Texting at the table...

[Fremdin]

It is the absolute worst. It is incredibly rude.

 

[Blank123]

I've been on a date and we both used our cell phones to answer texts... neither of us cared. I went on quite a few dates with her actually, and then I just got bored with her... lol

ETA: actually, we'd even talk about the texts we'd receive... *shrug* idk, maybe I live in a crazy world or something lol

I think maybe Canadians are just too cool to worry about that

Meh. It depends on who I'm at that table with. Tuesday night, I went to a biweekly potluck that my small group does. One of the girls had a birthday that night, so we had cupcakes and a round where everyone told a story about how they'd first met or interacted with her. Much laughter, much closeness, and much love. I'd've never dreamed of taking my phone out of its carrying case.

But last Sunday night, a friend of mine was having a sendoff. It was her last night before returning home to CA, so she invited me out with her and some friends from her bible study. Seriously, she was the only one at that table who even looked my way, much less talked to me. Once I gave up trying to be part of the conversation, I pulled my phone out and stayed on it until I left.
Politeness is a two-way street. If you're going to make a big deal out of somebody checking their phone at the table, try including them in the conversation first.

ugh yes. Its moments like that where I am thankful for the invention of the cellphone/texting. Saves an awkward moment of sitting there uncomfortably and waiting to be included in the conversation.

 

[Marycita]

I think it's incredibly rude. It tells whoever you are at the table with that you have more important things to fuss about and you are not interested in them at all....even if that's not at all what you are meaning, that's the message it sends.


And even if it is some horribly boring dinner or something....suck it up and deal with it. Putting your own entertainment and comfort aside for a couple hours and trying to find some way to count others more important than yourselves (the Bible tells you to, ya know) will do you good.


Most of the time, even the "I need to take this now" calls or texts aren't THAT urgent. Get back to them later.


....ugh...the lack of manners and etiquette in this overly technological culture sickens me, can you tell?

 

[PassionFruit]

In most cases it seems incredibly rude. Unless it's an emergency. From some of the comments about the article, several have said it's ant-social. I don't know if I agree with entirely, but I see how someone can come to that conclusion. Also I feel that if you're friends are boring, then perhaps you can try to make things interesting.

Personally I feel the reason some people do it is because they want to feel important.

 

[toastface_grillah]

And even if it is some horribly boring dinner or something....suck it up and deal with it. Putting your own entertainment and comfort aside for a couple hours and trying to find some way to count others more important than yourselves (the Bible tells you to, ya know) will do you good.

....ugh...the lack of manners and etiquette in this overly technological culture sickens me, can you tell?

Sorry friend, gotta disagree here. It's a tough one, counting others more important than yourself when they treat you like you don't exist. (do I sound bitter? ) But I gave my friend a hug and wished her safe travels!

 

[r035198x]

Guilty. I get my work emails on my phone and am always checking them every hour or so when I'm not on my computer. I doubt that I'd be checking those mails if I landed a date though.

 

[white dove]

Unless it's an emergency (in which case, you'd be calling - not texting - anyway), it says a lot about what you think of the company you keep.



Or about how ADD you are.

 

[Tink]

It actually depends on who I'm around. I wouldn't do it at a formal dinner with my family, or on a date.

I do, however, check my phone when I'm with friends...but it's because my friends check their phones also.


To me, it's sort of like the "to drink or not to drink" question; it depends on the company you're in.

 

[LadyOfMystery]

Say Im out with a bunch of family or friends and everyone is talking and doing their own thing and say Im not involved at the moment then sure I'll send a text a friend, or reply to one, etc.

After dinner I usually check my phone when Im with my parents, or alone but if someone is talking to me I don't pick it up during conversations.

So yeah big groups of people = Most likely i'll text. But not during a conversation
When it's just me and another person = If they're checking their phone or we're not having a conversation I'll probably check my phone. But that's usually the only reasons.

 

[Marycita]

Sorry friend, gotta disagree here. It's a tough one, counting others more important than yourself when they treat you like you don't exist. (do I sound bitter? ) But I gave my friend a hug and wished her safe travels!

I didn't say that you had to treat others better than yourselves ...He did

I can't imagine Jesus ever texting, even when it's a tough situation.

 

[LadyOfMystery]

Also, I think it all depends on the person, the situation, etc. Even if it sounds like something -I- wouldn't do, I wouldn't say "hey they're being rude" because I wasnt there, I don't know what else was going on, or who was there, or why they were texting.

 

[Keri]

I think people are too uptight. What is "bad behavior" to one person, is not to another. I don't see how picking up my cell phone and checking for texts is wrong at all. The friends I hang out with in person, are just as important to me as the friends sending me a text.

If I was on a date, I would be polite and keep my phone on silent, therefore not even being alerted to new texts. But if a guy I was with really got that uptight and offended at me texting (especially in the technology age we live in) then I probably wouldn't want to be with him anyway. I'm not interested in dating someone who would that get uptight about something so small.

 

[Marycita]

Obviously, there are going to be times when you are with people and it is appropriate to take a moment to text or something..

but they are fewer than most people act upon.

It's not always that the other person will get uptight..I think, especially in today's world, people don't get uptight about it. And, imho, knowing that doesn't completely justify it. It's kind of like saying, "how little can I do to honor this person and this time we have together?" rather than going above and beyond and being all there.

I'm gonna stop now...


sorry..

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Yeah, to be honest I don't really care. Just use your better judgment and you'll be fine.

 

[Blank123]

funny story. My dad is actually worse than I am with his phone. When we went back east to visit his family, he was always the one on his cellphone, and I only checked mine *maybe* twice a day

 

[toastface_grillah]

I didn't say that you had to treat others better than yourselves ...He did

I can't imagine Jesus ever texting, even when it's a tough situation.

Just wanted to be sure. Jesus, what an example He set. Just when I'm content with my three-sizes-too-small heart, He's gotta take things to another level. Hang on a sec, I think I'm getting a text.

 

[SplendidTree]

I don't think texting at the table is a good idea unless say you're out with a group of friends and a few others are occasionally doing so. Like for me and my friends we may hit up a Denny's late at night and pull out our phones a little. Usually I try to avoid it though because I feel that it distracts me from someone trying to talk to me thus making them feel less important. I know I have been in situations talking to someone who was texting the whole time and it honestly offended me.

 

[Markus6]

I think the author was talking about some different things. He makes the argument that if the technology is augmenting the conversation (like checking wikipedia) then it's OK but then he talks about having to check his texts under the table and having to repress the desire to do so so he can go check in the bathroom. There's a difference - one is promoting conversation and one is replacing it. If you can't survive the length of time it takes to eat dinner without having to check your phone it is pretty sad.