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Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

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Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#41

Post by blogkitten »

jobu wrote: post #33

My wife recently bet me $5 that I couldn't go through a meal without looking at my phone... I lost. Interesting idea though. They know what sort of atmosphere they would like to have, and they're incentivizing people to make it happen.

I should do that with my husband! I need some new tech.

I keep my phone in my purse...if I get a notification (email/text), I'll glance at it and act on it only if it's important. If it's a phone call, I'll only answer if it's my mom (who only calls if it's something important) or my husband. Every one else goes to voice mail.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#42

Post by stinos »

irahul wrote: post #19
stinos wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

first sentence I agree.. Walking on the streets these days, it seems the amount of people I see bending their neck over some electronic device is growing everyday. A sad evolution if you ask me. Second sentence: I doubt that is the reason, however I have not yet figured out what the reason is. Firstly because I hardly ever use my cellphone, nor feel the need to, secondly because when I ask people that do, they have n…

> Firstly because I hardly ever use my cellphone, not feel the need to, secondly because when I ask people that do, they have no clear idea themselves why they cannot keep it in their pocket. I don't use it while walking, but I surely use it when I don't have anything else to do(waiting for bus/cab, in a cab/bus...). I can keep it in my pocket, but I would rather listen to music, browse news, read articles, blogs, ch…

well I'm on the road often, and I constantly listen to music. But the player stays in my pocket as I hate having to carry it the whole time. And I actually enjoy being away from the internet, and news in particular, from time to time.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#43

Post by geebee »

dylanz wrote: post #39
debacle wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do similar. We need to develop a new etiquette. Perhaps placing the phone beyond your reach (in the center of the table) signifies that it's not a distraction, but just a bauble.

I usually place it to the edge of the table, and upside down.

I do that, and I put my keys on top of it to indicate that I don't plan to pick it up or answer it.

Funny, I didn't realize until just know that I was doing this.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#44

Post by huggyface »

Encosia wrote: post #36
huggyface wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"but I'm really hoping for a distraction."...."socially acceptable to fuck around with phones"..."I guess that rewards for not being a dick are more popular than explicit punishments for being a dick?" Their post was littered with resentment and anger. I just avoid going out with them as much as possible Good for you. Those are the choices you get to make, controlling yourself instead of controlling others. It's prob…

> It doesn't make me more important than them, though maybe it means that I have different values. > It's probably a welcome gesture by the other party, given that they've clearly indicated that you are less important to them regardless. So, which is it (way to keep it classy, by the way)?

Do you think those are contrasting points? There is a subtle wording difference that means the world.

If I'm at dinner with a casual friend or workplace peer, my family and even critical professional activities are more important than them to me. That doesn't make me more important than them, though, which is what enrages so many people, sure that they need to put people in their place.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#45

Post by felideon »

geebee wrote: post #22
nagrom wrote: post #13

I get really annoyed when I eat with someone and they have their phone on the table. There's something about that behaviour that seems to say "I'll pay attention to you for now, but I'm really hoping for a distraction.". I'd much rather go to a restaurant where phone use is discouraged as it seems to have become socially acceptable to fuck around with phones even during face-to-face conversation with someone. Regardi…

Shoot. I often eat with my phone on the table, but I never field a call or text - I just put it there along with my keys because it's uncomfortable to sit with it in my pocket and I usually don't wear a jacket. I can see how just putting it there could send the wrong message, though, that I'm open to distractions. Argh. Just one more reason to get a "european carry all", I guess. Or maybe I'll just wear a jacket.

Same with me: I hate having stuff in my pockets when I sit, specially with jeans.

But now that I'm aware that it might send the wrong message, I'll try to keep just my phone in my pocket (the first Galaxy S, it's not very big) if I have lunch with some I do not know very well.

Edit: As others have commented, I do always leave it face down on top of my wallet which hopefully always comes across as "I'm just leaving my crap here."

