Restaurant offers a 5% discount if you eat without your phone on the table • Hacker News Board

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

#81

Post by dromidas » Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 6:56 PM UTC

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.

Yeah I put my phone on the table also just cause of comfort. Also because of a lot of research finding that cell phones in your pockets causes your balls to wither and die (paraphrased).

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

#82

Post by Dylan16807 » Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 7:00 PM UTC

AznHisoka wrote: post #70

stinos wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I spent most of my time playing with other kids around my block in the park, and just hanging out in the arcades, shooting pool, bowling, playing video games together, watching movies, or just wandering around the streets. When I needed to contact someone, I'd actually walk to his/her house and ring their bell

...the context of the question was the inside of a restaurant.

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

#83

Post by rokhayakebe » Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 7:12 PM UTC

huggyface wrote: post #51

geebee wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll give it to you that you aren't a hypocrite - you have no problem with cell phone conversations at the table, and you'd grant other people the right to do this in exchange for your own right to do it. It doesn't work, though. What you're proposing essentially allows the lowest common denominator to impose a low standard of basic courtesy on everyone else. Can you think of anything you wouldn't want someone else d…

you have no problem with cell phone conversations at the table It isn't the lowest common denominator. It is the evolution of society, empowered by new communication methods. I need to know if the nanny has an issue, just as I need to react to critical professional demands, as quickly as possible. Modern technology has made that possible. If someone is personally offended because I keep my smartphone with me and chec…

I need to know if the nanny has an issue, just as I need to react to critical professional demands

How often has this situation happen?

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

#84

Post by Karunamon » Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 7:32 PM UTC

algorias wrote: post #73

Karunamon wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd trust the people at an average fast food joint (predominantly minimum-wage teenagers) to keep track of your phone? You have much more faith than me...

Maybe it's just a difference in interpretation of language, but for me, a fast food joint is definitely NOT a restaurant. The tone of the story also clearly implied it was an actual restaurant, nothing fast about it.

Ah, I'm kind of used to conflating them. Still, the average restaurant worker, at least around here, is very young, and by definition, unless you're going to an upscale restaurant, likely not getting much money.

I'm not sure where you're from, but in the united states, employers can pay an hourly rate of $2-ish to people who are expected to collect tips. The stereotypical fast food kid actually has a better hourly rate.

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

#85

Post by blhack » Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 7:37 PM UTC

Hmm.

I very very rarely use my phone during dinner, but it's always on the table.

This isn't because I want to use it, it's because it's relatively uncomfortable to keep it in my pocket.

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

#86

Post by irahul » Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 7:45 PM UTC

stinos wrote: post #42

irahul wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

> And I actually enjoy being away from the internet, and news in particular, from time to time.

To each his own. For me, the choice between "sitting on a bus impatiently waiting for my destination" and "browsing on my phone" is a no brainer. FWIW, it doesn't have to be the internet. I have offline books and video clips on my phone as well.

But that's tangential. Your original post was about people bent in their gadgets. I was outlining why I am bent into my gadget. If you are into leaning into the window of the bus and watching traffic, birds, landscapes, roadkills or whatever, good for you. I would rather be looking at my phone.

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

#87

Post by zevyoura » Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 7:55 PM UTC

glodime wrote: post #46

huggyface wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I didn't get the impression he was responding to routine calls, rather that he was making sure he was aware of any urgent calls that may come in.

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

#88

Post by moheeb » Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 8:25 PM UTC

beeneto wrote: post #57

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…

I think evolution is the right word. When I was little I often played a game where I would imagine I'd found a genie who would grant me three wishes, and I'd try to think of what to wish for. Most often, two of those wishes would be to be able to talk to my friends with telepathy, and for a book that would answer any question I wrote in it. Here I have a machine that grants two of my wishes, I use it very often, and…

This is an excellent post!

I am of the persuasion that phone use during certain times (dinner for example) is to be looked down upon. I even go so far as to consider those with headphones on in the street as not existing in my world. They are ignored. It is great to hear the other side of the argument.

As a side note...I also love my phone and am eager for the day they are implanted in our bodies and seemingly telepathic communication becomes reality. I guess at that point this issue become moot.

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

#89

Post by sp4rki » Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 8:27 PM UTC

Encosia wrote: post #28

huggyface wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

There's nothing inherently angry or controlling about what nagrom posted. I feel the same way nagrom does, and I don't waste any of my time trying to change others and it doesn't make me mad if they need Facebook open to make it through dinner. I just avoid going out with them as much as possible, in exactly the same way that I avoid eating with people who don't close their mouth when they chew.

I agree with huggyface. The parent post was ridden with angry sentiments by the original poster. In my case, I consider good manners towards all the patrons to keep your phone in silence/vibrate in a restaurant/movie theater/bar because it might impact the ambient slash "moment" of other people that surround you. That doesn't mean I'm not taking a call if I deem it important, and depending on the place I might go outside to take said call. I might even need to keep my phone on the table to actually notice the call because of the noise inherent on some types of businesses.

Browsing Facebook while having dinner with someone is very offensive, I agree. It is also offensive to get "angry" because I took a call from my neighbor telling me that my grandma fell on the stairs, my work because the servers imploded and we're loosing thousands of dollars a minute, or my brother calling to tell me his girlfriend said yes to his marriage proposal.

My family, livelihood, and friends are all going to be more important to me than someone's arbitrary definition of table/movie-theater manners. I'll take steps to minimize the amount of inconvenience caused by having to be reachable during such events, but I will not apologize (actually I will as a courtesy, apples to oranges I guess) to having to interrupt whatever small talk I'm having because I got a call I deem more important.

It's your prerogative to not go out with people like me I suppose, but guess what, it would be mine to not go out with people that believe they're so much more important than other people's needs and wants.

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

#90

Post by sp4rki » Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 8:40 PM UTC

glodime wrote: post #46

huggyface wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I'd argue that even though I might value your time and inherent effort of meeting me somewhere, I also would also establish that there are things more important than anyone's company and small talk over dinner. I would feel like a total jackass if I complain (even to myself, without voicing my distaste verbally/publicly) about you taking a call or message, and then you telling me that you have to leave because your father is in the hospital.

Sure I agree it's distasteful to answer a random sms while we're having a beer, and I would never do such a thing - but it's also very distasteful to voice concerns/annoyance about the value of any current interaction versus whatever inherent need a person has to be reachable for communication.

If you tell me that a I'm a jerk for answering a random call and interrupting for 5 minutes while talking to my girlfriend about trivial or banal stuff, I would totally agree. But that kind of sentiment should generally be saved for when you realize someone is being a jerk, not to immediately label a person for having his phone reachable or before an explanation of the reason for taking a call or message.