FabSwingers.com forum: Should families use their phones in restaurants?

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Is it just me or have you also seen it? Where they all sit around the table and everyone is using their phone, you could wonder when they are at home they text each other instead of talking lol

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By *rwhowhatwherewhyMan
over a year ago

Aylesbury

Upto them, they are the ones paying not you.

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By *aomilatteCouple
over a year ago

Midlands

Drives us nuts! Remember when we used to do that thing called talking

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It grinds me. When i have dinner party's i have a phone basket, my friends & family like and respect it. When i go out for a meal at a restaurant i leave my phone in the car. Its sad to see everyone engrossed in screens. My neice is 3 we interact with her rather than bury her face into a tablet.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I work on the food and beverage side of a hotel. Yes it annoys me but I understand that sometimes, say if a child has autism, that it might just make life easier to have that to focus on. If I stay in a hotel by myself I'll come to breakfast with my phone or book or Kindle, but that's because I'm on my own.

Seeing families all come down glued to their phones annoys me though. Seeing families and couples interact by playing card games and stuff makes me really happy and I always have a nosey at what they're playing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Mine don’t. Not really concerned what other families do.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I don’t see the point of going out or being with others if no one is going to be “in the moment”. The way life is now though, many people are addicted to their phones. As in, real addiction. Of course it is up to the families themselves but as others have said my friends and I always put our phones either away, or on a pile on the table.

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By *aitonelMan
over a year ago

Liverpool

Honestly doesn't bother me at all. It has zero impact on me or what is happening. It is how their family deals with things and interacts with each other, it is an agreement they have as a family. You have no idea what other things they do as a family - yes the assumptions are likely correct but again so what so long as their phone usage is not directly impacting the world around them in a negative manner, just keeping to themselves. Other than your annoyance levels, which is for your problem to adjust to, not theirs.

The difference is if somebody is talking to them and they are in conversation but still on their phone. Having a lack of respect for others in their presence, attempting to give that person's attention or service. Being oblivious to their surroundings as they do so.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Why does it bother you Shag? Is it like those pesky parents who use their phones while pushing a buggy?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There is a rule in our house...No phones at the dinner table...if the kids get busted with it at the table then they loose it for a couple of hours the next day.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

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By *bwredWoman
over a year ago

dorset

Well for me both my boys are, both have disabilities,so only way not to disturb anyone else when they are eating. It also stops them getting agitated waiting for food. Earphones too. Myself and my husband will chat like normal and keep them happy at the same time x

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By *ed-monkeyCouple
over a year ago

Hailsham

Not just families ... should anyone??

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By *ooking4othersMan
over a year ago

Here ...

My kids go nuts at me when my phone goes off and I don't bother checking it. I just tell them that I manage my time and not someone who isn't even in the room so I check it when I want to.

We survived for many years without them so it won't kill people to wait an hour or so.

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By *emorefridaCouple
over a year ago

La la land

We don't but I've no issues with people who do. The way we used restaurants has changed over the years. I can count the number of times I went to a restaurant for food as a child tied in a special occasion. I can't count the number of times my kids have been. It's not the special occasion it once was.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Other families doing is doesn't bother me, but if I'm out with friends or family for a meal it's phones face down in the middle of the table. Work or football meals are the same, but then it's all phones on loud and the 1st 1 to make on noise gets the 1st round on the drinks bill.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Drives us nuts! Remember when we used to do that thing called talking

"
Yes they have forgot about that lol

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By *rjimMan
over a year ago

nr bristol

Phones are the instruments of the devil.

Muppets walking around with one in their hand.

Why ? (what's wrong with pockets)

Who do they think is going to call them ?

The Prime Minister desperate to get their expert opinions on the new proposed budget changes ?

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By *uietlykinkymeWoman
over a year ago

kinky land

"I work on the food and beverage side of a hotel. Yes it annoys me but I understand that sometimes, say if a child has autism, that it might just make life easier to have that to focus on. If I stay in a hotel by myself I'll come to breakfast with my phone or book or Kindle, but that's because I'm on my own.

