vB Easy Archive - BlackBerry Etiquette

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BlackBerry Etiquette - AskMen.com Version
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Posted by: Jack T. Chance

I just found this over at BBHub and found it very interesting. It's AskMen.Com's version of proper BlackBerry Etiquette:

Quote:

Use an email filter to only get the emails you need to.
Say no to a Bluetooth headset.
Leave the BlackBerry behind, or hide it well when going out.
Don't show it off.
No texts during dinner or anytime you are out with others.
Subtle ringers.

Okay, seriously, how unrealistic is THAT?

I've broken virtually every "rule" on that list! And I'm proud of it!

Especially that last one. For nearly 2 years, I lived with a BB that had "subtle ringers", and NOT by choice! My Nextel BB 7520 had a ridiculously underpowered speaker, especially by Nextel's standards! Even at the highest volume setting, the ringtones were barely audible in real world environments! I'm proud to say that my BB 8700g finally gives me a speaker WORTHY of Nextel (too bad it's NOT a Nextel BB, but Sprint has apparently decided not to release the Nextel BB 8702i that was in development) and I wouldn't have it any other way! I can finally HEAR my ringtones!

So, anyway... any of you other "CrackBerry" addicts find this etiquette as laughable as I do?

Posted by: Quake97

I agree with the texts at dinner, same should go for answering the phone at dinner. Everyone needs to realize they aren't as important or as cool as they think they are. As for showing it off, jeez, that's why I got a Pearl, to show it off.

Joe

Posted by: method

Heh, I know I tend to show off my phone a lot. Hell, we pay a lot for the damn thing, we might as well... And hope someone asks us about its features.

As for during dinner, if it is at a restaurant, I'll usually wait till I am alone (maybe the bathroom) to use mine. If its dinner at home, I'll grab it as soon as the red light starts flashing.

As for ringtones, I like them loud as I sleep with the BB under my pillow. I stick with the old school on that sounds like a phone, no obnoxious tunes.

Damn, I sound like the jerk they describe, huh?

Posted by: briareus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack T. Chance

Say no to a Bluetooth headset.

Surely this is a tunnel-visioned list and "while in the car" is an exception. I can't imagine someone recommending not using a headset in a car.

Posted by: gibbs

When I'm downtown, I pull out my BlackBerries for no particular reason. Not even to check the time.

That's right, you read me correctly. BlackBerries.

Posted by: Jack T. Chance

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibbs

When I'm downtown, I pull out my BlackBerries for no particular reason. Not even to check the time.

When you say that you pull them out "for no particular reason", that phrase doesn't mean what you clearly THINK it means. What you're actually saying with that phrase is that you DO pull them out! But the tone of your post suggests that you meant otherwise! In short, you've created a post that will be confusing to some people!

Quote:

That's right, you read me correctly. BlackBerries.

I recently carried 2 BlackBerries! My old 7520 on Nextel, and my new 8700g on T-Mobile were being carried on my belt at the same time! But that was only for 2-3 weeks, while I was trying the T-Mobile one to make sure it worked well for me before porting my Nextel # over to them. Now that I've ported the #, I'm back to one device again, which is all I need!

Posted by: SpectralFx

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibbs

When I'm downtown, I pull out my BlackBerries for no particular reason. Not even to check the time./B].

There is nothing wrong with just pulling it out for no apparent reason in a crowded place like downtown...

Posted by: Chank

* Use an email filter to only get the emails you need to.

I only have it check the email accounts that I need to get. Why bother with a filter.

* Say no to a Bluetooth headset.

Only when I am driving. Do they want me to get in an accident!

* Leave the BlackBerry behind, or hide it well when going out.

Pearl in my pocket! whats the point of having a mobile phone if you
don't take it with you.

* Don't show it off.

everyone actually compliments me on my pearl. I don't show it off. It speaks
for itself.

* No texts during dinner or anytime you are out with others.

At dinner I agree. But if I am not in a direct conversation with anyone outside
of that situation its fair game just like with any other mobile device.

* Subtle ringers.

