Community Chat

[Plaid Pants2]

Uh, yeah, ignore what others are doing and focus on who is right in front of you.

You can't control what others do, only how you react to it.

Once you learn the art of ignoring others around you, your stress level will decrease.

[Allegheny]

---

@SANNA wrote:

I really enjoy going to countries like France, Italy and Spain . They really have this issue right. Yes they use sell phones too, but never, never,never ever you would see anyone on the date ot simple friends or family dinner using any sort of devices. 

People enjoy the conversations with each other , so nice to watch. They do not speak loudly, their kids do not run around or scream and they treat their elderly with the tremendous respect.

I really think that we are raising a shallow, obnoxious and narcissistic generation.

Something is fundamentally missing in parenting and educational arena.....

---

@SANNA That is wonderful to learn.  

[Blahblahvampemer]

---

@jaxs mom wrote:

---

@Blahblahvampemer wrote:

---

@bri20 wrote:
What I do in line or in a waiting room is really my business. And it shall remain that way. Lol. I'm very pleasant to other people, but I sometimes don't want to have a conversation with anybody else

---

If you're delaying the people behind you, or making them listen to your chit chatting, then it's their business, too.

---

Aren't people already required to listen to the chit chatting that people make with the people around them in line, or even at the tables next to them. It makes no sense to me to complain about people talking on a phone while at the same time talking to the people  around you. It's all conversation. 

---

I think there's a big difference between human contact with someone right there vs. purposely chit chatting on a phone.  Not only does it numb the brain, but it's those on their phone that will likely ignore their name being called.  I can't count the times I've been behind a phone talker who is oblivious to the next counter opening up.  Then the clerk has to raise their voice to get their attention.  Not cool.

[jaxs mom]

---

@chickenbutt wrote:

I don't feel like everybody is trying to mind everybody else's business.   But as you are either waiting, or walking through the restaurant to your table, it's pretty much impossible not to notice things.

While I would be paying attention to my dining partner, I have also always noticed what's going on around me.  It's just natural for me.  Maybe it's just an extension of old 'survival instincts' from my growing up period.   Plus, you can hear things without even trying.

That's my story, anyway, and I'm stickin' to it!  

---

Yes, of course that happens. The difference comes with what a person does with that information. Do they notice it, and move on. Or do they dwell on it to the point they have to tell everyone else howt outraged they are and decide to teach these strangers a lesson. 

[Plaid Pants2]

---

@Mominohio wrote:

---

@CouponQueen wrote:

I would use care in confronting anybody for "neglecting" their child or parent while out.  Not everybody is going to take it kindly that you are telling them what to do....

In this case in nobody is in harm then what they do while eating, standing in line is their business.

---

There is a big difference between 'confronting' and interacting. 

But some posters here don't seem to know the difference.

---

And some might take offense to your "interacting" with them.

[Blahblahvampemer]

---

@jaxs mom wrote:

---

@Blahblahvampemer wrote:

---

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:

When I am out with my dad, my focus is on him.

When we go out to eat, I don't take a mental note of who is on their phone, and even if I did see someone on their cell phone, I'm not going to judge them as to why they are on their phone, and I certainly wouldn't say anything to their face about it.

That's their business, not mine.

Yes, I have a cell phone, but I may check it a couple times a day, so it's not like it's super-glued to my hand.

Quite frankly, I really don't care if another person is on their cell phone. The ONLY exception to that is if they are driving.

Cell phones are here to stay.

I accepted that a long time ago.

I concentrate on me and my life, and don't worry about what other people are doing.

---

This isn't a positive turn for our society, and it's quite dehumanizing.  Most off us don't need to be on the phone that much.

i do hope you care though if these me types are behind the wheel.

---

Reducing people to terms like "these types" are what is actually dehumanizing of individuals. 

---

They're the ones killing and maiming on the roads, and I'm dehumanizing?  I was behind someone yesterday who couldn't park her car because she was busy on the phone.  I stick by "these me types."  They are clearly showing that they don't care because it's all about their convenience.

