Maybe it’s me. Really. I’m asking.
I got to have dinner last night with old friends in downtown Nashville. We were enjoying our conversation, and as I look around the restaurant I see almost everyone else glued to the little glow of their phones.
No kidding – a table next to ours had five people all sitting silently staring.
Libraries wish they could be as quiet as that table. Every now and again someone would grunt and show something to someone else.
After dinner, I got to walk around with my friends’ one-year-old. Charlie and I walked through the restaurant just people-watching.
The people were, by and large, phone watching.
How did we get here?
My gosh – I was telling Charlie (a fine listener) if I had a restaurant I’d ban data signals. Heck, I’d ban cell signals. You need to be reached? Let your sitter know where you are. Need to make a call. Go outside.
What if there was a phone-check right next to the coat check? Or a Lloyd Dobler-style key master – only for phones, you know?
Am I wrong?
And, heck, before I sound completely pious, I’ve done it, too. I’ve sat at too many tables staring at too many things.
If you’re dining alone – as I often do on the road – then I completely understand.
However, if you have company, be good company. Listen. Talk. Eat. Be merry.
What if we started cell phone bans at restaurants? What if it became as uncouth as peeing on the waiter’s shoes?
Who do I call about this? Is there a czar or something?
Do you agree? Disagree? Should I wait for you to post your thoughts on Facebook at lunch today?
We’ve banned electronics from the family dinner table for this very reason. Somehow I suspect that signal jammers at restaurants would make for a fine dining experience for a certain generational group only. 😉
It’s horrible. It says without thinking, “I’m glad you’re here, but there just might me something or someone going on that is more important and interesting than you.” I get sucked in too, which is why when I’m specifically socializing with others I leave my phone at home, in the car, or I turn it off. I’m enjoying richer relationships as a result.
cheers timmo
I am amazed when I look around in restaurants and see entire families, kids included, glued to devices. My kids (8 & 6) beg me but we are determined that they will have actual social skills when they reach adulthood.
And let me tell you, it would be so easy to give in. My oldest son has Sensory Processing Disorder and going out to eat with him can be extremely challenging–a digital babysitter would mean a welcome break for us. But when you see people looking at those screens you can see how blank everything goes and I prefer to see the real light in their eyes–not just a reflection.
Put me down in the “agree” column. Jerry Seinfeld had a bit where he said something to the effect of “…How ’bout if I just pull out a magazine and hold it front of my face while we’re talking, is that ok?”
Now, as you would say…get off my lawn.
Good afternoon Tim and Crew. Read every word. Found myself recalling and visualizing your commentary. Being the person I am I have actually had the thought of going over to a woman who is just sitting while their date is texting and pull up a chair and start a conversation that would get any womans attention. And see how long it would take for their date to stop and pay attention to her. Trouble is most of the time, more often it’s the woman so that shots my idea in the, wel……l what ever. Might turn that lemon into lemonade. Marketing 101? Don’t know how but I’m sure if it can be done you and your crew can.
By the way this is a first. FP “Green Hornet”
Why do they bother you? They are not doing anything against you. I recommend letting it go. If people don’t want to talk to each other, it really is their own business.
No, I do not behave this way myself. I just understand that society will not conform itself to my desires. We’d live In a very different world, if that were the case, and I don’t think most of you would like my version.
Live and let live
~Erin