I remember a Dr. Who episode in which all the people in that society wore an earpiece resembling a Bluetooth device and all were controlled by some entity through the use of that device. There was total control. At the sound of some tones, everyone froze in place to hear announcements and a joke of the day. After the joke, and obligatory laughter their lives went on. Science fiction? Or truth..to a point?
Some would consider "bluetooth etiquette" to be an oxymoron and with good reason. It seems as soon as one slips on that little earpiece, they become oblivious to the outside world and assume an importance that rivals a government official on a mission.
Common sense is the main guideline that should dictate use of a Bluetooth, but since it seems to have taken flight on the satellite waves, I did some soul searching, some Googling and have come up with just one thing. Bluetooth rules, for the most part, follow the same guidelines as cell phone etiquette, but are taken an important step further. Because of the ease in taking a call, it is easy to ignore the simple gesture of acknowledging the feelings of those with us or around us. The common courtesy of being aware of others, even the person who called you, should determine how and when you use your Bluetooth.
I love my Bluetooth and wear it when I run errands. But, I need to make a change. When I go into a place of business, be it a grocery store or a stop by the church office, I need to take off the headset and disable its use. In those places, if my phone rings and I need to take the call, I can answer it the conventional way. I came to this conclusion after being in a store and talking to my husband via Bluetooth. A nearby store clerk answered me. Hmmmm. Not good. But, I confess, I do still wear it sometimes in a store.
While in the presence of others, for anything more than just in passing, remove the earpiece. I'm sure you have seen it; someone at another table (surely not yours!) at a restaurant taps their earpiece and carries on a conversation while the person they are with looks at all the wall décor, feeling silly because the conversation obviously doesn't include him or her. Never, ever wear your Bluetooth on a date, unless you want it to be your last with that person. Especially insulting is to wear it on a date with your spouse. That person deserves your undivided attention.
You can't write about cell phones or Bluetooth devices without mentioning driving. A neighbor was on her cell with her husband a few years ago getting directions while driving downtown. She was so absorbed in the directions and her conversation that she hit a parked car. Her kids were with her and her husband heard everything. They were all OK, but I can't imagine how it felt to be the woman driving and putting so many at risk or the husband, hearing everything and those few moments of helplessness.
I use my earpiece when driving. I know, I know…there are some that say it is still a distraction and shouldn't be used by a driver at all. I don't believe it is anymore distracting that a certain song or talk show on the radio and much less distracting than having my adult daughters in the car with me. But, the main point I want to make is: while taking a call is fine with your Bluetooth, don't make one. And under no circumstance should anyone text when driving. Driving should not be the time you catch up with your friends and get your directions before you leave the house. If you do not have voice activation, you will have the distraction of finding the number and punching the button(s).
There you have it. If I have left anything out, feel free to add it in the comment box below. I think I should stop writing before this article becomes "What Not to Do When Driving".
