The Glade 4.0

When did it become socially acceptable to constantly check your damn cell/device every few seconds while at a dinner table? I have been noticing this more and more and it is for some reason shocking to me. I watched a mother take two high school/freshmen in college age daughters out and get furious that neither would stop checking/texting/tweeting(?) for more then a minute. This evening I watched a 6 person group go out to dinner and at least 3 at any moment was face down checking on something (we were at a bar trivia, and thought they were cheating). Really is this the new manners standard? I now want to have a kid just to raise them better then this.

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"Life isn't divided into genres. It's a horrifying, romantic, tragic, comical, science-fiction cowboy detective novel. You know, with a bit of pornography if you're lucky."
— Alan Moore

A husband and wife in a loud bar. The wife is sitting with some girl friends, the husband is at the bar watching a game. They text each other all damn night.

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Raell Kromwell

it just seems so pathetic.

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"Life isn't divided into genres. It's a horrifying, romantic, tragic, comical, science-fiction cowboy detective novel. You know, with a bit of pornography if you're lucky."
— Alan Moore

Cell phones: The number one tool for gaggling hos and the number one method by which hos prefer to be gaggled.

I'd have been sitting at the bar watching the game.

I hate when someone texts me...I don't text, if they want to say something to me they can call me on the damn phone and actually talk to me. Call me old fashioned, but I think it's rather rude to be typing on your phone when you are with other people, when your attention should be on the people that you are with!

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"Said I never had much use for one, never said I didn't know how to use one!"~ Matthew Quigley

"nothing like a little meow in bed at night" ~ Bruskey

"I gotta float my stick same as you" Hondo Lane

"Fill your hand you son of a *****!"

Better than shouting across the bar

It really depends on the activity. If you're on a date or there *with* someone, giving them less than your full attention is rude.

If you're just out with friends, I don't see it as a big deal.

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Holy shitsnacks!

If I have taken the time out of my life to commit spending actual time with someone, and they are more interested in their mobile device, then I leave with out acknowledging them, and I don't waste my time again.

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Ezekiel 23:19-20 

I agree with the spirit of what Rynar is saying.

It is a damn shame that everyone feels the need to be so connected at every moment. Is your life that exciting that you can't miss out on that text message?

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

See, I view it the opposite way. Text messages are so I *don't* have to be rude to my friends. If I'm with other people, and a text comes in, I don't have to respond immediately! It's in text, and it will stay that way, unlike were I to receive a voice call.

Text messages are like automatically sending things to a voice mail I actually check.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

I'm new to this whole smartphone and texting thing, but damn if I don't love it. it saves me from having to actually talk to people. Why would I want to talk on the phone? I HATE talking on the phone. I want to scream every time my phone rings. I talk on the phone all **** day. The last thing i want to do in my spare time is talk on the phone.

Texting feels a bit like posting on the glade...only to one person...with a crappy input interface.

That said, you do not spend time texting when actually spending time with someone else. it'd be as rude as talking on the phone during through dinner, or similar.

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Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves, Scheherezade had a thousand tales
But master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves you got a brand of magic never fails...
...Mister Aladdin, sir, What will your pleasure be?
Let me take your order, Jot it down -You ain't never had a friend like me
█ ♣ █

*shake head*

Responding to or writing a text when you're with other people is not rude. It's a quick, silent communication with someone else. You're not automatically more important than whoever might be texting me just because you're in the same physical area. If you're hanging out with someone that can't manage to get off of Facebook or Angry Birds, yeah I agree that's rude. There's a difference.

Those goddamned pigs!

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Unless it's an emergency, do you (the general you, no one in particular) NEED to answer that text right away?

Even if it's a silent communication with someone else, it is still just that....a communication with someone else while you are in the presence of and, likely communicating with whoever it is you are currently out with.

The need for information RIGHT F***ING NOW has caused this. Our connection with others through mobile devices and other technology has removed the need to "try" and reach out to someone. Anyone remember busy signals? Since you know you are reaching out to a person who can receive a text, you expect an answer right away. Conversely, the recipient now feels the need to address the sender ASAP despite whatever their current situation is.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

I think it depends on the specific situation. If you're on a romantic date, then the person you're with should take priority. If you're hanging out at a sports bar watching the game, then it's not a big deal. When it comes to family, that comes down to the individual family.

I think it boils down to expectation. If you're in a situation where you're expected to devote your attention to the people you're with, then you should do so. If you're in a situation where people are just mingling casually, then doing your own thing isn't a problem.

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I agree, that says it better than I think I did.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

If you can't carve 45 minutes or an hour out of your busy schedule to enjoy a meal with me, then don't ask me (or agree to go).

at my job, I am expected to be available 24x7; unless I have made arrangements beforehand to be unavailable... sorry it is what it is.

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Darksiege
Traveller, Calé, Whisperer
Lead me not into temptation; for I know a shortcut

That was my husband's job the first fourteen years of our marriage, so I understand the need to have your pager/cell phone/radio on at all times. The OP is regarding those that aren't expected to be available 24/7 who cannot for some reason disconnect themselves from their electronic communication devices while out in restaurants, movie theatres, etc.

BTW it's good to see you posting once in a while DS. Hope life is treating you well!

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"Said I never had much use for one, never said I didn't know how to use one!"~ Matthew Quigley

"nothing like a little meow in bed at night" ~ Bruskey

"I gotta float my stick same as you" Hondo Lane

"Fill your hand you son of a *****!"

There is a big difference between being on-call and tweeting or texting a picture of your meal to your friends, or holding an ongoing conversation with someone else while I'm sitting there enjoying a meal by myself.

This, 100%

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

Just like the calls of the old days. Can't you just excuse yourself and text to the person that you're busy doing something else and get back to them?

I understand not being on your phone for 5 minutes at a time, but a quick 5s text shouldn't ruin your night with someone.

It was not the 5 second text I was commenting about, but those who text every 5 seconds, or check their update from what ever source.

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"Life isn't divided into genres. It's a horrifying, romantic, tragic, comical, science-fiction cowboy detective novel. You know, with a bit of pornography if you're lucky."
— Alan Moore

Funny. I pretty much feel the same way. I hate speaking on the phone.

Also, I don't own a cell phone. Period. I refuse to have one.

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Raell Kromwell

My husband gave me my cell phone years ago because I would take day trips to visit my dad in the Sierras, and he was worried about me breaking down on the road and not being able to call for help. I usually left it at home when I wasn't traveling alone, but after my heart attack 2 1/2 years ago, he insists that it goes with me everywhere. There are reasons to carry a phone, even if you don't want or like to use it.

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"Said I never had much use for one, never said I didn't know how to use one!"~ Matthew Quigley

"nothing like a little meow in bed at night" ~ Bruskey

"I gotta float my stick same as you" Hondo Lane

"Fill your hand you son of a *****!"

And nowadays, as others have pointed out, the new devices have many alternative communication methods so you don't have to talk on the phone.