Would you hand in your phone at the door in exchange for a free bottle of wine? One restaurateur has tried that – and there are now many other gambits that are encouraging us to connect
If I’m going to a restaurant with people, my phone’s gonna be in my pocket because people. If I’m going to a restaurant alone, I’m definitely bringing my phone, because I doubt the people at the next table want to talk to me. That’s what bars are for.
Good rules. My spouse and I have a pretty firm no phone rule when we are out to dinner. It seems rude to be there with someone and then just ignore them.
I don’t think I’ve ever formally discussed it with friends, I just remember reading somewhere that even just having a phone facedown on the table somewhere hurts conversation, so I make it a point to never bring it out. What others do is up to them.
Although if they’re texting/scrolling the entire time, I don’t think we’re gonna hang out again.
Does face down phone hurt the convo? I do it as a deliberate statement (like “no phones right now”), otherwise it will vibrate in my pocket and disturb me. If it’s on the table it feels better than pocket
To me:
Not in room > bag > face down on table > pocket > face up on table > in hand
I read somewhere that it does. Just by virtue of having a phone visible makes people think about scrolling. Let’s see if I can dig up where I read that…
On iOS I use Focus a lot, but for things like theaters, restaurants, etc. the standard Do Not Disturb is enough, and if you use your calendar a lot (like I do so I can tap events on CarPlay to navigate) it’ll give you the option to deactivate the Focus after the event ends, when leaving, etc.
…do people often go to restaurants to mingle…?
If I’m going to a restaurant with people, my phone’s gonna be in my pocket because people. If I’m going to a restaurant alone, I’m definitely bringing my phone, because I doubt the people at the next table want to talk to me. That’s what bars are for.
i feel like if you try to mingle at a restaurant you’re going to get kicked out for disturbing others, lmao
Good rules. My spouse and I have a pretty firm no phone rule when we are out to dinner. It seems rude to be there with someone and then just ignore them.
I don’t think I’ve ever formally discussed it with friends, I just remember reading somewhere that even just having a phone facedown on the table somewhere hurts conversation, so I make it a point to never bring it out. What others do is up to them.
Although if they’re texting/scrolling the entire time, I don’t think we’re gonna hang out again.
Does face down phone hurt the convo? I do it as a deliberate statement (like “no phones right now”), otherwise it will vibrate in my pocket and disturb me. If it’s on the table it feels better than pocket
To me: Not in room > bag > face down on table > pocket > face up on table > in hand
I read somewhere that it does. Just by virtue of having a phone visible makes people think about scrolling. Let’s see if I can dig up where I read that…
Edit: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-brain-and-value/202103/the-psychology-of-the-face-down-phone
Note it’s psychology today, not the research itself. Throwing the link up while I dig further.
Wow that’s a really cool read. I guess I’ll try to find something else to do with my phone. Maybe hide it under a tissue box or something! Haha
Edit: we made it a game where we find fun and creative places to hide our phones when having coffee with mates
On iOS I use Focus a lot, but for things like theaters, restaurants, etc. the standard Do Not Disturb is enough, and if you use your calendar a lot (like I do so I can tap events on CarPlay to navigate) it’ll give you the option to deactivate the Focus after the event ends, when leaving, etc.