To be irritated at people that can't stop looking at their mobile when out with friends?

[Gromance02]

I don't mean checking it occasionally and leaving it in your bag. I mean literally sitting opposite your DP/friend and just being on it constantly? It hasn't happened to me. Just something I seem to see more and more often. You may as well go out on your own if you are going to be glued to your phone. It is so needy and sad.

Yep, it drives me mad. I often comment on it in a joking way. Normally sorts it out

Completely agree, YANBU. It's as good as saying the present company isn't interesting enough and i'd rather communicate with someone elsewhere. Height or rudeness. I like the idea of cafes, pubs, restaurants jamming phone signals.

Yanbu. Can't stand it. Poor people are addicted and I suppose you should feel sorry for them - but seriously, they should get a grip! Would they look at their phone if they were on a date with their no. 1 heartthrob in the whole world? If not, why are they checking on their phone with you? It really makes me mad.

I really dislike it too. I will check mine for any urgent emails or messages, but I only do it during a lull in the conversation or I ask if they mind if I quickly check my phone. I have friends who are on theirs constantly who don't even notice when I stop talking mid-sentence ... rude as fuck.

Rude if constant. But I do check mine during conversations and meals every now and then as I need to know what is happening at work and if I need to do something

I have severe, diagnosed anxiety and PTSD. If I do on a rare occasion make it out of my house to something social, using my phone is a distraction technique for me and can be useful in keeping full blown panic attacks at bay.

Good to know I'm sad though. Everyone is fighting invisible battles - why don't you concentrate on your own life?

Even checking your phone every half an hour is enough to give me the rage. Unless there is something seriously important going on and you somewhere where you have to have your phone on silent it is the height of rudeness. I will call someone out on it every single time. And not jokingly either. I once walked out of a restaurant with a friend who kept doing it. They never did it again.

ICant Then YOUR friends and family KNOW about it and would understand. That's different.

I don't see how checking it every half hour is rude. We live in a busy world where people need to stay connected to do their jobs and regulary checking is vital for so am.

YANBU

It's even sadder that the primary schools around here have signs in the playground, saying "Greet your child with a smile, not a mobile".

OK there'll always be the odd important reason why you're on your phone as you pick up your child, but for the main, just put your bloody phone away and speak to your child.

siwel How many people's jobs require them to check their phone every half an hour at night? If you are out for an evening with friends and you're having a conversation of course it's rude to keep checking your phone UNLESS there is something very important going on. Let someone leave a message on your voicemail or send you a text and check it when you go to the loo.

Mine does.
Lots of people have 24hr type jobs.

My DB did this to me at Xmas. When I next saw him I took a book of poetry in my bag and as soon as he looked at him phone I started reading a poem and refused to engage with him till I'd finished - that pissed him off

But in all seriousness it's getting freaky now. I took DC to a theme park in the half term and the vast majority of kids, teens and adults in the queues just starred at phones and didn't interact at all. It depressed me.

Mine does.
Lots of people have 24hr type jobs.

^^

I bet you manage to sleep without checking your phone every 30 minutes in your 24 hour job? If it was important surely someone would ring and you would hear it?

siwel Please name some jobs that require people to be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week? Presumably you can never ever go to the theatre or a concert or a film, because you need to check your phone all the time and could be required to leave immediately?

My family know but my friends don't really. I'm very private about it as I find it extremely embarrassing. The people I have told about my mental illness I haven't seen for dust, so I don't tend to risk it.

Yes of course I sleep .
Like I said there are lots of jobs where being easily contactable is required, many business.
I'm a civil servant, I've to be contactable and available to answer the questions. If I'm awake I will check emails and texts I get. If not awake they ring me to getvthe answers I've.

24 hour type jobs involve being on call when not at work. You only need to have your phone close by so you can answer it if it were to ring in this case - it does not need to be an extension of your arm and does not need to be checked every 3 minutes.

I check mine regulary because as I've said I have to. Yes I can leave it if I want while out at cinema or something but if sat with friends I don't think Its wrong to check and reply to the near constant messages and emails I get.

Sorry Icantcopeanymore I didn't mean to offend anyone.

siwel So, you go to a wedding. It's at a catholic church and the invite says 12 noon. You're sat in the church by 11.45. Bride turns up at 12.10 and wedding lasts until 1.20 before you can leave the church. Do you check your phone during that?

Have you changed your job in the last couple of weeks then siwel? Only you were working term time only a few weeks back.

There was a couple near me that literally sat for over an hour, looking at their mobiles, not talking to each other. I thought when their food arrived, they'd stop but they didn't. Very odd. It seems to be becoming the norm. Same with kids. They are physically next to their friends but not 'with' them if you see what I mean.

Same with kids. They are physically next to their friends but not 'with' them if you see what I mean.

They're probably in a group chat together