out an important event. Plus, it's a nice way to disconnect and focus on where you are.

  • You'll often find places like movie theaters, hospitals, airplanes during takeoff and landing, and during a wedding ceremony asking you to shut off your cell phone. In these spots, a ringing phone or texting can be really distracting or even disruptive.

  • Absolutely, keeping contact for emergencies is important. In most cases, you can switch to silent mode instead of fully turning it off, or use vibrate. Just be mindful of when it's appropriate to check it, especially in a setting where silence is cherished.

  • Personally, I find it refreshing to switch off from the digital world from time to time. It's like a mini-break for the mind. It helps me be present and enjoy the company or environment I'm in. Plus, it's a unique kind of freedom!

  • Yes, in places like hospitals, it can interfere with sensitive equipment. On airplanes, it's more about the potential interference with navigation systems. And in public settings like theaters, it disrupts the experience for others.

3. School

School Photo Credit: *Erin Nicole

If you’re in class, or are attending a parent-teacher conference, turn off your cell phone. Again, keeping it on “silent” or trying to text discreetly doesn’t work (everyone still knows what you’re doing!) and it’s just as rude. Besides, aren’t you supposed to be paying attention?

  • Turning off your cell phone in some places is just a matter of respect and courtesy. You don't want your ringtone echoing through a peaceful place or your conversation drowning out an important event. Plus, it's a nice way to disconnect and focus on where you are.

  • You'll often find places like movie theaters, hospitals, airplanes during takeoff and landing, and during a wedding ceremony asking you to shut off your cell phone. In these spots, a ringing phone or texting can be really distracting or even disruptive.

  • Absolutely, keeping contact for emergencies is important. In most cases, you can switch to silent mode instead of fully turning it off, or use vibrate. Just be mindful of when it's appropriate to check it, especially in a setting where silence is cherished.

  • Personally, I find it refreshing to switch off from the digital world from time to time. It's like a mini-break for the mind. It helps me be present and enjoy the company or environment I'm in. Plus, it's a unique kind of freedom!

  • Yes, in places like hospitals, it can interfere with sensitive equipment. On airplanes, it's more about the potential interference with navigation systems. And in public settings like theaters, it disrupts the experience for others.

4. Grandmother’s House

Grandmother’s House Photo Credit: poptart prince

To hear her tell it, you don’t visit often enough or stay long enough to satisfy your grandmother, so why waste any of that time chatting away on your cell phone? She appreciates your time, and deserves it, so turn off your cell phone and give her your full attention - and listen to that embarrassing story from your childhood one more time.

  • Turning off your cell phone in some places is just a matter of respect and courtesy. You don't want your ringtone echoing through a peaceful place or your conversation drowning out an important event. Plus, it's a nice way to disconnect and focus on where you are.

  • You'll often find places like movie theaters, hospitals, airplanes during takeoff and landing, and during a wedding ceremony asking you to shut off your cell phone. In these spots, a ringing phone or texting can be really distracting or even disruptive.

  • Absolutely, keeping contact for emergencies is important. In most cases, you can switch to silent mode instead of fully turning it off, or use vibrate. Just be mindful of when it's appropriate to check it, especially in a setting where silence is cherished.

  • Personally, I find it refreshing to switch off from the digital world from time to time. It's like a mini-break for the mind. It helps me be present and enjoy the company or environment I'm in. Plus, it's a unique kind of freedom!

  • Yes, in places like hospitals, it can interfere with sensitive equipment. On airplanes, it's more about the potential interference with navigation systems. And in public settings like theaters, it disrupts the experience for others.

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5. In Line

In Line Photo Credit: masabi

Unless you’re a doctor, lawyer, or leader of a nation, you’re not important enough to need to talk while you’re standing in line at the grocery or bank. If you have a question - Fuji apples, or granny smith? - send a text or make a quick, quiet phone call, then hang up. If you stand there talking to your BFF about the guy you met at the club last night, you’ll look (and sound) like an idiot.

  • Turning off your cell phone in some places is just a matter of respect and courtesy. You don't want your ringtone echoing through a peaceful place or your conversation drowning out an important event. Plus, it's a nice way to disconnect and focus on where you are.

  • You'll often find places like movie theaters, hospitals, airplanes during takeoff and landing, and during a wedding ceremony asking you to shut off your cell phone. In these spots, a ringing phone or texting can be really distracting or even disruptive.

  • Absolutely, keeping contact for emergencies is important. In most cases, you can switch to silent mode instead of fully turning it off, or use vibrate. Just be mindful of when it's appropriate to check it, especially in a setting where silence is cherished.

  • Personally, I find it refreshing to switch off from the digital world from time to time. It's like a mini-break for the mind. It helps me be present and enjoy the company or environment I'm in. Plus, it's a unique kind of freedom!

