More and more people are forgetting about proper cell phone manners. By this I mean the loud, rude attitude that almost everybody carrying a mobile phone is becoming guilty of. The annoying ring tones and the incessant yakking spare nothing; not even meetings, funerals, and job interviews. And I'm not kidding about this. Just ask a lot of salesmen, executives, doctors, lawyers, and practically anybody. They'll know what I'm talking about.

From streets to movie theaters, from classrooms to conference rooms, from restaurants to churches, rude cell phone users can victimize you. It seems that carrying a mobile phone allows people to act like cavemen. I know a lot, and I mean a lot, of people who have quite a few anecdotes to tell about this attitude. My favorite so far is the one about a panel member who was in the middle of a presentation. When his mobile phone rang, he just stopped right there and answered it! This is absolutely preposterous, and needs to be stopped right now.

In a recent poll, majority of Americans agree that the worst habit of cell phone users is carrying out loud conversations in public. Furthermore, people get victimized by inconsiderate cell phone users at least once a day. But let us be clear on one thing. Cell phones are not to blame for this one. People are. I think it's the right time to seriously think about proper cell phone manners. Here are some dos and don'ts.

Don't take a personal call using your cell phonein the middle of a business meeting. This rule also includes meetings with co-workers or subordinates, and job interviews. You'll be surprised to know how many job applicants flunk this one.

Keep a 10-foot zone away from people when you use your cell phone. We don't want to know about the banalities of your life, really. Inform all your callers that you're talking on a cellular phone, so they'll know to expect distractions or disconnections. And keep all conversations short and to the point.

Do not use a cell phone inside theaters, elevators, libraries, churches, cemeteries, infirmaries, cafes, museums, or any other enclosed public spaces. And also, never ever hold an emotional phone conversation while in public. If you really have to, use an earpiece in noisy locations, so that you can control the volume of your voice.

Don't set your ringing tone to play Beethoven every time your phone goes off. There are a lot of better ring tones. Do try to be mature about this. Also, forget about multi-tasking with your cell phone. Avoid making calls while buying groceries, jogging, waiting in line or doing other personal business. And one more thing. Tell everyone that you're now using improved cell phone etiquette, and ask them to do the same. It's very important.

Technology and manners can co-exist. The same thing happened with the Internet, when email etiquette had to be observed. You can always use the vibrate function, use voice mail, or go to a secluded area before making a call. All it takes is a little bit of consideration.