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#46

Post by glodime »

huggyface wrote: post #23
nagrom wrote: post #13

I get really annoyed when I eat with someone and they have their phone on the table. There's something about that behaviour that seems to say "I'll pay attention to you for now, but I'm really hoping for a distraction.". I'd much rather go to a restaurant where phone use is discouraged as it seems to have become socially acceptable to fuck around with phones even during face-to-face conversation with someone. Regardi…

Your post is very charged. If I am at dinner and I decide that I want to keep on top of my device (I have four children and a very busy professional life), those with me have to deal with it . Most of the time my phone is more important than the discardable conversation happening over a meal. It doesn't make me more important than them, though maybe it means that I have different values. I generally veer away from th…

"maybe it means that I have different values."

Id say it means that you generally don't value the time spent with the person you are in the physical presence of. There are always exceptions, but if you agree to meet me for lunch or dinner it is because I value that interaction. If you blow me off for some routine call or SMS/MMS, expect me not to invite you or accept an invitation in the future.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#47

Post by Encosia »

geebee wrote: post #22
nagrom wrote: post #13

I get really annoyed when I eat with someone and they have their phone on the table. There's something about that behaviour that seems to say "I'll pay attention to you for now, but I'm really hoping for a distraction.". I'd much rather go to a restaurant where phone use is discouraged as it seems to have become socially acceptable to fuck around with phones even during face-to-face conversation with someone. Regardi…

Shoot. I often eat with my phone on the table, but I never field a call or text - I just put it there along with my keys because it's uncomfortable to sit with it in my pocket and I usually don't wear a jacket. I can see how just putting it there could send the wrong message, though, that I'm open to distractions. Argh. Just one more reason to get a "european carry all", I guess. Or maybe I'll just wear a jacket.

I dislike eating with people who use their phone at the table, but face-down phones on the table don't bother me at all. If you're with someone that you're particularly worried about offending, flip the phone to airplane mode (or off) before you put it on the table and mention that you're doing that.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#48

Post by blogkitten »

AznHisoka wrote: post #7

People who use their phones in any social situation, whether in a restaurant, or movie is annoying. It's like you're trying to subconsciously tell others you're popular and have lots of friends.

More like you're giving off the impression that the people you're with aren't as important.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#49

Post by stinos »

stinos wrote: post #14
AznHisoka wrote: post #7

People who use their phones in any social situation, whether in a restaurant, or movie is annoying. It's like you're trying to subconsciously tell others you're popular and have lots of friends.

first sentence I agree.. Walking on the streets these days, it seems the amount of people I see bending their neck over some electronic device is growing everyday. A sad evolution if you ask me. Second sentence: I doubt that is the reason, however I have not yet figured out what the reason is. Firstly because I hardly ever use my cellphone, nor feel the need to, secondly because when I ask people that do, they have n…

self-reply: this whole thread makes me wonder: what did people actually do like 15-20 years ago, when there were no cellphones to distract them? Have interesting conversations instead? I'm pretty sure children (well, I was) were playing around (if the particular place allowed so) or else maybe playing boardgames/cards whatever on the table. Not sure what the grown ups did though.

Re: Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table

#50

Post by glodime »

huggyface wrote: post #44
Encosia wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It doesn't make me more important than them, though maybe it means that I have different values. > It's probably a welcome gesture by the other party, given that they've clearly indicated that you are less important to them regardless. So, which is it (way to keep it classy, by the way)?

Do you think those are contrasting points? There is a subtle wording difference that means the world. If I'm at dinner with a casual friend or workplace peer, my family and even critical professional activities are more important than them to me . That doesn't make me more important than them, though, which is what enrages so many people, sure that they need to put people in their place.

"If I'm at dinner with a casual friend or workplace peer, my family and even critical professional activities are more important than them to me. That doesn't make me more important than them, though, which is what enrages so many people, sure that they need to put people in their place."

I think it is a confusion of expectations that creates the conflict. You expect it to be understood that this is how you prioritize. Others may not have expected the same priorities.

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