To wish that using mobile phones in restaurants and pubs...

[elliedodger]

would be banned in the way that cigarettes are. If OH had to go and stand out in the cold to text then maybe he wouldn't sit playing with his iphone at meals out like a bored child. I think it's SO rude. OH thinks I'm just having a go, but I've got back from a meal with him and my parents and their two friends and he sat there playing with his phone for about 15 minutes. Admittedly it was at the end of the meal when the old folks had gone off down memory lane and we couldn't really join in the conversation, but I still sat there listening and looking interested.

At least he's not as bad as some people I know. My aunt's OH will spend the whole meal fiddling with his phone. Why bother going out to a restaurant if you're not actually going to be 'there', but away in your own world?

AIBU to think it's the height of rudeness and that phones shouldn't be used at any point? I understand using your phone if you've got little DCs with a babysitter, but other than that there's no excuse IMHO. (This is my first AIBU by the way!)

You don't need a ban on phones, but an OH who is more considerate in his use of them.

I find this rude too. I have a friend who is renowned for this type of thing. She has sat in my living room before now, in full conversation with me and then answers her phone mid conversation without even so much as a sorry. The texting thing annoys me too.

Well my sis got fed up of asking her DH to stop using his blackberry all the time when they were out so got their son to tell her whenever he got it out. So in the middle of a crowded restaurant their little boy piped up 'Mummy, Daddy is fiddling with his thingie again.' At which point, Daddy put his blackberry away pronto!!

at your nephew chihiro

I gave a few sharp kicks under the table but they had no effect.

Have just remembered that DP is cooking me a Valentine's meal next week so I may decide I have something very interesting to look at on my phone. Admittedly it doesn't work so well with a crappy old Nokia rather than an iphone

in rogano,glasgow mobile banned in dinning area - bliss

So your real issue is with your OH then.

JodieO - the issue is mainly with my OH but then he's only done it a couple of times, unlike my aunt's DP and come to think of it a few other friends who are like this all the time at meals. Basically all the people I know who have swanky phones with internet and numerous features on as opposed to the ones with older phones.

OH says he only did it because the conversation was completely over his head - he didn't know any of the people being talked about so couldn't join in. But then I've sat through many a boring conversation with his mum and managed not to get my phone out.

OP, your thread title misdirects your upset: this is not about restaurant policy, this is about wanting more respect from your DH. Mobile phones should not be banned in case of emergency. Your DH should know better than to use one in company.

Actually there are plenty of people who sit in restaurants texting and talking and ignoring the people they are physically with.

It is incredibly rude, if they would rather be doing somehting else, why did they do to the restaurant/social do etc.

I agree Miggsie.

I even think it's rude to carry on a text "conversation" when you are a guest in someone's house - someone sat at my table having lunch with me, broke off in the middle of our conversation to look at her phone - had a little giggle and texted back. I think that's like whispering to somebody else at the table ... it's just rude.

NB I don't mind people just looking at their phone - otherwise they might not know if they had an urgent message - but if it's not urgent they should leave it alone. In a restaurant I would expect them to leave the table and go into the vestibule if they wanted to speak on the phone.

Scottishmummy, good for Rogano's, haven't been there in a long time (too far these days) but always liked it.

I agree with Trillian. I don't think it's right to ban mobiles completely and I won't/can't go to any to restaurant which does as my mother has epilepsy which has yet to be stabilised and has had to go hospital via ambulance several times.

I never turn my phone off for that reason but I do agree it's rude to sit texting and calling throughout the meal.