[jaxs mom]

---

@Blahblahvampemer wrote:

---

@jaxs mom wrote:

---

@Blahblahvampemer wrote:

---

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:

When I am out with my dad, my focus is on him.

When we go out to eat, I don't take a mental note of who is on their phone, and even if I did see someone on their cell phone, I'm not going to judge them as to why they are on their phone, and I certainly wouldn't say anything to their face about it.

That's their business, not mine.

Yes, I have a cell phone, but I may check it a couple times a day, so it's not like it's super-glued to my hand.

Quite frankly, I really don't care if another person is on their cell phone. The ONLY exception to that is if they are driving.

Cell phones are here to stay.

I accepted that a long time ago.

I concentrate on me and my life, and don't worry about what other people are doing.

---

This isn't a positive turn for our society, and it's quite dehumanizing.  Most off us don't need to be on the phone that much.

i do hope you care though if these me types are behind the wheel.

---

Reducing people to terms like "these types" are what is actually dehumanizing of individuals. 

---

They're the ones killing and maiming on the roads, and I'm dehumanizing?  I was behind someone yesterday who couldn't park her car because she was busy on the phone.  I stick by "these me types."  They are clearly showing that they don't care because it's all about their convenience.

---

No one is dying in restaurants because people are texting or using their phone. Which is the actual subject of this thread, not distracted driving. 

[Blahblahvampemer]

---

@mstyrion 1 wrote:

---

@jaxs mom wrote:

---

@Blahblahvampemer wrote:

---

@Mj12 wrote:

Personally I wouldn't spend time in a restaurant looking at my phone.  I also wouldn't spend the time staring at other people to see what they are doing.

---

You'd have to be blind to miss this kind of thing.

---

Nope, I'm not blind. I'm just busy focused on my own table and the people I'm with. Not what everyone else is doing. Kind of ironic given the subject of this thread. Maybe the people outraged by the behavior of strangers should also be focusing on their own table. After all, your tablemates might think you're neglecting them. Apparently no cell phones are required for that to happen LOL

---

___________________________________________________________

That was my thought too, @jaxs mom

If you so immersed in what people are around you are doing, you can't possibly be good company for your companions.  Now that is truly anti-social behavior.

---

I guess there are two options--look everyone at my table in the eye every second if I'm not looking at my plate or looking anywhere but my companions/food.  Wow, what a weird way to exist. My line of sight isn't that narrow, and situational awareness is important in general.

[Moonchilde]

---

@proudlyfromNJ wrote:

My husband and I love to dine out, lunch or dinner. Either by ourselves, with family or friends, I am only focused on our table. Don't really care what anyone else is doing, especially if it's on a phone! Lol. 

Unless they  were slapping a kid or stripping naked, I don't care and it doesn't concern me. To each their own. Just don't come to my table telling me what to do.

---

I might notice what others are doing/saying in a casual way, when dining alone, but while I might find others' quirks amusing or annoying, they don't affect me.

What really annoys me is public behavior that affects MY enjoyment of a place/experience I'm paying to have. Someone talking, either to someone else in the flesh or on the phone, so loudly that they can be heard three tables away. A child or adult (and yes adults do it too!) kicking the back of a chair, or talking during a movie.

A good example - two days ago I was having lunch at an expensive waterside restaurant. A family had a table some way behind me, but their about 9-10 year old boy, *accompanied by a parent*, was walking along ALL the row of window tables, in and out between diners(!), to look for sea life. Lucky me, the kid spotted an otter right opposite me, and repeatedly screamed in excitement at the top of his lungs. Clearly, the parents had no concept of the difference between 'inside voice' and 'outside voice.' They had no problem with him doing this, and it continued for a total of about 15 minutes at different tables. I might have hoped that one of the restaurant employees had said something, but of course no. I definitely have been in restaurants where management *does* say something about disruptive behavior, though.