Cell Phone Upset

To the Editor: 
Individuals who give themselves great upset after reflecting on the negative conduct of others could decrease its severity by admitting to their thinking a dose of the conduct’s positive consequences. For example, consider high school teachers, who, during class time, reach out to their social worlds for brief and windy cell phone chit chats. The common initial reaction of parents to this revelation is to accuse those teachers of diverting the classroom atmosphere from directed to drifting as well as of denying students future useful instruction, guidance, encouragement, etc. Ignored is each teacher’s valuable exhibition of essential cell phone etiquette: employ a clear voice, present a calm delivery, keep speech unhurried, and insert pauses. In this particular matter, persons wishing to reduce their upset still further may succeed if they urge, firmly that is, that these exhibitions be relocated to another available setting such as the cafeteria or fresh-air-filled outdoors.