Revealing Ringtones

We were in a meeting.Then the first five bars of "Bad to the Bone" belted out from below the table.It was somebody's cell phone.We were hardened to another two rounds of the brief tune until its owner was capable to settle the small twist and still it's bleats for attention.Awkward moment over the business meeting resumed its course.That was until someone decided to claim attention to the fact that they had accepted the chords as the presentation to a "rockin' song" complete with air guitar.

Yes, actually we all did, but at least one individual had to get it a point.Was it because he liked the tune?Was trying to disperse the embarrassment, or politely hint that future sentence the owner should make certain to repress the intrusive device before joining the table?Not certain, but the content was clear, silence your phone before you read up next time!

I guess I've heard it all by now - Claire du Lune, La Cucaracha, Brick House, various bits by Santana, hip hop favorites, swing, classical, techno. maybe not punk per se but I'm sure someone out there has the Ramones doing "I wanna be sedated" as their ring tone.To me hearing that small bit of air is very revealing.Imagine a tightly-pinned matron with Iron Butterfly pealing out of her itty-bitty handbag, or Ave Maria tinkling from the second pocket of some off-the-ass jeans on a homey.It says something around the soul that we might otherwise be incognizant of.For the record the possessor of Bad-to-the-Bone had their car set to classical when we got in.)

It too can be excruciating when it's not your phone, not something you love and it's in earshot.I had an office mate whose cell immediately went off the instant they left their desk, just like magic.Every blessed day.They'd step outside and within 60 seconds their phone, otherwise black and still while they were there, would get it's musical tirade, annoying, repetitive, for the next minute until it Blee-Blooped into voice mail.

As for my voice I favor a simple, neutral set of electronic burbles.Seven notes, four up the plate in incremental parts, three down.It's harmless, innocuous, tame.It's still difficult to notice sometimes.I picked it only for that reason, because it's NOT annoying, grating or tooth-grinding.I share my audible space with others and I make no want to annoy them.To me it's a sign of respect.

So next time you take to go to a meeting, leave your call on your desk or in your cake in a shared space, think about switching your telephone to mute when you're not around.It's an act of kindness that I'm sure will be comprehended by many.Trust me in this.