Whatever hapened to dinner conversation?

[Fox Mike]

Perhaps I am just too old and don't understand the newer generations. My wife and I went to the local Tex/Mex 'La Tolteca' for dinner. They seated us in the back section but we were separated from the center section by a glass partition. There were two ladies sitting next to us, on the other side of said partition, that were constantly looking at or swapping information on their 'smart phones'. There was no conversation...none...just pass the phone and look. This was throughout the entire time they were there. If two words were said I honestly missed them. The wife and I just shook our collective heads and ate our meals and talked about all sorts of things; like I have been doing at dinner since I can remember. Dinner was and still is a 'catch up with what went one today' time.

 

[Selena]

The rule at our house is everything gets turned off at suppertime. Phones, TV, computers... everything. Over supper is when we hear the kids tell us of their exploits and our own reflections of life on the farm. I'm sure in a couple of years Donna is going to rebel against the practice, she does now to a small extent. It will be interesting to see which of us is more stubborn.

 

[ChiefMuzz]

Perhaps I am just too old and don't understand the newer generations. My wife and I went to the local Tex/Mex 'La Tolteca' for dinner. They seated us in the back section but we were separated from the center section by a glass partition. There were two ladies sitting next to us, on the other side of said partition, that were constantly looking at or swapping information on their 'smart phones'. There was no conversation...none...just pass the phone and look. This was throughout the entire time they were there. If two words were said I honestly missed them. The wife and I just shook our collective heads and ate our meals and talked about all sorts of things; like I have been doing at dinner since I can remember. Dinner was and still is a 'catch up with what went one today' time.

The only answer for that is people communicate much differently than they did 30 years ago. Some people don't need to be "caught up" at dinner because they've communicated 15 times so far that day via text, email, and phone. Times change for better or worse.

 

[mjpchief]

Cell phones, Ipads, and computers of any kind are not allowed at my dinner table at any time.

 

[WendyZXZ]

Things like that don't show up at our supper table either. All of that can wait because there are so few true emergencies happening that can't wait an hour or less.

 

[Bob Wright]

All that and plus the TV is turned off and the telephone answering machine handles all calls.

Bob Wright

 

[Cholo]

Glued to a bright screen is a major pet peeve of mine. Last Sunday, the family had our customary dinner and card game afterwards. My 2 daughters, my X from out of state, and I played Spades. My X was playing Scrabble on her cell phone, my middle daughter was texting her fiancee non stop, and all were watching some basketball game that no one really gave a sh!t about. And I was the bad guy for pointing it all out? What ever happened to simple socializing?

I'm a people watcher. I find it so sad to see a couple in a restaurant having a meal and never saying a word. After all this time, they have nothing to say to each other...

 

[contender]

When it's time for dinner, Miss Penny & I sit at our dinner table, & if the phone rings, the machine will answer it. (It's often a telemarketer anyway.) We will usually have the TV on as it's often time for the local news. But, we mute it a lot, we discuss our day, and so many other things.
When we go out, we put our cell phones down & enjoy each others company and talk about anything. We too see so many people who are more glued to whatever communication device they have vs. spending time talking.
How about this;
Just today, we saw something new in a Chili's restaurant. On each table was a "tablet" type device. It will allow you to see parts of their menu, and such. AND, it has a place to play games,,,,,,,,,,, for $1.99. All you do is swipe your credit card, and you can play some computer games, while at dinner. YUCK!!!!!!

Heck, in my business, I get calls at all hours, yet, I have an answering machine to allow me to spend time with the most important person in the world, Miss Penny! I've lost jobs because I didn't answer immediately. Heck, the other day, I was on the phone with a customer. I got a "beep" telling me I had another incoming call. I DO NOT interrupt one call for another, as I feel it is rude to the first person I'm talking to. (Nor do I wear my phone when I'm working for a customer, as they have hired me to work, not answer my phone.)
Well, about 15 minutes after the beep, I got through talking with customer A. I checked my message, and had customer B wanting a cat removed from a warehouse. I called, and was told he'd already called another business, and was paying them ($279) to trap & remove a cat. When I informed him the county Sheriff Dept Animal Control would have done it for free, he said: "Crap, I should have waited & talked to you first."

People have gotten so impatient, and expect everyone & everything to be immediate in their world. When they are delayed, even for just a few minutes, they get upset. And they feel they HAVE to text, tweet, talk, game etc on their devices so much that manners are GONE in so many ways.

A sad state we live in!

 

[RugerHound]

A bit off topic... But I've noticed that my (soon to be) ex-boss has taken to doing his 'smart phone' business during customer meetings! I was astounded! I don't have (or need) a 'connected' phone. Never will...

