Ok so I’m sitting here in the cafeteria of the hospital we are visiting due to a scorpion sting…long story, and I’m noticing a rather annoying phenomenon happening with cell phones. I’ve seen it happen with almost everyone – they sit down and put the phone on the table. Why is that?
I know I’m prolly alone in this and cranky ATM cuz I’m surrounded by hospital and sick people but why do folks find it necessary to put the phone on the table? Most tables are light on space in the first place and with food and drinks and more stuff coming it always winds up in someone else’s eating area. [growl]
Inevitably the response you get is “I might get a (insert: call, text, tweet, facebook message here) and have to talk to somebody.” Which in social sub-text that means “I’d rather talk to someone who isn’t here than you.”
It’s true that the extra 3 seconds it takes to pull it from a convenient pocket might have whoever is interrupting meal time [gasp] go to voicemail. Surprisingly, I don’t find that tragic. Sadly, I think many would disagree.
Are they afraid the phone will get lonely? Perhaps they think its going to order some food or other people want to look at their spiffy phone that looks just like everyone else’s? Perhaps they can’t bear to have a meal with friends, family or co-workers as the world passes them by in a data-filled rush of “happenings.” Whatever the case, my heart bleeds for you – put the damn phone away.
Ok, feel slightly better now. Sorry had to rant.
