The Shocking Site of Our Phones on the Table

my phoneI got a date last night with my bride of 15 years before I spoke at a church in Paducah, Kentucky.  The kids wanted to attend 7 Oaks so Amanda and I went over early and ate out together.  We were enjoying our salad when our young waitress made this comment:

“I really appreciate you leaving your phones on the table together.  Do you do it on purpose so you will talk?  I go out on dates with guys and they are on their phone while we are waiting for our food.  I am like “Hello” you asked me out on a date, at least talk to me.  I am always amazed working here how people come in to eat and stay on their phones separately through the whole meal.”

We didn’t do it out of any specific plan last night, but try regularly to limit our time on our phones, especially when we are own a date.  This girls comments reinforced my own thoughts that being on your phone while in the presence of another conveys some level of disrespect, even amongst young people.  It is rude and disrespectful for young men to take this girl out and be on their phone throughout the meal.  They hardly even know one another; they should be talking and engaging one another.  

Let this girl’s words be a reminder to us all to be careful how much we are on our phones.  Especially when we are in special situations, like dates or meals, put the phones on the table, look into each other eyes and talk.  

Amanda tells herself she needs a “smaller world” and to get off of the “larger world” when she finds herself on Facebook too much.  What a good thought for us all, when we put the phone down, we discover afresh this smaller world and the true relationships that matter.  

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  1. Putting some distance between you and the phone is especially important when spending quality time with those you love.

  1. […] The Shocking Site of our Phones on the Table […]

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