Your joking right. Don't forget, a bb is a mobile phone too! I need to differentiate my ring from everyone elses so I know its my phone ringing.

Posted by: Chank

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack T. Chance

My old 7520 on Nextel, and my new 8700g on T-Mobile were being carried on my belt at the same time!

This is the kind of thing AskMen should be going after. C'mon gentlemen ... The days of the bat belt are over. It's vary tacky and un-stylish. A device of any kind on your belt makes people think that you take your job entirely too seriously.

Posted by: Jack T. Chance

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chank

Like I said (in the rest of the post, which you conveniently deleted from your quote), that was only temporary. I'm back to a single device again. And yes, I DO carry it on my belt, in RIM's OEM leather belt pouch, because I believe in protecting my cell phone! Also, with a BlackBerry, any holster or pouch designed specifically for it will A) turn the screen off to save battery power, B) engage whatever "in holster" alert settings you have active (in my case, that enables the vibrating alert), and C) locks your keys (if you have it set to lock the keys in the holster)!

Besides, I don't care about what "society" (read as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) considers "stylish" or "fashionable". I do my own thing, and if you don't like it, go bother someone else!

Oh, and as for the crack about taking your job too seriously... unlike a lot of business people, my BlackBerry is NOT a company-issued job requirement. It is my PERSONAL cell phone, chosen because I frequently want or need web access at times when I don't have access to an internet-equipped computer. So, I now carry an internet capable device with me at all times, one that allows me to surf the net and do it WELL, along with sending and receiving emails, IMs, and text messages. I've now been carrying the internet in the palm of my hand for almost 5 years, and I have no intention of stopping now!

Posted by: Scud

Well, I agree with Chank. Wearing your phone on your belt is not only a fashion faux pas but it also does make you look like a bit of a nerd. My opinion is that if a cellphone (or any portable electronic device for that matter) isn't small enough to fit in your pocket, it's too big. RIM makes a 'case' (called the leather pocket) that acts as a holster but it has no clip. Slide your BB into it and fit that into your pocket. It protects your phone (as well as acting as a holster), looks great, and doesn't add much bulk. I love mine.

As far as these rules go... I agree with most of them except the email one.

* Say no to a Bluetooth headset.
Agreed; unless you're driving or you're in your own home. Wearing one in public projects an image that you think you're more important than everyone else.

* Leave the BlackBerry behind, or hide it well when going out.
Leave it in your pocket. You don't need it on your hip for quick access like a Batarang or something.

* Don't show it off.
Showing off your cellphone is pretty tacky unless someone asks you about it. Then you can feel free to bore them to death about your BlackBerry.

* No texts during dinner or anytime you are out with others.
I think this sorta depends on your age range and crowd but if you are out of college and hanging with people that you haven't grown up with, playing on your phone is pretty rude.

* Subtle ringers.
Just keep it on vibrate. If you're going to a bar or club, it'll be impossible to hear and if you're at someplace somewhat quiet, you'll be the center of attention everytime you phone rings. Chances most people think the mp3 that you picked as your ringtone sucks, anyway. That's just my $0.02

Posted by: Chank

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack T. Chance

Besides, I don't care about what "society" (read as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) considers "stylish" or "fashionable". I do my own thing, and if you don't like it, go bother someone else!

Here ... I will quote the whole thing this time. If you read the last part of my post "A device of any kind ... " meaning even singular. But thats cool if you wanna "holster up" your belt, it's your choice. Even if it is your personal device, my BB is my personal device too. if you or anyone walked up to me with a strap-on I definitely have a different attitude towards them. But, as you said it's your choice if you want to geek up or not. I have no problems with it but, I will laugh at you! Yes I even work in IT and I give my co-workers a hard time about it all the time!

And why is it just because a guy wants to look good means automatically that he is or has some association with being metro or not-straight.

Posted by: SpectralFx

I don't know about gay/straight/metro...but the BB stays on my belt cause I have too much other s**t in my pockets...other phone, keys, wallet, etc...

I'm with Jack...the profile changing is also extremely convenient.