etón blog

In today’s fast-paced, on-the-go, technology-driven society, it can be easy to get wrapped up in what you’re doing and forget about the people around you. However, it’s important that we don’t get so wrapped up in our technology (laptops, cell phones, tablets, etc) that we neglect basic manners.

You’ve seen it: the person talking a little too loudly on their cell phone during the train ride home from work, or the guy having a Skype conversation at the coffee shop without using headphones. Scenarios like these have lead us to seek out some technology etiquette tips to share with you. Whether you use them yourself or share them with a friend, here’s a few things we’d like to recommend:

• Don’t Abuse Caps Lock. Are you yelling at the recipient? No? Then why the Caps Lock?
• Think Before Hitting “Reply All.” Yes, sometimes replying to everyone on the message is a time-saver. Other times, however, it can be annoying (especially if everyone responds with a simple “Done!” or “On it!”). Being careful about “Reply All” can also help avoid an awkward situation where you accidentally reply to someone you didn’t intend to.
• When it Doubt, Use Headphones. When using your laptop in public (or even an open office space), use headphones to avoid disturbing others.  Even though that YouTube video is really funny or that song is really awesome—everyone else might not agree.
• Oversharing is for the Birds... But not the Twitter bird. Think about your tweets and status updates before sharing. If it’s TMI, then keep it to yourself. Social networks are a great tool for staying in touch with friends and sharing information, but don’t get carried away with it.
• Be Mindful of Your Surroundings. In the lunch line? Hang up the phone. In a crowded elevator? Hang up the phone. In a quiet place like a library? Hang up the phone. … You get the picture

These are just a few of the tech etiquette tips we see broken on a regular basis. What would you add to the list?

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