CONSTANT TEXTING AT THE TABLE BY NON TEENS

[expat7]

I am an English ex-pat living in Belgium now for 21 years. Invited dh's best friend age 53, friendship 45yrs for weekend and he continually texted including special dinner. This wasn't just 1 or 2, but continual conversations back and forth. Please tell me, am I so out of touch with the UK that this is now acceptable behaviour. I understand the young doing this, although I don't like it. But at 53?? Help, sorry for my rant, perhaps I'm out of touch.

You are not out of touch at all, you just know some bloody rude people!

No phones at the dinner table in my house either, irrespective of age. Any visitor privileged enough to eat with us will be told if need be, probably by my teenagers. They automatically tell any of their friends who stay for meals.

Told dh about posting this complaint and said that I should have texted our visitor at the table PLEASE PASS THE BUTTER!!, well I was breathless for at least 5 minutes. Maybe humour can bring home how rude this is... here's hoping!!

I can't stand it. When my neice was staying (17) she was constantly texting. I asked her not to at the table but it was so hard for her you could see it ..

"but was told that I am out of touch and that everyone in the UK does this now."

Well if that´s the case thank goodness I don´t live there anymore!

My husband & teenagers don´t have their phones on once they get in from work/school.

Chil1234 had a great suggestion "own version of Debrett's for the Text Generation?". Something like Mumsnet manners for handhelds. Anyone up for it?

I wouldn't accept this and if a guest did it at my house I'd ask them to make any urgent phone calls and texts before dinner so we can enjoy our dinner in peace. It's very rude, and implies you would rather be with the person on the phone than the person you are physically with.
Have never had anyone do this, even teenage kids know it's not acceptable at dinner.

It's rude behaviour, but unfortunately quite usual behaviour now in the UK. I went to a works do for Chritsmas and was myself shocked at all the people texting each other from table to table at the do. They could have just as easily got up and changed table which everyone was able to do after the main meal. I can't understand it.

The other thing that seems to have changed is that people don't seem to mind what time of day they call a mobile phone. My DS (16) is a referee and people call him at 10pm to confirm venues/times. This is happening so much now that he is getting annoyed about it.

People really took a photo of their food? That is bonkers. Why would anyone be interested in that?!

Bet they had iPhones. Spawn of satan.

I know a couple who actually communicate with each other on their iphones when they are in the same room.

Unbelievable.