You'd love us then.

Uno is their favourite whilst out and about, yahtzee at home.

And yes autistic people can find a calm hiding behind their screens, my daughter nearly always has her over ear head phones on.

We've learned to communicate non verbally in loud places

At home we have an eat together and no screens policy

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By *uietlykinkymeWoman
over a year ago

kinky land

"Drives us nuts! Remember when we used to do that thing called talking

Yes they have forgot about that lol

There's a cafe not far from where I live.

It has a simple sign in the window.

"No wifi, talk to each other"

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

We use our phones when out as a family, slight difference is we (H&I) are with each other all day nearly. Only time we do though is while waiting for the kids to finish their food.

They eat like snails as it is so no way are we slowing them down any more by chatting to them. (We do really, just a little) so while waiting our phones come out.

But on our own or straight off sitting down, no never...

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By *aven RedWoman
over a year ago

Liverpool

Doesn't bother me either way. I had a group of friends that would go out and all put their phones in the middle. The first one to cave and get their phone, barring an emergency, paid for the meal x

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By *orthern StarsCouple
over a year ago

Durham

We don't let anyone use their phones at mealtimes. I feel it's important to talk as a family.

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

"We don't let anyone use their phones at mealtimes. I feel it's important to talk as a family.

At home it’s a nono here too.

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By *uenevereWoman
over a year ago

Scunthorpe

I tend not to be bothered by the way others chose tolead their lives, unless it negatively impacts on me or my friends/family. Obviously that's not if they are likely to be a danger to themselves or others.

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By *aitonelMan
over a year ago

Liverpool

"I tend not to be bothered by the way others chose tolead their lives, unless it negatively impacts on me or my friends/family. Obviously that's not if they are likely to be a danger to themselves or others."

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

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By *eeleyWoman
over a year ago

Dudley

"Is it just me or have you also seen it? Where they all sit around the table and everyone is using their phone, you could wonder when they are at home they text each other instead of talking lol

Should people mind their own business instead of constantly questioning other people's life choices?

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

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By *reya73Woman
over a year ago

Whitley Bay

"It grinds me. When i have dinner party's i have a phone basket, my friends & family like and respect it. When i go out for a meal at a restaurant i leave my phone in the car. Its sad to see everyone engrossed in screens. My neice is 3 we interact with her rather than bury her face into a tablet.

Love the phone basket!

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

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By *ENGUYMan
over a year ago

Hull

It appears to be a case that for many people, their phone has taken over their lives.

You see them walking about, engrossed on their screens, without being aware of the other non-phone holding persons diverting out of their way to avoid collisions.

But it's those who turn up at, say a check-out till in a supermarket, phone clamped between their shoulder and ear as they stumble their way through the check-out process, AND take longer to complete it than if they'd just not continue talking.

I see it regularly in Hotel Reception desks, where these eejits cannot cease their conversations long enough to carry out their check-in or check-out functions on a 1-1 format.

What is so damn important that they cannot cease talking for a couple of minutes?

It's not only plain and simple rudeness but also disrespectful.

Yet, if I subjected them to the same treatment, they'd be the first to complain.

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By *alking HeadMan
over a year ago

Bolton

One positive, the restaurants are that bit quieter now. I can hear what people are saying at my table because the braying and cackling twats that always seemed to be near my table are virtually silent.

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By *alking HeadMan
over a year ago

Bolton

Why do people hold their phones 2 feet away from their head, face up, while using it as a phone???

It looks like someones smeared something unmentionable on it!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

People should do what they want to do...

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

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By *uxinteriorMan
over a year ago

south west , continental

Yes it's a lot more common now, I see it a lot. Personnel choice though, so it's up to them.

Mobile phones are useful, however my personal choice at social events, restaurants, with company, working or engaging with others, the phone is either off, stored away or not even on my person.

My big pet hate is observing other drivers with a phone glued to their ear even whilst overtaking.

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