Text messaging at meals

[Nuno]

Had family here from London on Sunday. At one stage 3 of 4 out of town visitors, (ages 61, 35 and 30), were texting during the meal. None of the messages were important.

I felt like apologizing for not providing sufficient quality food, drink and conversation, and asking them to please shut the door on the way out.

I turn my phone off or to silent in situations like that. A family lunch on a Sunday ffs. Mrs N's relatives, normally a good bunch.

Anyone else think it plain bloody rude?

 

[Subbynet]

You're not alone, I know plenty of people who do the same thing. I've seen couples in the same room communicating via Facebook. Says it all really.

 

[OneTapPromo]

I was expecting you to say it was kids texting away, not adults! Tbh I don't think you'll escape from it, phones are too ingrained in every aspect of our lives now.

Thing's will be a lot worse when these Google Glasses start proliferating!
http://www.google.com/glass/start/how-it-feels/

 

[stockdam]

Yes it's rude.

I hate the serial text messages where one reply just spawns another.......none of which were important.

 

[Matt1959]

yes grossly rude and ignorant. I wonder if they apologised as they answered the texts, that would have made things a tad better!

My wife answered a text once when we were sat speaking with someone at the bank. I did squirm. Her defence was that it was me doing all the talking anyway. But the bank guy wouldnt have seen it that way - sooooo rude missus:redface:

 

[MASSEY]

I used to send about 50 text messages a day :redface: but now i can't stand it, i don't know what it was that converted me.

I think it is terribly rude to play around on your phone when you have company.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Had family here from London on Sunday. At one stage 3 of 4 out of town visitors, (ages 61, 35 and 30), were texting during the meal. None of the messages were important.

I assume they told you what the messages were then?

No text is urgent - that's why we text. If the message was urgent we would phone. I text people with questions, messages, etc., so that they can deal with it and reply when they want. My text might get to them at a time they can't respond. But I know they will get back to me when they can.

Going back to your guests, would you have preferred that the person they were texting had phoned and they carried on the discussion while eating? The other thing with texting is it is more discreet. I might be in a meeting and a message has come in, if it's important I will send a quick text back stating I'm in a meeting, unless it just needs a one-word answer, which I'll send. Of course, however, I never even look at my phone if I'm with a client for example.

However, having said all that, no I don't text when eating or having a meal, and I don't think others should.

Here's a tip, get everyone to stack their mobile phones in a tower, next time they're round for a meal. The first one to check their phone during the meal, pays for the cost of the meal.

 

[Nuno]

They told me what the text messages were because I asked them.

No I would not have preferred they answered a telephone call, but as you say it would probably have being more important. I would expect them to excuse themselves from the table and have the call in the next room.

It would be undiplomatic to ask a guest to bear the cost of a meal in my home, whatever the indiscretion.

I did consider moving the water jug onto the table and putting the phones in the water. It was a close call.

 

Had family here from London on Sunday. At one stage 3 of 4 out of town visitors, (ages 61, 35 and 30), were texting during the meal. None of the messages were important.

I felt like apologizing for not providing sufficient quality food, drink

Were thay texting McDonalds then.?:|

 

[OpenSomeHours]

I'd feel terribly guilty if I had my phone out at the dinner table, especially if they're family that you don't often get to see are present!

I do suppose it is a natural reaction to pull your phone out in awkward situations though!

 

[Davek0974]

Nobody texts me



Nah, but seriously its a sign of lack of respect and bad manners, our son-in-law would think nothing of checking his moby while we are out having lunch with them, really p's me off that you buy them lunch and he spends 50% of the time playing with his damn phone.


Short of dropping it in his beer, i cant think of a way of stopping it.

 

[OpenSomeHours]

Nobody texts me



Nah, but seriously its a sign of lack of respect and bad manners, our son-in-law would think nothing of checking his moby while we are out having lunch with them, really p's me off that you buy them lunch and he spends 50% of the time playing with his damn phone.


Short of dropping it in his beer, i cant think of a way of stopping it.

Think I may give that one a try!

 

[SuitNTie]

Unfortunately, this type of behaviour seems to be accepted as the norm. I can't see the attraction myself.

I still check and send text or FB messages. However, I typically only check my phone a few times during the working day anyway.

Another thing that annoys me is to see an obviously out of shape and unfit person in the gym walking at approximately 2mph on a treadmill while texting away... says it all really!

 

[dagr]

Don't be to hard on people that do this. For many, it's the only exercise they get.

 

[Nuno]

Update. It's driving me nuts...

