To find it incredibly rude when people constantly check their phone during a meal?

[ujjayi]

I recently had friends over for a meal and the couple in question constantly checked their phones, posting on FB (they were quite open about it). Now, perhaps DH and I are terribly dull company but I was really put out that someone would behave so rudely.

If they had been checking on the babysitter or if DCs weren't settled etc I would have had no problem with it.

I don't think IABU.......but how on earth do you begin to address it? Do you call them out on it?

yanbu its really rude, also really rude when people that that in shops when they are being served

oh god, bunny. I got as far as them putting their phones in a basket in the centre of the table and had a totally different ending for your post

TeeElf - wish I could be that blatant!

HECTheHalls - some great suggestions there. Am printing off and practising for future occasions :o

Would someone come and defend this as I'd love to hear why they think it is reasonable. My ex used to say it was work related and how dare I question him he is an adult etc and will do as he likes obviously he's the CEO of a multi national in his own head as he fucked about on Twitter while we were at a lovely restaurant for his birthday. Not so long after that I left the bastard (obviously nor just for that reason)!

Me too Hec!

::goes to sit on the smut brain bench with Hec::

YANBU, that does sound rude. Also more like something you'd expect from kids/teenagers than adults!

I would also love to see someone come on and defend this.

Hec and Tee you dirty caaaahs!!!

I know.

along with about 3/4 of people reading this thread, I bet!

Folly that was hilarious lol.

But yeah i find it really rude.

That's right, it's only Hec and I who would admit it!

It is generational as well though. I remember a few years ago when I was running a shop the young staff invited me out for a drink afterwards so we went to the pub next door. they sat around the table on their phones the WHOLE TIME! It made me feel so old I went home talking about the youth of today at the grand age of 32

I dunno Owl. My step dad is nearly 80 and trying to get him to put his iPad down and talk to people isn't easy.

Hec

that would also make a good drinking game, first one to get a call/text has to down their drink

Seriously, of anyone has their phone at a meal that in our house, including guests they get no pudding. Same penalty for talking to or about the d-o-g at the table.

You have been warned.

TeeElfOnTeeShelf , your dad should go to the pub with some young uns :)

It is really rude; YANBU; my best mates & sister do that & i'm starting to wonder if i'm really that boring.

(I'm practising saying in a concerned voice '' am i really that boring?'')

The problem is having the balls to say any of your suggestions HEC but they are good ideas!

i agree it is rude and i stop talking and just look at the person with my eyebrows raised, in my best teacher 'when you have quite finished' face. i once walked out of a restaurant when i was first dating dp because he kept doing it - he never did it again.

HOWEVER, i don't think it is rude to talk on your phone while being served in a shop. this is not a social situation, it is a transaction which can be done easily while continuing your conversation. I still smile and say please and thank you, but often it is my lunch break and i have only that hour to organise apps, banking, bills etc.

Just so boorish & rude.

Is there not some gadget one can buy that blocks phone signals for a radius of 50M?? Am sure I've heard of one, made in Japan, possibly?

If so - please 'dere santa', I've been amazingly good all year & it's what I would most like in my stocking!

Asinine - what's wrong with talking about the dog at the table? What did the poor dog do to deserve having no one mention his name? Surely he's a member of the family too. Do you forbid talking about Granny at the table too.

Dreaming

It's because I didn't want him to learn to beg or drool when we're eating. (IME most labs do). We get around it by saying 'did the dark lord have a nice walk? Or 'has anyone fed HeWhoShallNotBeNamed?'

He doesn't beg or drool,and won't even sniff a takeaway on a coffee table if left alone with it so I think it worked.

Dreaming

For completeness

Granny doesn't drool, so she's not unmentionable .

I know people who do this. I was in a restaurant with them once and all of the family including the children were either checking their messages or playing games. Ds asked to borrow my phone and I said no as I thought it was rude to behave in that way. It didn't stop them and needless to say we haven't been out for dinner with them again.

It is absolutely awful. I have taken a phone off someone at a dinner party before now. If they do it again they just don't get invited back. It's astoundingly rude, in an adult.