To think this is the rudest behaviour

[InanimateCarbonRod]

We were out for an early dinner. Myself, DH and DC (teenagers) picked a local eaterie with a good early bird deal. The restaurant is empty except for a man dining alone a few tables away.

He takes a smartphone out of his pocket and proceeds to watch TV on the phone with the volume up. We were speechless.

AIBU to think this is so rude?!

no inanimate i am not missing the point at all.
You are getting cross with someone for doing the same as your children were.
It makes me sad when i go to a pub that does food and there are a family of two adults two kids, each one staring at a device...

Slight double standard her OP, your own DCs were on their phones. I'm guessing the man was already there when you arrived.

Yes. Hugely. Like, stupidly rude.

I would have asked the waiters to ask him to use headphones.

It's not 'missing the point' to not agree that a person looking at their phone is ruder than people looking at their phones whilst in company.

I didn't ask if you thought my kids were being rude. They were being quiet. Yes they were on phones but after stressful exams they are allowed to relax. However my AIBU was whether watching TV on a phone in a restaurant was rude or not.

We get it OP but WHAT DID YOU SAY TO THE NOISY MAN????

I just wondered if you were perhaps projecting a little.
I dont understand why doing exams excuses people from half an hour of family conversation.

Rude to have the volume up, yes

DID YOU ASK HIM TO TURN IT DOWN???

Whether you asked or not, they were ruder, therefore his behaviour wasn't the rudest.

Yes, he was rude to have the volume up. He should have had it on quiet or had headphones!

You're getting a wind-up here OP. I'm with you. I also hate people playing music on buses and trains or anywhere really, and it's getting more common. And adults who don't tell their kids to switch their devices into silent mode are just letting them think it's normal to be so inconsiderate of people around them.

Of course I was terribly Irish and said nothing. Just scowled in his general direction. I would be too shy today anything to him. You never know how people will react.

Sitting with someone choosing to ignore them is more wilfully rude than being unaware (or just a bit ignorant of the fact) the volume of your phone is disturbing others.

Explanation given as ordered.

If you were being terribly Irish you'd have been watching the footy too!

Rude but not the rudest behaviour. I think it would have been worse if he'd dropped his trousers and crimped out a perfect Mr Whippy on the table.

Ok, why are you complaining if you didn't even bother doing anything about it? Yes it was rude to have the volume up, but you should have said something to him, or asked the staff to ask him if you couldn't pull your big girl pants on.

You never know how people will react

How bloody crass of you given what happened today.

You should've asked one of the waiting staff to do something about it if you were that scared of him or not moan.