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What makes a good phone conversation?

What to say to people using the cell phone at the dinner table?

  • I have a problem with my cousin and her roommate constantly using their cell phones at the dinner table (both at home and in restaraunts). We usually have dinner together 4-5 nights a week. We have discussed that it is rude and I have point blank said "Tell him you will call him back, that you are out to dinner with people". Now if I say something, my cousin (30 years old, not a kid) makes a smart remark. We try to be considerate by lowering our voices or stopping the conversation during their calls. It's not that I am against cells, I have one myself. However, there has to be a limit. We have gone for a hour (the entire dinner) with her on the phone and now her roommate has a boyfriend that calls from his work and she is either on the phone or it is beeping and she texts him back all through dinner. How do we get the point across without alienating them?

  • Answer:

    As you are sitting down to a meal politely say to everyone, "Let's all turn off our cell phones and have a nice, quiet, uninterrupted meal and enjoy eachother's company." It isn't directed at any one person and only the totally socially retarded would not get the hint.

msbettyb... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Other answers

Tell them you won't go to dinner with them unless they turn their phone off, or on silent at the very least. And if you're having dinner at your house, tell them they can't have it even at the table with them, or they won't get served.

Joshua B

easy, just leave the table until they learn that they are actually eating with someone else.

mpichirrun

I completely agree with you: it is rude! Set additional boundaries by asking them to leave the table whenever they are on the phone. Soon they will see that they are spending less and less time with you. Or alternatively-- you get up and leave. This especially will catch on if they are left to foot the bill.

inaru816

tell them to **** off

Lilium Löffler

I say go ahead and alienate them. If there are no consequences, then there is no motivation for behavior change. If they won't agree to limit their calls, then don't agree to eat with them. It is as simple as that.

Mr. Taco

You can not control the behavior of other adults. You can only control your own behavior. I would have long ago stopped sharing meals with these people. Perhaps a catty remark is in order if you are invited. Such as No, I couldn't possibly take up your valuable meal time. I know you'd much rather spend the time "being with" your boyfriend.

Lisa A

Well if you cooked the meal, and it's your table ... tell her to get off the damn phone!! Ask her to leave the table the next time she does that.

MiltonGuy

im like... get off the phone or leave the table!!!

ama-llama

I work as a server in a restaurant and I feel really snubbed when it happens, and I've taken to completely ignoring a table until they're done talking. I feel like I'm interrupting something, and also the rude looks and snide remarks aren't something I like dealing with. I'll wait til YOU'RE done before I start taking your order, and if it takes you 20 minutes to finish, fine with me. Not that I recommend doing that :) but it does support your idea that cell phones are rude at dinner, and how it makes EVERYONE uncomfortable. Perhaps it would be a good idea to bring up how much it does bother you, but before the fact. Mention how you feel it's rude and how it excludes family and friends at dinnertime, a traditionally "together" time and time that means something to you. Tell them you'll respect their need to communicate via cell phone if they'll respect your desire to have an hour of time solely together at dinner.

snugglebunny

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