Civilized behavior using your phone.

In modern life, there are forms of "pollution" that cannot be measured by specialized equipment or included in periodic reports. They are present daily, infiltrating many living spaces and becoming an invisible nuisance. This includes the overuse of phone speakers in public places, a seemingly minor habit that is silently eroding the beauty of cultural etiquette.

However, that fragile tranquility is often abruptly shattered. A video clip on social media plays with loud music and boisterous laughter emanating from someone's phone. The device's owner calmly scrolls through the screen. Around them, a few frowns of concern are cast, glances are exchanged, and then heads are shaken as people turn away.

This story doesn't only happen in hospitals or clinics. On long-distance buses, when passengers need a little quiet to nap and relieve fatigue, some people still casually watch movies using the external speakers.

Arguments from screens, or video calls discussing household matters, fill the cramped space. In a café designed for relaxation, the soft background music feels out of place when it has to compete with the sounds of gunfire or swearing from a mobile game at the next table.

Smartphones were created to personalize the experience, giving each person their own entertainment space. However, a paradox arises: in the era of "personal screens," some people still inadvertently impose their sounds on the public. People can turn away to avoid an inappropriate image, but they cannot simply "close" their ears. Turning on the speakerphone in a crowded place is, in essence, an invasion of shared space.

The cause of this phenomenon doesn't actually lie in technology or physical conditions. Headphones are now very common and quite inexpensive. The problem lies in the awareness of a segment of users where the boundary between private and public space seems to be blurred. They bring their personal habits into public spaces without giving much thought to the feelings of those around them.

Conversely, the crowd's reaction is largely one of silent tolerance. Many simply frown and shrug it off. This prolonged silence inadvertently makes inappropriate behavior become commonplace and "normalized" in daily life.

No matter how expensive a phone is, it cannot represent the sophistication of its user if it lacks proper etiquette. Building a cultured environment is not about empty slogans, but begins with the awareness of each individual. In the digital age, sometimes civility is simply encapsulated in a very simple habit: using headphones before turning on the phone's speaker in crowded places.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202603/ung-xu-van-minh-tu-chiec-dien-thoai-cd93925/