What are people's views on reading from smartphones at the dinner table if you're out for a meal, rather than socialising? Am I the only person who still thinks it's rude? According to the three people I was out for dinner with earlier, I am old-fashioned.
Good manners are so last century.
It is rude, but the times they are a'changin...
Quote: Harridan @ 1st December 2013, 9:30 PM GMTIt is rude, but the times they are a'changin...
And I refuse to go along with them 
I have been boasting for over a year that my phone cost £8, which admittedly is very annoying for everyone else. I'm going to have to start carrying a good book with me so I have something to do when everyone else whips their phones out (to be fair, that's not what happened tonight, it just came up in conversation, but it has happened plenty of times before!)
If I went out on a date, I wouldn't dream of getting my phone out at the table. Out with friends, then yeah.
Quote: Ben @ 1st December 2013, 9:44 PM GMTIf I went out on a date, I wouldn't dream of getting my penis out at the table. Out with friends, then yeah.
Quote: Ben @ 1st December 2013, 9:44 PM GMTIf I went out on a date, I wouldn't dream of getting my phone out at the table. Out with friends, then yeah.
I agree, there is a difference, and out with friends bothers me a lot less, although personally I apologise even for answering a text if I'm out with others.
This was about being on a date - not a first date but a date with an established partner (basically I asked my boyfriend to keep his phone in his pocket if we were out at dinner just the two of us and my friends felt this was unfair).
You're lucky it's just smartphones, I've seen people using iPads, laptops, and even on one occasion, Carles Babbage's Difference Engine.
I think checking our phones to see if we have messages has become compulsive behaviour, so going for an hour or two without looking might feel difficult for many people. I was on a first date with someone a couple of weeks ago and she had her phone on the table and looked every time she got a message, but didn't answer any. I wasn't particularly offended, but I would have preferred if she hadn't.
Quote: Harridan @ 1st December 2013, 9:54 PM GMTI think checking our phones to see if we have messages has become compulsive behaviour, so going for an hour or two without looking might feel difficult for many people. I was on a first date with someone a couple of weeks ago and she had her phone on the table and looked every time she got a message, but didn't answer any. I wasn't particularly offended, but I would have preferred if she hadn't.
Ah see, I wouldn't match your standards there. I will have my phone on the table, and check what messages say, only replying if it's urgent.
I was talking about reading articles/playing games on a smartphone. To be fair, this usually starts while you're on the toilet or something and you get back to see them engrossed in something that they then don't put away when you get back. I think when you're in company you should engage with those around you, and listen to conversations and appear interested even if you're bored out of your mind. But I admit I can't just not look at a message if my phone bleeps. That's impossible 
Quote: sglen @ 1st December 2013, 10:00 PM GMTAh see, I wouldn't match your standards there. I will have my phone on the table, and check what messages say, only replying if it's urgent.
I was talking about reading articles/playing games on a smartphone. To be fair, this usually starts while you're on the toilet or something and you get back to see them engrossed in something that they then don't put away when you get back. I think when you're in company you should engage with those around you, and listen to conversations and appear interested even if you're bored out of your mind. But I admit I can't just not look at a message if my phone bleeps. That's impossible
Oh wow, yeah, that's totally rude to play games and read articles when you're out with people unless you're actively discussing what you're looking at on your phone. I would not put up with that.
Quote: Harridan @ 1st December 2013, 9:54 PM GMTI was on a first date with someone a couple of weeks ago and she had her phone on the table and looked every time she got a message, but didn't answer any. I wasn't particularly offended, but I would have preferred if she hadn't.
I think that is rude on a first date. You are supposed to be making a good impression! Did she get as far as a second date? 
Quote: Ben @ 1st December 2013, 9:44 PM GMTIf I went out on a date, I wouldn't dream of getting my phone out at the table. Out with friends, then yeah.
But what if you were out on a date and got an SOS from Nigella? What then?
Or second base?
Quote: Jennie @ 1st December 2013, 10:03 PM GMT
She made up for it with repeated gestures of "This is not important enough to divert my attention", so I forgave her.
Quote: Marc P @ 1st December 2013, 10:06 PM GMTOr second base?
perve!