To disable the WiFi on new years eve?

[ViviPru]

We're hosting friends at ours this NYE. Last time a friend and his wife came over, he was glued to his phone the whole time. He's always on it. On Twitter, I think. There's no 3G signal here, but everyone just connects to our Wifi if they need to, WIBU to change the password or just turn the sodding modem off? Should I tell them, or just let him discover it when he can't connect? I've tried politely suggesting it's a bit irritating how he's on his phone the whole time, but it had no effect.

I'd just let him get on with it, but he's very engaging and great company when he's not on his phone....

Definitely turn it off but do not tell them!

I'd do both, change the password, and switch the modem off, password changed incase anyone decides to be rude and turn modem back on

I would. I wouldn't mention it either unless they directly ask, and even then just say it's not working tonight and move the conversation on.

And yes change the pw too.

Turn it off and say your wifi is down.

DP just suggested we change the password and also change the ID to something cutting...

When he asks ' oh the modem broke earlier taken it in to shop ..will be repared and back on the 2/3 Jan'. Orsomething similar.....

Why do you give out your password to guests?! You only have yourself to blame as you invite anti social behaviour

haha I like these suggestions, but everyone will know its a massive fib - all the people present are old friends and all openly comment on this person's irritating habit - even his wife. They won't buy it for a second if I say the modem is mysteriously broken/down....

Ive heard a lot of people are having problems with their WIFi over the christmas period- shame its at your house too Happy New Year!

Don't lie then, when pressed just say the wifi gets in the way of a good night with friends and it's been disabled and modem removed for the evening. Then shrug your shoulders and carry on the conversation.

There has been problems across the networks due to flooding in some areas... Perhaps yours is down due to a waterlogged connection too

Iggly people help themselves to it! Anyone familiar with the BT home hub knows the password is in the little tab on the back.

I will take the blame for making people feel so at ease in our house that they feel they can just help themselves. Or perhaps we're just so unspeakably dull they feel they have no option:D

I like your wording Pascha :)

Lol. Do it! Your house, do what you like!

If you say it is broken, or down or whatever, he will see it as a challenge to fix it. Then he'll plug it back in and say, there you go it's working again! with a big beam of self-congratulation and sit down and start tweeting again like a twat.

I would disconnect it, and say at the start of the evening "I have disconnected the wifi because I would like us to engage with each other, and enjoy this party I'm putting on, rather than talk to virtual friends...does anyone mind?" He will not say no.

I would unplug. Put a note on the box to say "I am switched off because this is a PARTY!"

tak1ing - you know him don't you

Remove it or just plug it in somewhere else? --or stick a stick over the sticker saying "keep off"

Vivi I may well know him. Went to a party 2 nights ago where the vast majority of people were tweeting and facebooking the entire night. I felt like going home

I'd be "surprised" to discover that, for some reason on NYE, your broadband network is down. Who'd have thought it, eh?

I think it is really fucking rude to just go and help yourself to someone's WiFi!

YANBU at all. How rude to be on your phone, twitter or whatever when you are a guest at someone's house. When I have guests or visit someone, I turn my phone off or put it on silent.

It's tiresome isn't it, tc.

I actually think it's bourn out of laziness. It's so very easy to stimulate your mind via social networking - you feel like you're engaging but you don't actually have to do anything. Whereas in a room full of real, live people, you have to listen, process, and think of appropriate responses. Hardly taxing though, especially when surrounded by old friends with whom you have the same sense of humour and loads of shared references. This particular friend is infinitely lazy though. But irritatingly, he's also the most fun when he can be bothered.

Change the wifi name to 'antisocialbugger', they might get the message.

Or better still, tell its broken, not working.

I would be a bit sad not to be able to send happy new year texts/messages to friends and family, which I couldn't do from your party if no phone reception - so would appreciate the wifi! But definitely rude to tweet all evening. Can you log on and see what he is saying? I would be inclined to laughingly confiscate his phone and give it back to him at midnight - but then I am a teacher so used to doing this