Cellphone Etiquette during Lunch and Dinners

[troutman]

Karma is a bitch. Smart phone addicts are going to get radiation cancers!

Also, my tolerance for smart phone rudeness is directly proportional to the hotness of the user.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

My family was having a meal with some family friends and they were talking about their son, who is a doctor. I believe they said that he's the ER medical chief or something along those lines in a hospital in the US. There are days where he is working, some when he's on call and others when he's not working at all.

From the way they described it and how I understood it is that, he is working more than he is not with him being on shift + being on call. Getting called in while being on call doesn't happen a lot. There have also been times when he wasn't working that he's been called in because of a major emergency situation.

Whether someone lives or dies could depend on him making it to the hospital as soon as he possibly can.

Such a thing does exist. If they do what you suggest, he would almost never to be able to have a sit down meal since he might get called at anytime.

Sure, and there are some exceptions obviously. For the vast majority of us that doesn't apply though. It's a very, very small minority who must answer their phone that constantly.

I know that when my wife was pregnant and due at anytime I would explain that to people at the outset of any meeting, and that I would be checking my phone and if it was her I would have to answer. But let's be rational here; there are a lot of people who are just plain rude to the people their dining with.

It is what it is though. I'm not the type to say anything to people who do this, it's just that I try not to do it to people I'm with.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I don't think that there is such a thing as cellphone etiquette anymore. Pretty much anything goes. At least in practice. In theory people shouldn't be rude but they are.

Heck, I've been out with groups of 5 or 6 people at a pub and the table goes silent because 4 different people are fully engrossed in their cell phones. There's not much you can do except just not hanging out with those people or deal with it.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Slava

Sure, and there are some exceptions obviously. For the vast majority of us that doesn't apply though. It's a very, very small minority who must answer their phone that constantly.

Says the man with 2500 contacts.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by troutman

Says the man with 2500 contacts.

Well I have a lot of contacts, but they can leave messages. I haven't had any problem with that so far, and frankly if anyone thought they were so important that they were above leaving me a message and waiting for a response then I could probably do without them anyway.

[Russic]

I'll adjust my behavior depending on who I'm with. If I'm with my buddy who I know doesn't mind (because he does it) I'll answer a text here and there. If I'm eating a meal with my wife I won't answer it. If I'm in a service line at a store I certainly won't answer it, or I'll hang up the call before I get to the front. I also wouldn't mind if somebody spoke up if it was bothering them. I've never had it happen exactly, but if it did I'd understand.

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Normally it would be considered rude by the people who raised you. It is still considered a sign or manners.

Which is more rude:

1. Somebody who doesn't like it when you are out for dinner and you are on your phone

2. The person who insists being on their phone even if the other person doesn't like it

this is the person who is being rude. who are you to tell anyone else what they can do? the OP had it right, if you dont like it, dont go out with them.

nothing to do with the person raising them. parents job is to teach a child how to be productive in society and take care of themselves. not how to bow to random rules set by strangers who are interested in being judgemental.

really, i dont get the big deal about people using their smart phones in restaurants or doctors offices. why is everyone so uptight and judgemental about it?

[Yeah_Baby]

There is no universal cellphone etiquette. Much like how I've found there is no universal wedding etiquette, or birthday night out etiquette. It's all contextual to one's personal experience.

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I don't think that there is such a thing as cellphone etiquette anymore. Pretty much anything goes. At least in practice. In theory people shouldn't be rude but they are.

Heck, I've been out with groups of 5 or 6 people at a pub and the table goes silent because 4 different people are fully engrossed in their cell phones. There's not much you can do except just not hanging out with those people or deal with it.

agree !

[SeoulFire]

I have no use for people who use their phones at inappropriate times. First, I call them on it and if it persists I excuse myself from the situation. It shows a complete lack of respect to the people who have taken the time to meet face to face for whatever reason.

On the other hand, if I am expecting a call or will need to use my phone I always let the other person know that it is a possibility.

It is a simple matter of respect for the people you are meeting and those around you. I have came really close a few times to blasting my music from my phone when loudmouth boors are yapping loudly away in a public place.

