There
is a lot to talk about in telephone circles, but I am going to start
with one very important warning. 1. Talking on your cell phone while driving is
just plain stupid. Very recent research has shown that doing so cuts your
reaction time almost in half. There's an accident waiting to happen. 2. Talking
on a non-handheld cell phone while driving is equally stupid. That same research
also proved that though your maneuverability is better (since you have both
hands free), you are still distracted enough to significantly affect your
driving.The Reality: If you MUST talk on your cell phone in your vehicle, pull over, stop, talk, hang up, drive! Period! I recently saw a woman (blonde, of course) talking on her cell phone held in her left hand while putting on her lipstick with her right hand (on the freeway), which begs the question of what the hell she was driving with.
Now, let's get into the security part, starting with one simple fact. When answering any phone call, never say anything over the phone you do not want a stranger to know. For example, if someone calls and wants to talk to "your father" or "the head of the household" (sexist though those may be), don't ever say "he isn't here now" or "he's out of town." Better to just say he cannot come to the phone at present, and get a name and number to return the call. If it's legit, they will leave the info. If not, you'll get a very quick hangup.
Finally, at NO time should you ever give personal information over the phone unless you absolutely know to whom you are speaking.
Next time we'll talk about answering machines and some of the dumbest messages I have ever heard in my life (in the realm of, "Hi, I'm not home now, so come on over and clean out my entire house.")