​

 

[andy0t]

This is annoying, I have actually done this and dropped my phone in my food! Mum was not happy

 

[Davek0974]

This is annoying, I have actually done this and dropped my phone in my food! Mum was not happy

That's Karma for you

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

This is annoying, I have actually done this and dropped my phone in my food! Mum was not happy

Did it taste any better though?

 

[beasty]

Nobody texts me



Nah, but seriously its a sign of lack of respect and bad manners, our son-in-law would think nothing of checking his moby while we are out having lunch with them, really p's me off that you buy them lunch and he spends 50% of the time playing with his damn phone.


Short of dropping it in his beer, i cant think of a way of stopping it.

You should text him whilst at the table, its seems you do not wish to communicate with real people and the sounds of your phone with a new message excites you, so i will text you as we enjoy this lovely meal that i am paying for, please do not speak to me directly, i would prefer you to text.
thanks

 

[beasty]

Had family here from London on Sunday. At one stage 3 of 4 out of town visitors, (ages 61, 35 and 30), were texting during the meal. None of the messages were important.

I felt like apologizing for not providing sufficient quality food, drink and conversation, and asking them to please shut the door on the way out.

I turn my phone off or to silent in situations like that. A family lunch on a Sunday ffs. Mrs N's relatives, normally a good bunch.

Anyone else think it plain bloody rude?

I understand teenagers doing this, but adults? seriously where are your damn manners?

It means, what I am doing is more important than anything you have to say despite us arranging to be here together at the same time, this person is important i MUST respond! (Yes it annoys me massively but i say so)

Just as someone being late means, my time is more important than yours, you can wait for me, be on time!!

grr

 

[Cylon]

I feel your pain Nuno, I too have been out with family and freinds and at the moment there was a lapse in conversation I have noticed one of them texting or mucking about with their smartphone.

Course I have checked my fb the next day and seen they have updated their status to show they where having a great time but part of me thinks if they where having such a great time there wouldn't be the opportunity to tell everyone about it.

Perhaps its just a necessary evil of the social connected lifestyles some of us live but it is rude and some little voice inside me wants to stand up at the meal and shout 'look if you would rather be alone with your phone then do us a favour an 'f' off', course I would never say this unless drunk but do think it a lot.

Perhaps a game of the first one to be caught on their phone has to pay the whole bill might work but then they would all be in the loos secretly updating their status's on what colour their poo is.

Part of life I'm afraid and short of banning phones at family gatherings which would heaven forbid lead to more conversation we just have to live with it.

Kudos to the 61 year old though still down with new technology..

 

[Nuno]

I agree with you Cylon, apart from the kudos bit. He is a (retired) senior level Yahoo man and should be able to use a keyboard or touchscreen.

At his age he should be smart enough to use a bit of kit an average idiot-child can use and have some manners.

As to letting them know. I am as you might have guessed a... bit lacking in the subtlety department...
They knew I thought they were plonkers.

Today I got an invite to their 40th Wedding Anniversary. I'm going to wear spoof Google glasses and act like a complete Californian ****.
(Rhymes with fat, cat and shat on the mat)

 

[bnamih]

Here's a tip, get everyone to stack their mobile phones in a tower, next time they're round for a meal. The first one to check their phone during the meal, pays for the cost of the meal.

Great call, my friends and I have been doing that for a few months and it's worked well!

 

[Nuno]

It's a modern plague

 

[beasty]

It's a modern plague

Pretty unrealistic... the caption does not say LOL for no apparent reason

If people really did LOL as often as they type it I would have to think that mental illness is on the increase

 

[Morrjo]

Even more annoying is people having to take photos and whatsapp or post of them on facebook every half hour... Just eat the food, nobodys cares what it looks like honestly...

 

[tj1979x]

It's just rude and no, not just teenagers. My dad's 71 and he sits and texts while we're all round there. Maybe he's trying to tell us something...
But I don't allow phones at the table at mealtimes, if it's really urgent they'll ring, no rubbish text joke is that important. It's the equivalent of whispering I think and makes everyone else feel uncomfortable.
People nowadays are so used to facebook etc that they think everyone wants to hear everything that's going through their mind at any moment, or wants to know what they're having for tea. We really don't.

 

[hassel67]

Well i think "shut the door" is bit rude but if you said i apologize for bad meal then that is right because now a days this became a habit of people messaging during meal.

 

[Nuno]

Well i think "shut the door" is bit rude but if you said i apologize for bad meal then that is right because now a days this became a habit of people messaging during meal.

i bet you txt a lot