by Monika Maeckle, Vice President New Media 
We know it’s a brave, rude world out there, but even us new media hounds were surprised that cell phones were named as the #1 offender when it comes to minding your mobile manners. We figured “all of the above” would pull the most votes in our PR Peeps Poll asking, “What’s your biggest digital pet peeve?”
Socially unrefined cell phone behaviour jumped a noteworthy 12% since last year’s poll posed the same set of questions.
Cell phones didn’t win by much. Of 174 polled, 36% cited “inappropriate cellphone use” as their biggest digital pet peeve, followed by “all of the above” with 35%. Next most offensive was loud talking Bluetooth users with 12%. “Profanity and crassness in new media settings” came in fourth with 11% and “Texting while I’m presenting” finished last with 6%.
Etiquette expert and author Anna Post remarked in our recent webinar on the topic that we should try harder to control our cell phone antics. ”Any time cell phone use will bother others, turn it off.” Agreed!
Even poll comments singled out cell phones as the most annoying source of bad manners. Among the complaints: ”texting instead of calling when it’s obviously more appropriate to call,” “taking phone calls in the gym” and the possibly life-threatening act of “texting/facebooking while crossing the street–in front of traffic!”
Details below.
63, or 36% Inappropriate cellphone use 21, or 12% Bluetooth user who makes me think he’s talking to me 19, or 11% Profanity and crassness in new media settings 11, or 6% Texting while I’m presenting 60, or 35% All of the aboveTo those who participated, thank you for voting. Now, will you be able to help us out with our next PR Peeps Poll on the effectiveness of Twitter–now vs. a year ago? WE hope so. It’s only three questions.
174 respondents via Twitter, email and Business Wire webinar polls. Poll conducted June 10 – July 25, 2011.
Posted by Monika Maeckle 
