Have people with Smartphones lost all sense of etiquette? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Jake · 2010-10-21, 11:13 AM

Most of my friends and colleagues now have smartphones. I get ribbed a lot for not having one. I am happy I have not been sucked into this sorry excuse for socializing. My biggest gripe with them having smart phones is that they seem to have lost their mannerisms and etiquette towards the people standing right in front of them. For example, when having a conversation, they suddenly, without notice, turn their attention from you to their beeping, ringing, vibrating phone. This then results in them usually frowning, muttering something half-understandable and their thumbs start twitching as they crank out a message or read back a message to you! Guess what, I don't care what you ex, sister, Mom or best friend just posted/SMSed on Facebook, MySpace, MSN, Twitter, etc. This can be during be during a meal, another phone call, parties, socializing etc you name it. That's right. During actual social activities!

It amazes me that so many people have not figured it out yet. Now I am starting to see smartphones in the hands of cashiers and people behind the counters. Helloooooooooooo! Could I get some service here?

hugh · 2010-10-21, 11:16 AM

Jake, lets be honest, you're kind of boring and people just don't want to talk to you

In all seriousness, it reminds of people in stores who pick up the phone and help the person while your standing there. It's like "Hello, I'm here and I'm right in front of you"

No accounting for people's poor manners.

JamesK · 2010-10-21, 11:23 AM

Some people are just plain jerks and smart & cell phones simply make it easier to be one. I've also seen store clerks yakking on the wired phone or chatting with friends who've dropped by. The same applies to people who ensure everyone on a bus/streetcar/train/nearby clearly hears only one side of their conversation. I've even had that experience at work, with a co-worker who's very loud when talking on the phone. Then we get to those on transit and elsewhere, who insist on "sharing" there music on others, or those idiots with the extremely loud car stereos, who insist on driving with the windows open. There's no shortage of inconsiderate jerks and never has been.

BTW, I have complained to a store owner, about one of the employee's behaviour.

eljay · 2010-10-21, 11:27 AM

This Smartphone behaviour is just an updated version of "call waiting", where an unknown caller is more important than you are to the person you're speaking with. And if you comment on it, you risk offending the oblivious "friend" who expects you to put up with his/her impolite behav...hmmm...what's this...oh, it's from Bob...hmmm, yeah, that's what I thought...hang on a sec, DHC...

TKG26 · 2010-10-21, 11:35 AM

A friend of mine is a waiter. He told me that when he sees a couple crackberrying away at the table, he will walk over with his as if he is typing away and say to them "just text me your order when your ready".. He has had a few good laughs with customers over that stunt.

BHoward · 2010-10-21, 11:39 AM

As I call it ... A Priority Interrupt

Must be important

Jake · 2010-10-21, 11:56 AM

Hugh is right of course.

I often see couples walking together. Both texting like mad. Mom's pushing baby strollers, half-paying attention to the cyclists/traffic, texting like mad. People in meetings pulling out their BB. When they do that I stop the meeting and look at them. They quickly realize something has changed. They glance at me and motion to continue. I insist that we wait or offer to excuse them from the meeting. That usually gets them off the BB in a hurry. And after a few icy stares they seem to get the message.

PS: I hate call waiting for the same reason.

Kevin007 · 2010-10-21, 08:20 PM

man! you guy all sound like a bunch of old folks lol

and by the way.... I am one of those idiots who drive with a 149db car stereo with my windows down... lol, but I roll them up when I get to a red light.... lol sometimes I am slow to leave, as I am texting while I wait for it to turn green

vmpv · 2010-10-21, 09:25 PM

If you see me and my friends in a bar texting like mad, we are probably conversing. We type notes and pass the device to the intended person who types a reply if necessary and passes it back. Beats trying to shout over the music...

mr weather · 2010-10-22, 09:10 AM

As has been said there have always been inconsiderate/rude people out there. It's just the smartphone has increased the efficiency of their behaviour!

sailmaker · 2010-10-22, 10:43 AM

Ellen Goodman, a now retired columnist for the Boston Globe wrote a great article on this several years ago. Paraphrased are some of her comments:
Sitting with a friend in a restaurant when suddenly her purse started jangling. I spent next 10 minutes contemplating my arugula salad while my veddy veddy important friend spoke to her office or whatever. Commuters on a Long Island train to New York demanded a car that was cell phone free. Lawyers doing private business on a cell phone in a public place were taken aback when a commuter yelled out "your lawyer/client priveledge is no longer private !!! Watching a live theatre performance when a man in front of me took a call and carried on his own one-sided one-act play.

Jake · 2010-10-22, 12:17 PM

Looks like I scooped CNN.

The 10 most annoying smartphone habits
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/...ex.html?hpt=C1

hamstercaster · 2010-10-22, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin007

man! you guy all sound like a bunch of old folks lol

and by the way.... I am one of those idiots who drive with a 149db car stereo with my windows down... lol, but I roll them up when I get to a red light.... lol sometimes I am slow to leave, as I am texting while I wait for it to turn green

Rolling up your windows won't do anything. That damn bass is what gets people nerves. It can be heard a mile away for crying out loud. If you are on the freeway or a boulevard, fine, play the music as loud as you want till you go deaf but when you are in a residential area, please have the decency to lower the volume so you don't wake the whole neighbourhood up, freak the dogs or people trying to enjoy some quiet time. I'm not aiming that directly at you persay but is more a general rant against most knobheads who just don't respect others.

I also know a few people who think that their smart phones are more important to look at than holding a conversation with the people you are with. I can understand you taking a call and letting the other person know that you are busy. I can understand you looking at who emailed you every so often and responding back only if it's urgent but for crying out loud, learn some manners.

