It's addictive. You can't put it down. It has to be near you at all times. If you don't have it, you feel lost. If you temporarily lose it, you feel as if you can't survive a day without it. Those who own one know what I'm talking about - a cell phone with email capabilities.

Be it a Treo or Blackberry (sometimes nicknamed "CrackBerry" for its addictive qualities), more and more people stay connected with email via their cell phone. So much in fact that a day doesn't go by that I don't see several people checking their email on their phone.

While I too am a self-proclaimed addict, I notice people using their email phones at what I believe are inappropriate times. I would go so far as believing that in time it will become a social issue among the closest of friends. I'm not just talking about guys either. Many women are just as guilty as men.

Before it gets out of hand, I would like to offer some advice and

suggestions on the proper use (or non-use) of email cell phones in social situations:

Prohibited Places to check your email or check the scores of games (starting with the obvious ones):

1. When you're on a date. Well, maybe if you've been dating awhile it might be OK. Be cautious.


2. When you're out to dinner with your friends. At least wait until after you've finished eating. Take a bathroom break and check it on the way.


3. While in a business meeting. Otherwise, people will want to have a meeting about which meetings are OK to check your email and then decide if you can check your email in THAT meeting, and before you know it, you'll end up in an infinite loop with no escape.


4. While scuba diving. Your phone will get wet and probably won't work anymore.


5. In the space shuttle. Surely you have more interesting things to do in space than check your email! You probably won't even have a signal up there!

Please add your own suggestions below.