He said
There is a restaurant somewhere in the United States offering a five per cent discount to diners who check their phones at the door.
I haven't reprimanded anyone for using their phone at the table in a long time, maybe years. Certainly four or five years ago I recall friends taking out their phones when a group of us were out for dinner and they would be greeted with a chorus of, "Put your phone away!"
It was the height of arrogance and a major social faux pas at the time, and while I still think it is in incredibly poor taste to do so, the court of public opinion says otherwise. It still isn't cool to have your phone go off in a movie theatre or in someone's backswing, but if you want to text at the table, go ahead.
I've been in a situation where I've been at a table with a friend, and they are on their phone, not talking, just using it. They were probably on Twitter or playing Scrabble or shooting birds at things.
I looked around wondering if people would consider him the lame one for ignoring the person he's sitting with, or me for not having anything to do while my cohort occupies himself in my presence. Maybe I should have brought a book to the restaurant, so I had something to read while he was busy with the phone.
Maybe they think I am just so boring and unintelligent that I can't keep the interest of my friend, and he must resort to busying himself with his phone while out for a meal.
People used to look at the person on the phone as the jerk, but maybe now I'm the jerk who can't hold my friend's attention for an hour.
Phones are now part of the table setting. They are an extension of us, and no matter how much I dislike it, I no longer feel like I have the moral high ground were I to tell someone to get off their phone at the table.
She said
For my mom's sake, I'm going to concede that using a cellphone while eating a meal is rude. If you're sitting around with your family, your friends, your co-workers, etc., you have no business being on your phone. You should be smiling and making conversation, since you're there to spend time with one another.
While I agree with this, I also can think of situations where a cellphone is perfectly fine during a meal. When I eat alone, for example, I like to be on my cellphone. I like to be constantly entertained, so when I sit down with my turkey sandwich Monday to Friday at noon, I like to text and use social media. Keeps me from getting bored, since I actually have no idea what to do with downtime.
Another good time is when you're eating alone in public. It's one thing to be home alone and texting your sister; it's another to be sitting in a packed airport restaurant with nothing to do but stare awkwardly at the family beside you. Plus, I've found that if you're on your phone, people will be less inclined to bother you. Sorry if that's rude, but I would rather pretend to text someone than have a conversation when there's the danger of having spinach in my teeth.
Sometimes you're going to have to use your cellphone during a meal just because everyone else is. Have you ever been out with colleagues and they're all so plugged into their iPhones that you find yourself texting your mom just so you look busy, too? Ya, neither have I.
But really, leave the phone in your pocket when you sit down for a family supper. If it's Christmas Eve and you're gathered with all the aunts and uncles you don't see every day (though sometimes it feels like you do), leave your phone on the couch. Lock it, obviously, so your sister can't take 12 photos of herself and then change your contacts' names to Harry Potter characters. But don't have the phone on your lap. If everyone followed this rule, no one would be texting you during Christmas supper because they'd be enjoying time with their families as well.
