Declaring war on "Phubbers"

[PsYcNeT]

Sounds like a campaign by boring people to force those who find them boring to pay attention to them.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I refuse to help people until their off their phone all the time. Sorry, but your basically telling the cashier that you don't have the time if day for them. It's incredibly rude. They're not a machine, it's a person for crying out loud

it really depends on the type of service you are giving. if it is necessary to communicate my needs to the person of course I do. and dont get me wrong, i'm not some miserable ass who never talks to people, I'll chat with servers sometimes when i want to but if my friends text me or I get an email from work then yes, I do not care the least about the guy scanning my milk. I would rather give attention to people I care about. and if someone refused me service because of that I would raise hell.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Peanut

Really? Because usually my cashier is a sullen 17-year old who doesn't say anything except "air miles? Club card?".

Perhaps. However I have also been in line behind the person on the phone, and the person on the phone then struggles to make the transaction. The cashier has to repeat what she said, and then the person has to try and find the card the cashier asked for; using only one hand and often still continuing their conversation. It's at that point the person on the phone says to their caller "Really!" and then pauses looking for the card.

It's like what I say about people who drive distracted by using their cell phone. They will often say they can drive fine while on the phone; however because of the distraction of being on the phone they actually aren't aware of the collateral effect they are having on others.

How many phone calls are so important that you must take them immediately, but not important enough for you to drop what you are doing to give the caller your attention?

[Hatter]

It's not totally uncommon, but my friends and I always place our phones in the middle of the table when out for dinner. If someone really wants to reply to a text or answer a phone call they are more than welcome, but they then pay for the meal.

Seems to work pretty well. I've got a few free meals out of friends wanting to talk to some girl who just called them, but the majority of the time nobody touches their phone.

[sclitheroe]

I don’t use a ring of any kind on my phone. This is so that I am always on offense and never defense.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Swarly

I've never found this to be a problem. Usually friends fire back a quick text or two while at the bar no big deal. Have yet to run into a friend that has full on text conversations while out with a group.

What I don't agree with is the checkout girl mentioned in the article who refused to scan a customers groceries because they were on the phone. I don't want to talk to you, you are not paid to talk to me, you are paid to scan my groceries, do it quick and I can get on with my life. Why must I be forced to talk to you?

I was working a front counter type job when cell phones first became popular. My rule was this: when I'm important enough for you to pay attention to, I'll deal with you. Your phone call can wait. And if it can't, finish the call and then come back to the counter.

[Eastern Girl]

I don't get the obsession with phones. I don't want to be reachable all the time. I really don't. I have no problem going hours on end without looking at my phone. I hate my phone. I wish I didn't have to have it. The main purpose for it, other than it being a way for my boss to ruin my mood, is checking the time, because I hate wearing a watch.

I don't mind if someone wants to check out their phone periodically or step away to have a quick call. It's when they sit there and have the full conversation with the person on the phone that bothers me. Then, I am never sure what I am supposed to do. Do I try and ignore them, because I'm not part of the conversation or do I try and make myself part of the conversation in some way? Is it still considered eavesdropping if they just sit there in front of you and have a chat?

[NBC]

Businesses have the right to refuse service for many reasons. Anyone old enough to remember retail food businesses that had the signs reading "no shoes, no shirt, no service?" I think it is the height of rudeness to ignore people who are in the process of "serving" someone because that person would rather not engage in any sort of conversation as they probably "couldn't care less" about the server. Yet it is these same people that get instantly annoyed when the server, be they restaurant staff, grocery clerks, pharmacy workers or anyone else that doesn't drop what they are doing immediately and rush right over.

I applaud businesses that choose to refuse service on these grounds. Bravo!

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Peanut

Really? Because usually my cashier is a sullen 17-year old who doesn't say anything except "air miles? Club card?".

It doesn't matter what other people do, it only matters what *you* do. Besides which, an older lady like you should be setting an example for these surly kids

[OffsideSpecialist]

I don't know, I just don't see a reason to be on the phone while interacting with somebody. I certainly can't think of a single situation where the person texting/calling/whatevering can't wait a few seconds for me to be done at the till. Of course, my friends and I generally aren't attached at the hip with our phones and we know that's the case for each one of us.

[Danijam]

My job requires me to be on call, so I can go out with friends and be 90% present but sometimes have to check my phone or answer any email. I don't consider this phone snubbing, but this thread has given me pause for thought.

[jar_e]

Why does there need to be a war...just don't hang out with them anymore? Seems like a pretty easy battle to win.

[To Be Quite Honest]

When you are out with friends stack your phones on the table in no particular order. The first one to use the phone pays the tab. If nobody uses the phone then it's split up evenly.

[jayswin]

I have this great thing me and friends invented, you guys should try. What you do is put all your phones in the middle of the table when you're out drinking. Anyone is free to answer at any time, but then they have to pay the tab.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I have this great thing me and friends invented, you guys should try. What you do is put all your phones in the middle of the table when you're out drinking. Anyone is free to answer at any time, but then they have to pay the tab.

Way to read the thread pal

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Swarly

What I don't agree with is the checkout girl mentioned in the article who refused to scan a customers groceries because they were on the phone. I don't want to talk to you, you are not paid to talk to me, you are paid to scan my groceries, do it quick and I can get on with my life. Why must I be forced to talk to you?

I worked at a liquor store for 2 years when in college, can't stand the people who talk on the phone during the entire transaction. Special points in hell for the ones who refuse to even make eye contact.

While I wouldn't go so far as to refuse service, they'd get their stuff thrown into the bag not very gently. And if they paid with cash, they'd definitely be subjected to the coins on top of the bills change return.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Way to read the thread pal

That was the point of my post, what TBQH said was posted on page one. So........way to read the thread, pal.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Why does there need to be a war...just don't hang out with them anymore? Seems like a pretty easy battle to win.

sounds like a good solution to me. I for one will stop hanging out with the anyone who uses the term 'Phubber'

[CaptainCrunch]

Why do we need some kind of a coordinated war campaign when a well placed backhand works just was well?

Or whip it out and pee on their shoes.

Whatever

[nfotiu]

I think I am finding the people seeing phubbers in everyone more annoying than the phubbers themselves. Ie, I was at the gym the other evening, it was late on a Sunday, and only about 8 people in a large gym. I had just finished a set, and took out my phone to change my music, and literally 5 seconds later, this guy comes up "If you are just going to be playing on that thing, can I actually do a workout?" I've run into a few of these kind of guys lately.