Study: Leaving Cell Phone Out is Rude

We've all seen plenty of rude behavior with cell phones. you may have been guilty yourself. People talk where they shouldn't talk, talk louder than they should, text when it's dangerous, and surf the web when they should be paying attention to something else.

What about just setting your phone on the table when you're with someone? Is that rude? A new study says it is.

According to research at Essex University in England:

If someone's phone is visible during a conversation it causes people to feel less positive towards the person that they're hanging out with.

 

Mobile phones automatically trigger thoughts about wider social networks -- reducing the intimacy of face-to-face conversations.

Apparently it's time to adopt a new strategy for our cell phones - out of sight, out of mind!