Family Of Four Where Everyone Was On Their Own Cell Phone At The Restaurant

[58Bassman]

Although what you saw could have been coincidence—maybe something urgent had come up and they were all looking online for a solution—, I have to say I usually react just as you have. What strikes me as a sadder sight are couples doing that or, even worse, groups of friends, especially adolescents. They say that familiarity breeds contempt, and that kind of thing might be understandable in a family who've spent the last few days together on a trip, for example. It seems to be less and less reasonable as the bond among the individuals goes from blood to friendship.

Yesterday morning, I took my computer to a technician across town for some routine maintenance. I went there on my bike, with the computer in a backpack. There was a narrow bike lane most of the way, built between the road and the sidewalk, and I crossed paths with another cyclist going in the opposite direction in the middle of a particularly sharp S curve. As you might have guessed where my post is going, he didn't look up from his phone through the entire maneuver.

Editing because I forgot to add that I was top-heavy because it's a desktop computer, not a laptop. And the temperature was near 100 °F yesterday. It was enough to see red, as they say, but I was too exhausted to even think about it until this morning.

I would have shouted "WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" if someone had come toward me on a bike lane, especially a narrow one. It's far too easy to jerk to the side when a hand is holding a phone AND the handlebar and attention shared between steering and talking doesn't work for far too many people.

 

[Flyboy]

I remember not having cell phones, almost makes that time seem great.

So do I. But there was a greater, time-wasting evil: the Pager.

I once worked for an events company. They were extremely busy, and we could be rerouted onto a job at any time, or onto another job. That's where the pagers came in. Company mobile contracts were still expensive in those days, so pagers and a Telecomms 'phone card were issued to all technical employees.

We worked stupid hours, every day, sometimes twenty days on the trot. You and a colleague could be rattling back to the warehouse after a (short) 14hr day with a van load of kit to be restocked, then hoping to get home to enjoy two or three hours rest before hitting the sack and getting up for another day's slog. You'd be twenty minutes away from the warehouse, then BZZZZ, off goes the pager. You then had to pull off the motorway (or A road) and find a telephone booth and call Dispatch. Often this took ten or fifteen minutes. You'd get through to Dispatch, who'd then shout at you, asking why you'd taken so long to call in.

Sometimes, the Telecomms card bill would not have been paid that month by the company, so it wouldn't work. You then had to use your own coins, or find a shop open that would split a Fiver or a Tenner for you to feed the booth 'phone. When we finally got mobile 'phones, it was a revelation.

Another niggle back in those days was the company calling you on your personal moby. Many techs refused to answer if they saw the company's numbers come up, because back then you got charged for answering 'phone calls outwith the supplier. Folk today have got it too easy.

 

[Kingpin]

I see irony in people with massive post counts complaining about how others use similar technology.

 

[canteytoque]

I would have shouted "WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" if someone had come toward me on a bike lane, especially a narrow one. It's far too easy to jerk to the side when a hand is holding a phone AND the handlebar and attention shared between steering and talking doesn't work for far too many people.

On the way there, I'd given a few people a "Pssst!" or, when approaching from behind, the equivalent of "Coming through, boss," but at that point I was too exhausted from the heat to do much more than concentrate on keeping my balance. It was dreamlike in the way bad accidents are when you replay them in your mind.

 

[imwjl]

I see irony in people with massive post counts complaining about how others use similar technology.

I was thinking some sort of competition with two other guitar forums where membership should include diaper rash creme.

 

[58Bassman]

On the way there, I'd given a few people a "Pssst!" or, when approaching from behind, the equivalent of "Coming through, boss," but at that point I was too exhausted from the heat to do much more than concentrate on keeping my balance. It was dreamlike in the way bad accidents are when you replay them in your mind.

If I'm approaching on my bike, I say 'Behind you" loudly enough to be heard and far enough from them to prevent startling them THE WAY MOST DRIVERS DO WHEN THEY HONK THEIR HORN BEHIND ME AS THEY PULL EVEN!

Sorry, that just really pisses me off.

 

[canteytoque]

If I'm approaching on my bike, I say 'Behind you" loudly enough to be heard and far enough from them to prevent startling them THE WAY MOST DRIVERS DO WHEN THEY HONK THEIR HORD BEHIND ME AS THEY PULL EVEN!

Sorry, that just really pisses me off.

So, we agree?

 

[burntfrijoles]

It's awful. The demise of civilization!

There are far more serious problems in our society to worry about than the obsession with texting etc.

When I'm having family dinner with my daughter/grandkids we talk, laugh, bond, etc. There may be an occasional glance at the iPhone by my oldest granddaughter but it doesn't bother me. Sometimes adult males are more interested in a sports score than maintaining focus over dinner. At a popular restaurant near me, you can see plenty of guys out with their family but paying as much attention to whatever game is on the TV.

