Getting annoyed when people keep showing you things on their phone

[CruCru]

I was reading The Week recently and there was something in there that said that one of Alexa Chung’s biggest “icks” is being shown something on somebody else’s phone.

The author wrote: "I realised long ago that a dinner party or night out never recovers from someone playing something hilarious on YouTube. It ruins the flow of conversation and then everyone else piles in with another “share” (ick). I now say, “oh great, send it to me and I’ll watch it later!” It’s one thing consciously trying to avoid your own screen, but what chance does your poor ruined attention span stand if you’re bombarded by other people’s as well?".

I've been thinking about this and I think I agree. Interrupting conversation to show something on a phone is quite annoying - it's a bit like someone who insists on telling a joke (okay, everyone stops and listens and laughs at the end) but then carries on telling another one (so everyone has to stop and listen again).

I agree,so irritating.

Hard, hard, hard agree 👍

Also when people say "Let me show you this" then can't find the photo in their massive gallery of shit. So you're stood there like a fucking lemon while they're completely absorbed in trying to find a photo you don't give a shit about and never asked to see.

Drives me even more mental when these people then attempt to alleviate your boredom and reignite conversation by just stopping on random photos and going "Oh, that's Bill's new dog" and "This was my hotel room in Outer Mongolia".

I don't give a fuck, you self-absorbed, boring, antisocial fucking cunt.

Totally agree.

My pet hate is being sent reels or clips by people in the middle of the working day. WHO actually thinks anyone likes this?

I find it amazing that anyone wants to watch this mindless shit. I work ten hours a day often and if I am not working I am either travelling, doing housework or trying to enjoy time with family and friends.

I have no time, interest or capacity to spend 30 seconds watching some amateur video from a self involved muppet.

There have been times when I've said "No, I'm sorry but I don't want to look at your phone right now" - but that is usually to someone in my family. It feels quite rude and awkward to say it to friends.

Yep, pisses me right off. YABU.

I am never interested in what they have to show.

I think of this as a very young person thing. I mean, I think the only person who regularly shows me things on his phone is my 13 year old who is still at the stage of liking YouTube videos of pets being weird.

Its the modern equivalent of people who think you are interested in looking at the baby snaps in their wallet. People have no social self awareness. Fuck off with it.

Wow.

The way you have written this has completely made me re-evaluate my thoughts / behaviours. Thank you.

I'm gonna show this to someone on my phone 😁

I see what you mean @OP, my equivalent would be people who insist on you listening to their child's reading or singing or playing their plinky plonky music on whatever string instrument it is. I've been asked to watch an impromptu child's 'dancing', as they're so talented & soon to be 'signed up'. half an hr of my life i'll never get back watching said DC as stiff as a rod wobble or worble about to some west end tune. People are just so absorbed in their own little world they fail to see that what interests them doesn't necessarily interest the next person.

There are few things more dull than friends who insist on showing you their pictures of their holidays/their meal out/ the birthday cake that mututal friend made for her birthday party (that you weren't invited to). Their second cousins wedding outfit, their godchildren etc etc. It is SO SO tedious and breaks up the conversation.

Especially when they are showing you things about people you have zero interest about.
They should say - perhaps when discussing their new bathroom: 'would you like to see a picture' or the bride looked beautiful 'would you like to see a picture' but who really ever wants to see a picture of someone else's godchildren or next door's new sofa.
Christ it makes me want to poke my eyes out.

Oh god yes. DP comes over and sticks his phone in my face all the time. Constantly sharing stuff on family WhatsApp group, always finding pictures of teens as toddlers to share (they ask him not to but he still does it).
Worst is sharing any bad news which he loves doing, any famous person dies he has to announce it.
Good to get that off my chest 😂

Yes. Also people who say ‘did you see that thing I posted on Instagram this week’

Bores.

@MeatAndTwoVag I couldn’t have written that better myself. 100% agree.

Totally agree. As I'm reading this my DP has literally put his phone in front of me to show me a video clip of a goalkeeper talking.
I don't give a fuck!!! And told him so.

@MeatAndTwoVag 😂😅😂

Brilliant - you sum up the whole shitty shitshow perfectly.

Thank you

I used to get irritated by ex DH doing this, but he'd just bring up some random pointless video out of nowhere and show me that as a replacement for having a conversation.

I am guilty though of showing friends occasional photos on my phone of something we're already talking about. Now worried they hate me for it... I actually like it when people show me photos of their kids and pets etc. I guess I'm one of the antisocial ones!

I say, 'I'm so sorry I haven't got my glasses so I won't be able to see a thing!' Usually nips it in the bud.

Yesterday a woman on the tube was doing exactly the 'let me show you this photo' thing to her friend...'it's somewhere here....scroll scroll.' Her friend was all glazed eyes and gritted teeth, was v funny.

God yes.

I’m in a huge WhatsApp group with some people which was started during COVID and I probably only know four or five people on it. There’s a constant stream of stuff on it: occasionally moderately entertaining but mostly utterly banal.

Last week I went for a drink with one of the people in the group and he was endlessly referring to stuff that someone has posted six months ago and then having to scroll back to find whatever it was.

Its rude and dull and invariably a huge letdown when the supposedly “hilarious” picture or clip is eventually unearthed.

There is only one thing worse: people describing their dreams.

Urgh god agree.
also people who want to tell you about every painful detail of their home renovation. Snore.

Drives me insane. DH's friend flicking through his phone showing me rapid fire pictures of his boring holiday while we're in the baking sun, giving me a headache. FUCK YOU. Still annoys me two years later.

Relative turning up at parent's beside in hospital when said parent is clearly distressed and we were having a good time chatting quietly, getting out his phone and showing us photos of someone's wedding outfit. DON'T GIVE A FUCK. READ THE ROOM>

Just piss off with your stupid photos on your lame phone. I don't care. Also peole getting out screens at a meal (even if they are the host.) BORE OFF. BE IN THE WORLD.

Actually, yeah - phones at the table is uncivilised.

I find this really irritating as well - and I speak as someone who is always on my phone. If someone wants to show me something they’re welcome to send it to me but it drives me nuts when someone waves a phone under my nose expecting me to look at something there and then while they wait expectantly for my reaction.

Even worse is when people sit there scrolling Facebook and reading out updates from it. My mum does it and it drives me insane.