What is everyone doing on their phones in restaurants, that can possibly be more important than speaking to the person they have made a dinner date with??

[BeachBlondey]

I am getting irrationally annoyed by this. I see it all the time. For eg. Me and DH were at a big restaurant the other day. I could see about 16 other tables from where we were sitting. Apart for us, and two other tables, everyone was scrolling through their phones and not talking to the other people they were out to dinner with. It makes me so sad. On one table, a couple spent the whole meal on their phones, whilst their daughter, aged about 8, simply had her head face down on the table. No interaction with the child at any time. The table right next to ours had 3 people seated at it, 2 of whom scrolled continually, whilst the 3rd person stared into the distance. It's like people are physically there, but not really present. What on earth are we doing to ourselves?

Perhaps you should take your own advice considering that you seem to have spent a considerable amount of time counting how many people were on their phones and monitoring the length of time that they used them.

Dh and I were at a restaurant last night, we were on our phones frantically trying to book out dc birthday party after the current booked in one cancelled last minute...

Jeez, there's always one!

Fair enough, but I doubt that all of these people (everywhere we go) are dealing with emergencies.

It's like their phones are part of their anatomy.

I agree, fair enough the odd emergency but so depressing. The worst is people having FaceTime chats on loud speaker - so rude and unnecessary.

I agree in general that it's sad if it's basically for the whole time. I do think it has become very common for phones to be conversation props though ..my dp does it..if we're mid conversation he whips out his phone to check the exact name or fact or something if he can't remember and it really winds me up..it doesn't matter in the context of the chat and inevitably there's then an awkward minute where he is scrolling and just quickly checking through notifications that have popped up a well as finding the original thing. I only ever check mine to see if it's the babysitter.

I'm an old dinosaur who hates having a mobile phone!

Not so much in restaurants, but I'm always baffled by the people who walk along the streets and sometimes in beautiful countryside glued to their phones. They might be on Google maps...but I don't think so in most cases.

What is so incredibly urgent that you can't wait 10 minutes to get on the bus/home/to work etc to do that text? I think with some people it's like smoking used to be - it gives them something to do with their hands, and I kind of get that (I can't walk around in public with nothing in my hands - I usually hold keys or similar, or put one hand in a pocket - weird!). Is it also is a way of signalling 'Leave me alone - I'm busy and I'm not going to make eye-contact', which again, can serve its purpose?

But sometimes it's best to try and live in the moment!

That's so true. It kind of breaks the conversation. Annoying!

I've almost been walked in to recently, by people reading their phones whilst they are walking. I just don't get it!

Not so much in restaurants, but I'm always baffled by the people who walk along the streets and sometimes in beautiful countryside glued to their phones. They might be on Google maps...but I don't think so in most cases.

They're probably playing Pokemon Go 😆

It's fun to see the look of complete shock on a phone zombie's face when they almost walk into someone/something though

I was on the bus the other day, the whole journey there was some woman giving a running commentary, to the person she was on the phone too, about where she was ‘at the corner of the Avenue’ ‘turning into Bridge street’ blah blah all the friggin way. As she was waiting to get off at her stop she was yelling ‘I can see you!’Jesus, the whole bus cheered when she got off!

@BeachBlondey I agree. I am old fashioned and was very self conscious of us both anti socially searching endlessly in silence 😂

My daughter sprained her ankle when she was knocked off her feet by a woman who was glued to her phone.

If I'm out without the children then my phone is on the table (on vibrate) but ignored. If I'm out with the children it's in my handbag and ignored. I don't understand why phones have become so dominant in people's lives these days it's quite sad.

Why would it need to wait until they get to work/on the bus/ home though?
You’ve just made up an arbitrary rule that most people don’t subscribe to.
Why is it wrong to text or browse something on your phone while walking but you deem it acceptable on the bus?

I completely agree. Don't get me wrong there have been times when I've been out and about and have needed to respond to something or take a call, but I was in a theme park recently with my 5yo and there were parents on kids rides with their kid sat next to them, staring at their phones. My friend and I were a bit flabbergasted by it!

You're not wrong OP, I absolutely hate it. Phones at the table are banned in my family! It's incredibly poor manners for a start. I try and set an example to my own teens by not using my phone for anything other than important calls outside the house. The gormless parents ignoring their children make me feel so sad.

My mum does this. We are having a conversation about something and she then has to Google other opinions and takes on it then starts talking about random crap her phone has told her. It drives me nuts and takes the authenticity out of the conversation.

@BibbleandSqwauk Yes, my DH does that too. If we're eg trying to remember the capital city of a country, he whips out of his phone instead for an instant answer, whereas I would prefer to chat about what it might be, have we been there etc. I think it kills off conversation

the whole bus cheered when she got off!

Did they, aye?

It does not bother/annoy/sadden me at all when strangers on other tables are on their phones. There are many reasons they could be using them and frankly it is none of my business. The only person who I think could object is whoever they’re with, but if they don’t mind why should I? It does however bother me if they’re playing loud music or videos, if they’re loudly having a FaceTime or Zoom conversation without headphones, or if they’re ignoring their badly behaved kids running wild in the restaurant. Basically I only get bothered when their phone usage bothers me. I wouldn’t expect (or care if) a stranger was saddened by me choosing to use my phone.

Agreed.

It's rude.

People teach their kids that is normal by actively encouraging them to look at tablets etc at the table. It's to avoid talking to the child.

I understand than some non-NT find it helpful but it seems to be most kids in restaurants at the moment.

YANBU, it would bother me in my relationship. Definitely not the way I'd like to spend time with my child too!