What Is Your Cell Phone Taboo? on PNN

What Is Your Cell Phone Taboo?

Posted by Kimberly Michalski Posted on: 08/13/08

What Is Your Cell Phone Taboo?

Several weeks ago during worship service, I was enjoying the pastor deliver an intriguing sermon when I was interrupted.

"Where you at?" The man beside me asked.

I looked at him feeling dumbfounded and wondered if he was addressing me. Then I saw the cell phone attached to his other ear and was nearly embarrassed thinking I was voyeurish for overhearing his private conversation - not that I could avoid it.

"Yeah?" he continued, "well I'm towards the back. Like over in the middle."

I tried to ignore him and refocused on the minister, but it was a challenge. You know what it's like hearing two conversations at once.

Last Sunday during worship service I heard a cell phone blare, then I saw a woman jump up, run past us and exit with a cell phone clamped on her head. I wondered if there was an emergency and considered following her out to be sure she was okay. But, before I could make a decision she returned to her seat. Thirty minutes later I heard another cell phone blare. A few seconds later the same woman jumped up, ran past us again and exited the sanctuary. A few minutes later she returned, sat down and remained until the end of the service.

We don't take cell phones into the sanctuary. The way I see it, If there's an emergency we're in the best possible place we could hope to be anyway.

What do you think?

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yes, I know what you mean by cell phones ringing in the santuary. However, for the most part, the majority are just embarrassed becasue they forgot to turn it off. There are signs posted at the santuary doors as reminders but still people forget. The only time mine is left on is during choir practice. I cannot hear/feel the vibration when we are singing. I leave it on so Mom can reach me at any time -- giving her peace of mind.

By hank on August 13, 2008 03:24
I'm hoping the incidents I've seen are isolated. I know there are individuals in professions that require they have cell phones available. My husband has experienced it many times, however, he always remained tactful in handling emergencies no matter where he was. And I think it's admirable that you think of your mom. I agree that many people leave cell phones on inadvertently.

By Kimberly Michalski on August 13, 2008 03:50
People should either turn them off or put them on vibrate when in a church service, theater, concert or any public event where people are trying to hear. That's what I think.

By Karen & Gerard on August 14, 2008 15:15
I hate talking on the phone and can't understand why everyone has to be talking all the time to begin with. So my view is turn them off, put them away. Unless it's something that can't wait. Like a flat tire. Good article!

By I'm Maudie Durkin on August 14, 2008 21:22
Sounds easy enough, besides running with scissors, driving, sex...and the list goes long on really aren't activities needing added distraction! ;)

By Kimberly Michalski on August 14, 2008 23:07
In the days in which I was on call -- I still would turn off my cell phone before service. At least one time someone from work tried to reach me -- and that issue was not critical. On the few times I have gone out to the movies (while being on call) I had an alarming record of being called -- almost thirty percent of the time, I would get the vibration and excuse myself and head to the lobby and ultimately have to either head to work or dial in from home. The strange thing was that I really enjoyed being on call -- it was not the impact on me that mattered -- just those around me which got caught up in the inconvenience.

By The Photo Ranger on August 16, 2008 14:54
I never turn my cellphone on during chuch. I know there are emergency situations that happen...I never thought about that, but those who know me know that I am at church. The vibrate feature would work well if you were expecting an emergency call. I am not a cell phone addict...In fact, I got one for the very first time after a year at my job, per my boss. I hate it.

By vanessa on August 23, 2008 17:46
well said Kim ! I totally agree. I don't even like when they interrupt my grocery shopping trips.

By WillieJ on August 26, 2008 21:39
Letting your cell phone ring in church is horrible. Answering it when it rings is absolutely ridiculous. I'm the type that wouldn't even give the "ring-ee" the benefit of the doubt. C'mon now, church is ONE hour - one little tiny hour. Can they not just leave the phone in the car for one hour? Why has everything in life been escalated to emergency status? When I was a kid, if there was an emergency while someone was at church, they would find out about it when church ended or someone would call or visit the church to share the bad news. God has been pushed to the fringe of society and cell-phones ringing in church is a sign of that total lack of respect for God and for others. The person answering that call shouldn't have asked "Where are you at?" because the caller should have been in church with them so that they would know where each other were at!

By YeaYeaWendy on September 10, 2008 23:04
I've had that happen before... encountered someone with a bluetooth earpiece and mistakenly thought they were talking to me. It's embarrassing! As to cell phones in church - I just silence mine and check messages either when church is over, or if I happen to need a bathroom break :-)

By aprilduke on September 23, 2008 13:31
I think that mobile phones ringing audibly in Church are completely disrespectful to God, and to everyone there. The silent/vibrate function is there for a reason! I've lost count of how many times I've stood up at the front & asked people to switch phones off or go silent. It's on the screen at the beginning or service! Of course there will always be someone's phone which has genuinely been forgotten, but generally it's down to people's arrogance, disobedience, and blatant inconsideration for others around them. People don't take it seriously, they don't reach for their phones to silence them. Do Christians just think they're above everyone else? Once I heard about a preacher who asked the congregation if they had mobile phones. They responded, so he got them to take them out and hold them up, and they did... at which point he sent the ushers round to COLLECT THEM ALL!!!! I'm tempted to do this, altho I am also considering buying a phone jammer which kills all signals!

By TC on October 13, 2008 02:00
You are so right...that is just crazy church and cell phones...how rude!

By Karyn on October 22, 2008 16:46

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What Is Your Cell Phone Taboo?

What Is Your Cell Phone Taboo?

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