I am retiring at the end of May, and I can't wait to get gone!

 

[graygun]

I live alone except for a cat and we don't eat together. :lol:

I usually watch tv while I eat. I miss family settings somewhat.

 

[contender]

TitanX, We didn't play with that tablet on the table enough to see we could pay our bill. We chose to talk about the whole idea of it being there, and how people are so into electronic stuff. Besides, we were also having fun with our waiter. It was thursday, and I'd ordered the ribs. Afterwards, as I was awaiting my order, I saw a table placard advertising the wednesday special, the ribs, at a discount. My waiter came by, & I asked him; "Isn't today wednesday?" To which, he replied, "Yeah, I think so,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, no,,,,,,,,,,,, wait,,,,,,,,,,,,, I think it's thursday." I then showed him the placard & said; "Nope, I'm going with your first guess, it's wednesday & I get the discount!" All in all we had INTERACTION with him, by conversing, and being people who are alive & thinking. (As opposed to the robotic kids who bury their faces into whatever electronic device they have. Just like the kid we saw later in the day. We were in a grocery store, and with our buggy, we saw the kid coming. Head down, intent on his device, walking forward. We just stopped, and he walked smack dab into the cart. Didn't seem to faze him.)

Too many people seem to live by their devices, rather than by actually living life!

 

[bobski]

the family concept is gone.
work hours, unwed mothers, divorce, latch key kids raisng themselves.....you name it.
no one is interested in what the other is doing.

 

[wolfsong]

When Juanita visits my home, I cook for her, serve her, and we both sit and talk - her in English, me in Spanish. When I visit her home, she cooks for me, serves me, and we talk - her in English, me in Spanish. When we dine out, the phones are turned off.

When the kids join us for meals, it's the same. English, Spanish, jokes, sibling rivalries, catching up, making future plans, and eating, eating, eating.

Mealtime is fellowship time, whether it be with family, friends or strangers.

 

[dave524]

says it all

 

[stevemb]

I was told not to talk with food in my mouth, not sure what ya,ll are whining about ! But yeah, when nieces,nephews and such are here, gadgets are to be turned off, in other room, etc..

 

[stevemb]

Do they have an "app" for the honeymoon, or is that still done the old fashioned way, it's been a while ya know ?

 

[vito]

I'm reading this in bits and pieces on my smart phone during a big family get together! Just kidding. I'm waiting for my bus. I think times have changed and not for the better.

 

[Selena]

OK, you guys are starting to remind me of one of my uncle's trashy old guy songs... How did it go...

"Times will change,
Times will chose,
Who's to win and who's to lose.
Progress can thwart many men.
Be the start or be the end."

Any further comment will get me in trouble so I'll refrain.

 

[Kevin]

Times have changed. An app on the Apple I phone allows people to share what they are looking at with other people on an IPhone if they are close by. I was talking with another parent at school, some mother. She said they will sit around and everyone has a device and they have fun doing whatever. They are together in the same room, and it's their version of family time. I have to say I agree with her. We do this SOMETIMES. electronic devices are not yet standard in our house. And nobody is on a phone or tablet at meal times. But you know what, with some jobs eating at mealtimes as a family just doesn't happen. During an accountant's busy season, I might not see my wife in the daylight from January till March. She leaves early and gets back late. But, we've been together for 18 happy years...so everyone has a different standard for what constitutes family time or quality time.

 

[ElToro]

When We go out with friends we all put the cell phone win the center of the table and first person to grab theirs pays.

 

[blackhawknj]

It's not just dinnertime. 4 years we had a Service of Commemoration and receptionwhen the longtime (36 year) pastor of our church retired, I saw 2 girls sitting in chairs texting away or whatever. A few year ago the then Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine was injured in the crash of his official vehicle, his State Police driver was texting-while driving at 91MPH.

 

[Fox Mike]

I was at a meeting just last night and at the beginning of the meeting the chairman asked that all persons either turn off or 'mute' their phones and whatever else they had that made noise. A woman sitting in front of me had her phone go off about a 1/3 way through the meeting. She finally dug through her purse and found it and shut it off. About ten minutes before the meeting was scheduled to end the same woman's phone went off AGAIN. Once again she had to dig through her purse to find it before shutting it off. Both times we had to listen to her 'dingally, dingally, dingally, till she found it. Ya just can't fix stupid.

 

[contender]

Frank,,, the Chairman should have directly asked her to shut it off when it went off the first time. You might not be able to fix stupid, but you sure can embarrass it.