The distraction at family meals is nothing new. Folks used to shoot up the evening news during dinner, etc. Kids anxious to get back to their Gameboys rather than finishing dinner

 

[24 track]

I just saw this

 

[ZackyDog]

If you are at our house eating and your phone rings my wife and I will give you the stink eye if you answer. Our kids and grandkids aren’t allowed to have phones near the table. We have good old fashioned conversations when we eat.

Those sound like good rules.

Is there any chance that you're having Reuben sandwiches tonight? I'll bring chocolate cake.

 

[jpmist]

I went there on my bike, with the computer in a backpack. There was a narrow bike lane most of the way, built between the road and the sidewalk, and I crossed paths with another cyclist going in the opposite direction in the middle of a particularly sharp S curve. As you might have guessed where my post is going, he didn't look up from his phone through the entire maneuver.

Oi! I haver similar issues with pedestrians walking sidewalks focused 100% on their phone screen. Finally I got an old fashioned bike bell to make them look up . . .

 

[sixstringbastard]

I'm more annoyed with the 17 televisions hung around the restaurant, all playing different channels and making an audio mess.

But, I'm most annoyed by other people's rotten kids. If you can't keep them quiet and in their seat, don't go to a restaurant. Stay home and try to focus on developing better parenting skills.

Cell phone usage is ok by me.

 

[24 track]

I'm more annoyed with the 17 televisions hung around the restaurant, all playing different channels and making an audio mess.

But, I'm most annoyed by other people's rotten kids. If you can't keep them quiet and in their seat, don't go to a restaurant. Stay home and try to focus on developing better parenting skills.

Cell phone usage is ok by me.

14 years on an adoption list we finally get the most beautiful baby girl at about 7 months old on New years we went out for dinner to Earl's restaurant for dinner , baby in the car seat carry all. the guy at the next table went ballistic , you Know "why did they have to bring a ( insert explicative here) baby in , my nights ruined " we ignored him ordered dinner while he flung snide comments at us , we gave the baby a bottle , and the a cold baby carrot for her to gum followed by a small piece of celery which felt good on her gums , not a peep out of her at all when she got tired she fell asleep in her car seat , not a sound out of her at all ,we ate our dinner paid and left , only to hear this loud mouth twit say "Wow that baby was quiet ". Don't get me wrong but our kid only cried when tired ,or hungry and if we were in a situation where if she started up we would have left the restaurant. this happened to us about 4 time with ignorant people , I did not confront them because I would have lost it on these ignorant turds, making false assumptions based on their morality.

BTW she turned 29 this year and we are still waiting for the terrible twos.

 

[canteytoque]

14 years on an adoption list we finally get the most beautiful baby girl at about 7 months old on New years we went out for dinner to Earl's restaurant for dinner , baby in the car seat carry all. the guy at the next table went ballistic , you Know "why did they have to bring a ( insert explicative here) baby in , my nights ruined " we ignored him ordered dinner while he flung snide comments at us , we gave the baby a bottle , and the a cold baby carrot for her to gum followed by a small piece of celery which felt good on her gums , not a peep out of her at all when she got tired she fell asleep in her car seat , not a sound out of her at all ,we ate our dinner paid and left , only to hear this loud mouth twit say "Wow that baby was quiet ". Don't get me wrong but our kid only cried when tired ,or hungry and if we were in a situation where if she started up we would have left the restaurant. this happened to us about 4 time with ignorant people , I did not confront them because I would have lost it on these ignorant turds, making false assumptions based on their morality.

BTW she turned 29 this year and we are still waiting for the terrible twos.

My mother was always like that. Whenever we ate out, it's like she was on the lookout for small children in order to complain loudly. Nearest I can figure, it must have to do with their childhood, like they're trying to settle a score because of how they were treated when they were children. Maybe the guy's final comment was actually him having a moment of reckoning. People with that weird of a chip on their shoulder won't get far in life before others point it out to them. Good on you for choosing not to turn it into a fight.

 

[24 track]

My mother was always like that. Whenever we ate out, it's like she was on the lookout for small children in order to complain loudly. Nearest I can figure, it must have to do with their childhood, like they're trying to settle a score because of how they were treated when they were children. Maybe the guy's final comment was actually him having a moment of reckoning. People with that weird of a chip on their shoulder won't get far in life before others point it out to them. Good on you for choosing not to turn it into a fight.

it just shows you how much people think the world revolves around them , and a stupid amount of self entitlement
prevalent in our societies. no cure for the self righteous, ignorant and stupid , there is lots of them.

 

[sloppychops]

I know, it's not my problem and none of my business. I just think it's sad.

As you were.

Maybe they were texting each other.

 

[ZackyDog]

Maybe they were texting each other.

I recall someone said that above.

 

[sloppychops]

I recall someone said that above.

Figures. I never have the patience to wade through all the posts before commenting.

 

[Jullecaster]

I'm reading Marcus Aurelius right now. I believe he would advise us not to worry about anyone else, but to use our own phones in accord with our nature

I guess he'd have some great advice on dealing with intermittent wifi, too