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Original poster

Mobile phone ban in spa

214 replies

WhenZogateSuperworm · 19/05/2019 19:50

Whilst I fully expect a spa to have a silent mobile phone policy, why is it necessary to have a blanket ban? How is reading an article on a phone different to kindle or book which are allowed? How does me sending a text disturb anyone else?

I have a spa day booked but having just read the ban on phones (according to their info you will be asked to leave if caught with a phone anywhere other than the changing rooms) I am now wanting to cancel. I have a 2 month old baby and a 2 year old and would feel very uncomfortable about being uncontactable all day.

OP posts:
Acis · 19/05/2019 21:45

Of course you could take a book or managzine but as you say why not take your phone which has all of that on there and fits neatly in your pocket

It's hardly a dreadful hardship to carry a book or a mag, is it? I hate reading books on my mobile anyway, I'm constantly scrolling or swiping the pages.

FrancisCrawford · 19/05/2019 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChipSandwich · 19/05/2019 21:46

Watch a film? How will you hear it? Headphones? That's irritating to others.

Mum2jenny · 19/05/2019 21:46

Just keep your phone in your locker on silent and check it every 30 minutes if it's that essential to you.

That's what I do, even if I'm on holiday and I get my dh's office to use my phone for essential calls. His phone gets all sorts of shit, so if it's absolutely necessary, they can call mine. But the response time can be in excess of 3 hours!

Banhaha · 19/05/2019 21:47

@Passthecherrycoke
It also happens on Snapchat

EvaHarknessRose · 19/05/2019 21:48

The spa at my gym banned phones/cameras the day after I saw a girl taking 100s of selfies of her bikini clad self, to get a good one for Insta, I suppose.

ManchesterBorn · 19/05/2019 21:48

I used to go to a gym with a no phone rule,

that's a stupid rule, most people have their playlist and their workout app on their phone!

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/05/2019 21:48

Francis I was thinking of the same case. It went to Court and she got community service.

eurochick · 19/05/2019 21:49

It would irritate me. My newspaper and magazine subscriptions, and my kindle library are on my phone and iPad. I would want to be able to read in the spa. I wouldn't care about using my phone as a phone.

Orangeballon · 19/05/2019 21:49

I am so tired of peoples addiction to their mobile phones. It is so sad.

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/05/2019 21:49

that's a stupid rule

So go to a gym that allows it. It's a market place. Something for everyone.

Gamble66 · 19/05/2019 21:50

Look up fat woman in a swim suit or similar - even if the spesific tag of spa doesn't produce anything those of us who have things that make us body conscious are allowed a space to relax and not worry about having photos taken. Your lack of ability to cope without a phone for a few hours is quite worring to be honest - have you thought about therapy or a spa day ?

fairweathercyclist · 19/05/2019 21:50

Unless your children are in eminent danger or likely to die then you're being ridiculous

And once again MN shows its lack of consistency. On the one hand schols and nurseries insist on being able to contact parents at all times and if you haven't planned 18 years of back-up which can't die/get ill/move away during that time you are an irresponsible parent. But say you don't want to be uncontactable and you are being ridiculous. Ok.

And 15 years ago when we didn't have mobile phones schools/nurseries/childminders didn't threaten to call social services if they couldn't get hold of you within 45 minutes.

I don't disagree with phones being banned per se, although I think a requirement for them to be on silent and no conversations would work just as well.

Passthecherrycoke · 19/05/2019 21:51

Gosh yes that case in California 2 years ago that made world wide news. It’s absolutely endemic. Grin

PrtScn · 19/05/2019 21:53

It's the old adage the few ruin it for the many.
I'm all for a ban in places like saunas and swimming pools and think that people that can't be without a phone for 24 hours need to seriously assess their mental health, they clearly have issues.
I take my lo swimming and they have a no phone policy there which I appreciate as it means I won't have to deal with seeing him in the background on a video on a public facebook group that a gushing parent has posted showing off their little Chardonay doing their latest back float or whatever.
In a spa I'm sure there would be some narcissistic saddo taking a million and one selfies to post which may have other people in the background who don't appreciate being splattered all over social media. You may think that nobody cares about who is in the background of photos and videos etc, but if you've ever been stalked you'd think otherwise.

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 19/05/2019 21:53

I remember that case. Don't get what she hoped to achieve by doing it?! A pat on the back? People to agree with her? Horrible woman but unfortunately people can be like that.

Not been to a Spa which has allowed mobile phones around the areas. Didn't know it wasn't a thing

perplexedagain · 19/05/2019 21:53

FFS this is a non-issue. Either go to the spa or don't. I don't see why you would need your phone - surely you are leaving your children with someone you trust and they would only need to contact you in an absolute emergency in which case the spa reception would find you

Passthecherrycoke · 19/05/2019 21:54

“ChipSandwich

Watch a film? How will you hear it? Headphones? That's irritating to others.”

How else would you hear it apart from headphones? How can they be irritating to others (normal people anyway?)?

“Fat Woman swimsuit” just brings up plus size shops or posed photos. Really it’s been more than a few minutes now and nothing Grin

redbedheadd · 19/05/2019 21:54

Can't you just put it in your robe pocket on vibrate. If there was an emergency with your kids it wouldn't matter if the spa got pissy at you as you would be leaving anyway and you would just explain!

jcq17 · 19/05/2019 21:55

Every time Iv been a spa people have their phones on them, reading or texting. As long as someone isn't having a loud conversation I don't see the issue.

ManchesterBorn · 19/05/2019 21:56

I am so tired of peoples addiction to their mobile phones. It is so sad.

what is sad? That we use 1 small device to do many things?
Why is it sadder to read the news on my phone than it is on an actual newspaper? Why is it sadder to read message from my friends from an email or a whatsapp than it would be to read a letter?
Why is it sad to listen to music on my phone? To look at photos on my phone? to read a book on it? (even if a tablet would be better for me)

what's the difference between being on MN on your PC or on my phone?

ManchesterBorn · 19/05/2019 21:58

MrsTerryPratchett
well, I do go to a gym where I can use my phone, otherwise it would be pretty pointless without music or my workout program, let alone the things I use my phones for.

Let's be honest, what my mobile phone is use the least is to make phone calls Grin

Sweetsandcrisps · 19/05/2019 21:59

It’s scary how addicted people are to their mobile phones. You look around on a train carriage, for example, and everyone is zombified gorping at their phones. It’s like some weird distopian fiction. Truly terrifying. And I say that as someone who spends an hour a day on my phone - which is far too long it’s ridiculous. It’s too addictive I need to stop!

LaurieFairyCake · 19/05/2019 22:01

It would annoy me. I have all sounds off on my phone all the time. No text clicky noises, no notifications.

But I use the kindle app on my phone to read books. I don't have a kindle or an iPad as my phones so big.

If you still had an iPod touch you could use that? (I don't have one)

Real books get wet so I wouldn't take one

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 19/05/2019 22:02

What would you do all day hanging round the side of the pool without a phone?

I think this is one of the saddest examples of the way things are now that I've read for a long time.

As a snapshot of what mobile phones have done to our lives, this thread as a whole paints a pretty grim picture, actually.