Dear Queenie,
I see people using their phone in public in all kinds of situations where I was taught that doing that is bad manners.
Queenie, what are the rules now for using a phone in public?—Smart-phone Etty Ket
Dear Etty Ket,
The rules of etiquette have not changed, only the fact that now people can take their phones with them when they go out in public.
Taking a call when you are with someone else is still rude, unless it is an emergency, in which case ask to be excused, step away and do not talk too loudly.
If someone else answers a call or plays a game or uses an app while talking to you, tell them you can see they are busy and that you will see them some other time. If that does not get them to put the phone away and pay attention to you, just walk away. And if they ever complain about your doing so, tell them (again) why you did it.
