Talking on the phone during a family meal. OK ....or not?
Watch this postHi all. What are your views on whether, during a family meal, it's OK for one of the family to be on the phone once we are all sat down to eat.
My SIL was on the phone to her sister when I went over to have a very informal meal with them, and didn't get off the line, even though we were about to eat - all served up and sitting down. She'd already been on the phone for a while, during cooking, but still wouldn't hang up when we sat down to eat, clearly intending to keep chatting (and not about anything that couldn't wait!)
To my mind, that's just rude to the other people (OK, only two of us, but hey, that's 'other people' isn't it?) But what do others think? SIL felt I had no right to be irritated or to want her to just get off the damn line!!! I'd be interested in hearing whether you think I was being unreasonable - or she was?!!!!
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However I would answer my house phone with guests in the house so is that equally rude?
When the kids were at home mealtimes were a time for chat, catch up on the day and if I'd spent 3 hours in a kitchen. preparing a meal I want it to be savoured. And even worse people on the phone in restaurants! I have lost count of the times I had seen couples dining together both on their phones texting and not speaking to each other!
I would like to plan that next time I am invited, I have a phone call booked to phone me and I will merrily chat away loudly all through the damn meal, just to show my SIL how intensely irritating and rude it is.
Some have a phone like an extension to their hand, its always there. And some put it down only to keep checking it every few minuits.
I know it makes me feel unimportant to them, and if there were 3 people together and two of them chatted constantly ignoring the third, well, its the same effect really.
We have a strict no phones at the table rule. We all (my wife, myself 20 year old and 17 year old) sit up to the dining table and converse every evening.
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