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

I have no use for people who use their phones at inappropriate times. First, I call them on it and if it persists I excuse myself from the situation. It shows a complete lack of respect to the people who have taken the time to meet face to face for whatever reason.

On the other hand, if I am expecting a call or will need to use my phone I always let the other person know that it is a possibility.

It is a simple matter of respect for the people you are meeting and those around you. I have came really close a few times to blasting my music from my phone when loudmouth boors are yapping loudly away in a public place.

you sound uptight.... so really?

if we are out and a colleague comes into the pub, am i allowed to say hello and interact with him or would this offend you too?

whats the difference?

[jammies]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

bow to random rules set by strangers who are interested in being judgemental.

Rules are what make a society. If you want to be rude, no one is going to stop you, but don't pretend it's a matter of you exercising your right to free will - it's simple self-centredness. It's not polite to ignore someone you're with in a social setting, regardless of whether you're texting, reading a book, or wandering off to spend 20 minutes chatting up the waitress trying to get her number.

[SeoulFire]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

you sound uptight.... so really?

if we are out and a colleague comes into the pub, am i allowed to say hello and interact with him or would this offend you too?

whats the difference?

If you fail to see the difference then there is not much point in continuing this conversation.

Originally Posted by DementedReality

... bow to random rules set by strangers who are interested in being judgemental.
....

Yeah...something called societal norms.

Originally Posted by jammies

Rules are what make a society. If you want to be rude, no one is going to stop you, but don't pretend it's a matter of you exercising your right to free will - it's simple self-centredness. ....

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by jammies

Rules are what make a society. If you want to be rude, no one is going to stop you, but don't pretend it's a matter of you exercising your right to free will - it's simple self-centredness. It's not polite to ignore someone you're with in a social setting, regardless of whether you're texting, reading a book, or wandering off to spend 20 minutes chatting up the waitress trying to get her number.

Agreed, but trying to shoehorn rules from the past into today's age is equally as rude. I think there needs to be a balance and it will depend on the level of comfort you have with the other party.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

The difference is that the phone being used to film wasn't ringing and therefore not distracting the class and interrupting the teacher.

Not sure why they were filming the class, but whatever.

True.

[OilKiller]

I just love it when I walk by a table full of younger women who have decided to all go out for dinner and every single one of them is talking or texting on their phones. What's the fricken' point in going out together then...LOL.

[mykalberta]

It disturbs me as well but only when I am out with family or girlfriend. I specifically turn my phone off when eating with someone else.

With my friends I could care less how they act in public as its their life and if they want to play angry birds so be it - there is no use in suggesting they dont as its not worth the argument.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

I just love it when I walk by a table full of younger women who have decided to all go out for dinner and every single one of them is talking or texting on their phones. What's the fricken' point in going out together then...LOL.

It isn't just women though. It happens all the time with men and women.


To counteract this I've started carrying a book with me wherever I go with friends who are always on their phones. At random times, in the middle of a convo even, I whip out my book and start reading.

When the person looks at me startled and asks what the #### I'm doing I just inform them it is no different than them answering texts, going on FB etc.

They don't like it so much.

[Champion]

I always leave my phone on silent if it is on the table. Vibrate if I keep it in my pocket. I own a business so I have to be able to pick up any emergency calls or respond to emails quickly sometimes. I think that is pretty good to do instead of it having to ring every few minutes.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

If you fail to see the difference then there is not much point in continuing this conversation.

Yeah...something called societal norms.

Norms change. I am an early 20's guy, so naturally I have my phone on me all the time. If I'm out with friends it is normal to see all of our phones sitting on the table. Depending on who I'm with I'll answer most texts opr calls if I deem them to be important.

If I'm out with people who are my superiors (bosses, parents, etc..) then I generally keep my phone away but on vibrate. If I get a text Ill look at it when I have the chance. If its a phone call I'll see who's calling and if I have to take it I'll politely excuse myself. Although with the industry I'm in and my Dad, people from the older generation are generally worse for being rude with their phones (in my experience). It is impossible to talk with my dad if his phone is on him.

When you can be accessed anywhere via phone, text, email, whatever, this is the nature of our world now. Some people are just going to have to start sucking it up.