Then you get people texting and driving....

JamesK · 2010-10-22, 05:50 PM

^^^^

Like this?

jumpy27 · 2010-10-22, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vmpv

If you see me and my friends in a bar texting like mad, we are probably conversing. We type notes and pass the device to the intended person who types a reply if necessary and passes it back. Beats trying to shout over the music...

Finally texting that makes sense!

2010-10-21, 11:13 AM	#1
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,185	Have people with Smartphones lost all sense of etiquette? Most of my friends and colleagues now have smartphones. I get ribbed a lot for not having one. I am happy I have not been sucked into this sorry excuse for socializing. My biggest gripe with them having smart phones is that they seem to have lost their mannerisms and etiquette towards the people standing right in front of them. For example, when having a conversation, they suddenly, without notice, turn their attention from you to their beeping, ringing, vibrating phone. This then results in them usually frowning, muttering something half-understandable and their thumbs start twitching as they crank out a message or read back a message to you! Guess what, I don't care what you ex, sister, Mom or best friend just posted/SMSed on Facebook, MySpace, MSN, Twitter, etc. This can be during be during a meal, another phone call, parties, socializing etc you name it. That's right. During actual social activities! It amazes me that so many people have not figured it out yet. Now I am starting to see smartphones in the hands of cashiers and people behind the counters. Helloooooooooooo! Could I get some service here? __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2010-10-21, 11:16 AM	#2
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	Jake, lets be honest, you're kind of boring and people just don't want to talk to you In all seriousness, it reminds of people in stores who pick up the phone and help the person while your standing there. It's like "Hello, I'm here and I'm right in front of you" No accounting for people's poor manners. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2010-10-21, 11:27 AM	#4
eljay Premium Supporter Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ottawa (Orleans), ON Posts: 8,345	This Smartphone behaviour is just an updated version of "call waiting", where an unknown caller is more important than you are to the person you're speaking with. And if you comment on it, you risk offending the oblivious "friend" who expects you to put up with his/her impolite behav...hmmm...what's this...oh, it's from Bob...hmmm, yeah, that's what I thought...hang on a sec, DHC... __________________ MY HT SET-UP (PICS & GEAR LIST)

2010-10-21, 11:35 AM	#5
TKG26 Veteran Join Date: May 2007 Location: OTTAWA Posts: 2,891	A friend of mine is a waiter. He told me that when he sees a couple crackberrying away at the table, he will walk over with his as if he is typing away and say to them "just text me your order when your ready".. He has had a few good laughs with customers over that stunt. __________________ Licenced HVAC TECH: "Without seeing your problem i can only offer suggestions, no warranty is included with my advice"

2010-10-21, 11:56 AM	#7
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,185	Hugh is right of course. I often see couples walking together. Both texting like mad. Mom's pushing baby strollers, half-paying attention to the cyclists/traffic, texting like mad. People in meetings pulling out their BB. When they do that I stop the meeting and look at them. They quickly realize something has changed. They glance at me and motion to continue. I insist that we wait or offer to excuse them from the meeting. That usually gets them off the BB in a hurry. And after a few icy stares they seem to get the message. PS: I hate call waiting for the same reason. __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2010-10-21, 11:23 AM	#3
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,042	Some people are just plain jerks and smart & cell phones simply make it easier to be one. I've also seen store clerks yakking on the wired phone or chatting with friends who've dropped by. The same applies to people who ensure everyone on a bus/streetcar/train/nearby clearly hears only one side of their conversation. I've even had that experience at work, with a co-worker who's very loud when talking on the phone. Then we get to those on transit and elsewhere, who insist on "sharing" there music on others, or those idiots with the extremely loud car stereos, who insist on driving with the windows open. There's no shortage of inconsiderate jerks and never has been. BTW, I have complained to a store owner, about one of the employee's behaviour.

2010-10-21, 11:39 AM	#6
BHoward Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ottawa,Ont,Canada Posts: 921	As I call it ... A Priority Interrupt Must be important

2010-10-21, 08:20 PM	#8
Kevin007 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mascouche, Qc. Posts: 281	man! you guy all sound like a bunch of old folks lol and by the way.... I am one of those idiots who drive with a 149db car stereo with my windows down... lol, but I roll them up when I get to a red light.... lol sometimes I am slow to leave, as I am texting while I wait for it to turn green

2010-10-21, 09:25 PM	#9
vmpv Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Whitby, Ont. Posts: 756	If you see me and my friends in a bar texting like mad, we are probably conversing. We type notes and pass the device to the intended person who types a reply if necessary and passes it back. Beats trying to shout over the music...

2010-10-22, 09:10 AM	#10
mr weather Veteran Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 1,950	As has been said there have always been inconsiderate/rude people out there. It's just the smartphone has increased the efficiency of their behaviour!

2010-10-22, 10:43 AM	#11
sailmaker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Burlington Ontario Posts: 546	Ellen Goodman, a now retired columnist for the Boston Globe wrote a great article on this several years ago. Paraphrased are some of her comments: Sitting with a friend in a restaurant when suddenly her purse started jangling. I spent next 10 minutes contemplating my arugula salad while my veddy veddy important friend spoke to her office or whatever. Commuters on a Long Island train to New York demanded a car that was cell phone free. Lawyers doing private business on a cell phone in a public place were taken aback when a commuter yelled out "your lawyer/client priveledge is no longer private !!! Watching a live theatre performance when a man in front of me took a call and carried on his own one-sided one-act play.

2010-10-22, 12:17 PM	#12
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,185	Looks like I scooped CNN. The 10 most annoying smartphone habits http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/...ex.html?hpt=C1 __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2010-10-22, 05:50 PM	#14
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,042	^^^^ Like this?

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