Chapter 8: Organizational Communication

· Review the etiquette rules suggested in the text. Respond to each one. Have you ever been bothered by cell phone, answering machines, or beepers? What do you feel about call waiting? Is it rude to put people on hold to take another call?

Cellular phones: I completely agree with this etiquette rule because it is not polite, considerate, or respectful to intrude on someone else's privacy or intimate time by answering your cell phone in a class, a restaurant, or movie.

Answering machines: I don't really agree with this etiquette rule because I do feel that it is a convenience to its owner and I do not feel pressured to think about the message I leave on my machine to please others. Also, I think that people who leave me messages most always know me in one way or another and I love listening to the funny, intersesting, and sometimes vague messages that are left because I know how to encode them. I especially like it when a friend leaves a message that I understand, but anyone else probably wouldn't because we know eachother and many times we have sayings, phrases, or jokes that we get because of the nature of our friendship.

Conference calls: This one is interesting because I have never been in on a conference call, but do agree with the etiquette rules stated in our text. That would be horribly rude to hear a sarcastic remark from someone who doesn't think others can hear, not mention the embarrassment they might feel if they were notified of their behavior. Not to mention to the repercussions it could have on the company they represent and their job with that company.

Faxes: I never really considered this rule and how it suggests calling ahead to ask if it is okay to fax at a certain time. However, I admit that you can never be too considerate.

Timing Your Communications: This is a good! Totally agree with it and yet I have done it so many times. I will be more aware of my timing and how dangerous it can be to call someone when they are driving. It will also help me to filter out what can wait and what is an emergency and can't wait.

Screen names and Ring Tones: LOL :) When I was younger I thought of so many funny screen names, but they surely wouldn't be appropiate for everyone or for work purposes. And the ring tone is funny too! I kind of flip flop on this one because when I hear someone else's phone go off and a specific song comes on it in a very small way lets me know something about them and the kind of music they like. Or how that song has some significance with the caller. But I can see how certain lyrics would be inappropiate in certain arenas.

And yes, I have been bothered by cell phones when I am at the movies. It is so annoying! I can understand if it is an emergency, but in my experiences it hasn't been.

Call waiting is cool and is essential to me because I have kids, family, and friends who may have an emergency and can still get through even when I am on the phone. Also, I do the Crisis Line in Plumas County and I can still allow myself, fiance, and kids to use the phone and still take a crisis call if the beep in on the other line. The deciding factors for me when putting someone on hold are first what is the importance of my current conversation, do I feel like answering the other line, and could it be an emergency. It would be rude to put people on hold if the other person thought it was rude and I hope they would tell me. Maybe I am being presumptious, but that's the way I am:)