  • Yes, in places like hospitals, it can interfere with sensitive equipment. On airplanes, it's more about the potential interference with navigation systems. And in public settings like theaters, it disrupts the experience for others.

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6. Dinner with Your Sweetie

Dinner with Your Sweetie Photo Credit: pouryourheartintoit

A date is a horrible time to make or accept phone calls or text messages. Really, is there any better way to tell a guy how little he means to you than to sit there at dinner, talking to someone else? If you absolutely must use the phone, apologize, excuse yourself, and either go to the car, the ladies’ room, or the lobby. Then come right back to dinner.

  • Turning off your cell phone in some places is just a matter of respect and courtesy. You don't want your ringtone echoing through a peaceful place or your conversation drowning out an important event. Plus, it's a nice way to disconnect and focus on where you are.

  • You'll often find places like movie theaters, hospitals, airplanes during takeoff and landing, and during a wedding ceremony asking you to shut off your cell phone. In these spots, a ringing phone or texting can be really distracting or even disruptive.

  • Absolutely, keeping contact for emergencies is important. In most cases, you can switch to silent mode instead of fully turning it off, or use vibrate. Just be mindful of when it's appropriate to check it, especially in a setting where silence is cherished.

  • Personally, I find it refreshing to switch off from the digital world from time to time. It's like a mini-break for the mind. It helps me be present and enjoy the company or environment I'm in. Plus, it's a unique kind of freedom!

  • Yes, in places like hospitals, it can interfere with sensitive equipment. On airplanes, it's more about the potential interference with navigation systems. And in public settings like theaters, it disrupts the experience for others.

7. Job Interview

Job Interview Photo Credit: SCSSAPICS

I can’t believe I have to actually list this one, but yes, it’s rude, and makes a VERY bad impression, to use your cell phone during a job interview. Give the interview your full, undivided attention. Shut your phone off entirely, or better still, leave it in the car.

  • Turning off your cell phone in some places is just a matter of respect and courtesy. You don't want your ringtone echoing through a peaceful place or your conversation drowning out an important event. Plus, it's a nice way to disconnect and focus on where you are.

  • You'll often find places like movie theaters, hospitals, airplanes during takeoff and landing, and during a wedding ceremony asking you to shut off your cell phone. In these spots, a ringing phone or texting can be really distracting or even disruptive.

  • Absolutely, keeping contact for emergencies is important. In most cases, you can switch to silent mode instead of fully turning it off, or use vibrate. Just be mindful of when it's appropriate to check it, especially in a setting where silence is cherished.

  • Personally, I find it refreshing to switch off from the digital world from time to time. It's like a mini-break for the mind. It helps me be present and enjoy the company or environment I'm in. Plus, it's a unique kind of freedom!

  • Yes, in places like hospitals, it can interfere with sensitive equipment. On airplanes, it's more about the potential interference with navigation systems. And in public settings like theaters, it disrupts the experience for others.

8. At the Gym

At the Gym Photo Credit: mamarosa

I find this one particularly annoying and hard to understand, like people who talk on their cell phones while using the bathroom. Really? That phone call or text message can’t wait for you to finish on the elliptical, or while you wipe?

  • Turning off your cell phone in some places is just a matter of respect and courtesy. You don't want your ringtone echoing through a peaceful place or your conversation drowning out an important event. Plus, it's a nice way to disconnect and focus on where you are.

  • You'll often find places like movie theaters, hospitals, airplanes during takeoff and landing, and during a wedding ceremony asking you to shut off your cell phone. In these spots, a ringing phone or texting can be really distracting or even disruptive.

  • Absolutely, keeping contact for emergencies is important. In most cases, you can switch to silent mode instead of fully turning it off, or use vibrate. Just be mindful of when it's appropriate to check it, especially in a setting where silence is cherished.

  • Personally, I find it refreshing to switch off from the digital world from time to time. It's like a mini-break for the mind. It helps me be present and enjoy the company or environment I'm in. Plus, it's a unique kind of freedom!

  • Yes, in places like hospitals, it can interfere with sensitive equipment. On airplanes, it's more about the potential interference with navigation systems. And in public settings like theaters, it disrupts the experience for others.

9. On a Plane, Train, or Bus

On a Plane, Train, or Bus Photo Credit: sesame ellis

It’s actually illegal to use your cell phone at certain times on an airplane, but it’s ALWAYS annoying for your to use it at all on a plane, train, or bus. Unless you keep your voice very low, and aren’t cackling or gossiping in a very annoying way, just hang up and wait to use your phone until you’re not around a captive, and possibly very annoyed, audience.

So now you know where to turn off your cell phone, or at least use it sparingly, and now you also know WHY. Is there anywhere else you’ve been annoyed by an oblivious cell phone user? Or do you have a funny cell phone story to share? Please let me know!

Top Photo Credit: ℓisaa.

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

So...what places ARE we allowed to use our cell phones? Our house? Oh, wait, that's a home phone...

In cinema as well.

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