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?

Agree with you completely. I notice it all the time now whenever I am out, basically everyone mindlessly scrolling on their phones like zombies. Truly depressing 😞

Sometimes it's the only time my partner and I get to sit down and talk/ organise things etc and we use our phones as part of the conversation.
Yesterday we were in Costa on our phones organising our family camping trip. To others it will look we are not chatting but we are actually doing things together.

It’s depressing but a sign of the times. Phone zombies everywhere. It’s an addiction and has killed the art of conversation in many 25s and under.

Society is circling the drain.

Glad I'm not completely alone! Its like once you've seen it, you can't unsee it. I'm glad phones weren't a thing when my children were small. We only had those brick things.

Works dinner ie a social event. I wouldn’t attend one of these. Working dinner with people I’m travelling with them yes phones are involved as we are still working and preparing for the next day.

I really couldn’t care less if a colleague was texting someone at home whilst we were eating dinner. It’s not a social event or I wouldn’t be there. they don’t owe me conversation just because we have to sit there.

Honestly get frustrated by people who insist of talking crap all the way through dinners. Especially if you whats being said is there to fill the space.

Talking crap

Well your user name is apt I guess. I presume you understand that lots of people enjoy the company of others and that you are rather unusual.

Hate to break it to you, if I was the unusual one, then whole restaurants of people wouldn’t be sat on their phones.

you don’t need to be constantly talking to enjoy someone’s company, there’s a lot to be said for having the ability to sit quietly and not fill it with noise just because you’re uncomfortable

I think that phrase is usually used to mean the ability to sit in silence with someone, not ignoring them because you are on tiktok.

😂 I’m perfectly happy reading a book rather than TikTok. It stops me losing my mind because all I can hear is other people eating. As the majority of people also appear to be on their phones for a variety of reasons, we are no longer the unusual ones. As long as no one pesters you for not using one, then both you and I would be free to enjoy our dinners exactly how we wanted to.

id probably be much more pleasant to be around as I wouldn’t be competing for air space with you.

There are so many people on this thread who seem completely unprepared to accept any discomfort or make any effort at all in the interest of living alongside other people, yet who, even in the middle of a cost of living crisis, find themselves regularly forced to eat in restaurants with other people when they don’t want company. I’m starting to feel like I’m some kind of weirdo, because when I go to a restaurant it’s either because I want to enjoy the food, the company of the people I’m with, and the general ambiance, or because I’m aware that that’s why they are there and I’m not such a twat that I want to spoil it for them. If I really couldn’t cope with the idea, I’d stay at home. I never knew so many people were eating out against their will.

@LoobyDop i do get what you’re saying, and I admit that it is insensitive to complain about having to do something other people can’t afford.

i have to eat out for work, or because I’ve run out of food and the local supermarket is 45 minutes away, or I’m not well enough to cook. I don’t have the luxury of picking where I eat half the time, and often it’s a struggle to find something I can or want to eat.

oh and the horror of eating with people and they are trying to talk and eat at the same time. 🤮

mid honestly rather be at home with my feet up.

I largely agree with you, but in general I couldn't give a shit. When I go to a restaurant with DW then I really couldn't give a fig if everyone else in the place is on phones. That's their prerogative and doesn't affect me.

One of my friends does this as she is online dating and glued to her phone messaging and swiping. It's so rude and boring that I've stopped asking her to do things together. It's an addiction. She's

A lot of interesting points on here. Beachblondy,TV in the 1930s!! I was born in 1950, first TV we had when I was 10. As for mobile phones ruining the meal out for others,we went out on Valentine's Day one year, the bloke at the next table,was making and receiving calls, talking really loudly,we couldn't help but be party to the conversations. In the end, I put down my cutlery and looked at him,he then said "I think I had better go". Course, inevitably,it got round to well aren't you lucky to be able to go out for a meal,on here. We're on a small pension (DH being 7 years younger only gets it this month) we go out to a carvery about once a month, smaller plate meal, haven't been on holiday for 14 years,sold my car last year. I worked damn hard for 50 years,and deserve a treat.

We had an expensive celebration meal spoiled by a man on the next table taking what seemed like business calls and talking loudly.He did get up several times and move away but was barging past chairs with no acknowledgement .Rude no matter how important his deal was.I mute my phone and leave it in my bag.The only exception eg catching up with a friend the other day we showed photos over coffee.If I'm expecting something eg DD letting me know some important results I apologise in advance and check phone when I go to the loo.YANBU .

What a bizarre attitude. So, if it doesn't affect you, you don't care, and don't even notice your surroundings?

So, if someone at the next table punched his date in the face - meh - it doesn't affect me, so I don't care. Weird.

When I walk through a restaurant, and see loads of people glued to their phones, ignoring their friends, I can't help but think, "what the fuck happened to people?"