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Cell Phone Usage at Meals

post #1 of 42
8/14/07 at 2:56am
Thread Starter 
What are your views on this. When I have dinner with friends or family, I find it to be rude to dismiss yourself from the table to make a call, unless it's THAT important. Also, texting under the table seems awful manners to me. But I don't know, maybe you guys see it differently? Maybe at a casual lunch it can be accepted, but at nice restaurants I just don't see it.
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post #2 of 42
8/14/07 at 3:13am
Typically the younger you go, the more people think nothing of it. It also depends on how well you know your company. I would think nothing of texting, answering, or dialing at the table with close friends or immediate family as long as it was a brief conversation and it wasn't the kind of estabilshment that is so quiet that my speaking on a phone was irritating to other patrons. But I wouldn't do it out ot dinner with a girlfriend's parents or my grandmother, or at any sort of business function, or a date with a girl I didn't know that well, etc. And there are very few situations in which I would be offended if someone answered or made a call that lasted less than a minute. The only thing that really bothers me is if someone your out to dinner with one other person who's supposed to be your company and they're on the phone for an extended period of time, but that's mainly because I get bored.
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post #3 of 42
8/14/07 at 4:37am
Absolutely bad manner, imo. If you're in the company of people and you start conversing on an unimportant phone call or worse, texting, then it gives the impression that the present company is not worth your time. Not only should this taboo in fine restaurants but even at the dinner table at home.
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post #4 of 42
8/14/07 at 5:05am
I find the idea of "texting" stupid so I'd find the idea of "texting" at a restaurant even more egregious.
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post #5 of 42
8/14/07 at 6:04am
i hate the cell phone...a lot. if it's REALLY important, and i mean some IMPORTANT shit, then i'll answer it. unfortunately, people have begun to use the cell phone for the littlest, dumbest things. especially family members.
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post #6 of 42
8/14/07 at 6:50am
I turn the thing off during meetings, including over a lunch meeting. Just as I do not answer my desk phone if it rings when I'm talking to somebody. That's what voicemail is for. (It's surprising how many people expect you to interrupt them when it rings). BTW, very little pisses me off more than sales staff answering the phone and then dealing with the caller when they are supposed to be serving me. I'm of the view that I am in charge of my time and of the technology, not a slave to it. I will not be ordered about by electronica. BTW, there used to be an Italian restaurant in Melbourne that banned mobile phones because they "ruined the risotto".
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post #7 of 42
8/14/07 at 8:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LabelKing View Post
I find the idea of "texting" stupid


Fan of carrier pigeon?
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post #8 of 42
8/14/07 at 9:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC View Post
Fan of carrier pigeon?

Messenger on horseback.

Jon.
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post #9 of 42
8/14/07 at 9:33am
I say absolutely no, in the past we did not need to make/ answer calls during our meals. So why now?
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post #10 of 42
8/14/07 at 10:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian278 View Post
Typically the younger you go, the more people think nothing of it. It also depends on how well you know your company. I would think nothing of texting, answering, or dialing at the table with close friends or immediate family as long as it was a brief conversation and it wasn't the kind of estabilshment that is so quiet that my speaking on a phone was irritating to other patrons. But I wouldn't do it out ot dinner with a girlfriend's parents or my grandmother, or at any sort of business function, or a date with a girl I didn't know that well, etc. And there are very few situations in which I would be offended if someone answered or made a call that lasted less than a minute. The only thing that really bothers me is if someone your out to dinner with one other person who's supposed to be your company and they're on the phone for an extended period of time, but that's mainly because I get bored.

1000% agreed with every word you said.

Some of you are being unreasonable - or maybe its the generation difference. I am 23 and for my generation it is considered okay to text during dinner if with good friends. Calling I still get a little upset about - especially anything longer than a 10 second reply "I'm at dinner, I will call you back". Taking calls or texting or answering a BlackBerry email during business meetings irks me to no end, however.
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post #11 of 42
8/14/07 at 11:21am
I make my living talking to people on the telephone in a timely manner. that means that, pretty much unless I am actually in the act of sex, I will answer my phone when it rings.
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post #12 of 42
8/14/07 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by globetrotter View Post
I make my living talking to people on the telephone in a timely manner. that means that, pretty much unless I am actually in the act of sex, I will answer my phone when it rings.

Ari Gold?
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post #13 of 42
8/14/07 at 11:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by globetrotter View Post
I make my living talking to people on the telephone in a timely manner. that means that, pretty much unless I am actually in the act of sex, I will answer my phone when it rings.

Twins sleeping through the night?!
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post #14 of 42
8/14/07 at 11:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroStyles View Post
Ari Gold?

No, Ari would answer it while having sex.

Jon.
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post #15 of 42
8/14/07 at 12:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by romafan View Post
Twins sleeping through the night?!

actually, you want to see Mrs trotter really pissed off its on a night when the do twins sleep, and somebody calls me at 4 am and wakes everybody up.

but now most nights one or another will sleep the whole night, unfortunatly the other will choose that night not to sleep well.
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