Facebook, Internet and Family Time
 

Was at a local restaurant this past weekend, and at the table next to our family was a mother with two young children (about 5 and 7, boy and girl). The mother held her cell phone in her hand the entire time they were eating, and yelled and spoke to her kids in anger whenever they wanted to talk to her, while she busily tapped the cell phone the entire time, ignoring the efforts from her children to have her focus and attention.

Has anyone else noticed this? I see this so much now, and to me it is so sad. I've been in restaurants where a family sits together, and the parents tap the cell phone the entire time, and barely speak to the family, but their whole concentration is on their phone.

Does anyone have concerns about how the whole facebook/twitter thing is working to destroy our families one at a time?

It seems to me that it is an addiction that is spinning out of control. Has anyone else noticed this?

Re: Facebook, Internet and Family Time
 

I don't eat out much so I don't see families... but at work a group of nurses will walk down to the cafeteria to eat and as soon as they sit down they all break out the smart phones to FB, read, internet shop, answer emails, text or talk. They are together but not really. When they do talk it is about a person they know mutually and what they just posted on FB or sent a text about. It is certainly weird.

I have one coworker who tells me that rather than her family going to another room to talk to a family member at home they text each other... That is pretty strange to me... We live on 33 acres and will walk out to the back pasture to ask a question, never thinking to use the phones... I guess we are out of date.

Re: Facebook, Internet and Family Time
 

I have this happen from time to time when I am with my best friend. We will get together, and then someone will start texting him, and then it is nearly non-stop. I do not mind an occasional text, but it can get fairly frustrating. It is part of the reason that I hate texting with a passion (even though I do a limited amount myself on a rare occasion).

Re: Facebook, Internet and Family Time
 

I am VERY rude when it comes to people talking on a cell when we're at a restaurant. I know texting can be a bit more discreet but even that is bad. I will literally hang up on someone if they call ME from a restaurant table. If I am AT the table when someone starts talking I will leave, and will purposefully be a little abrupt about it.

Re: Facebook, Internet and Family Time
 

Kind of a harsh way to state your beliefs eh? :heeheehee

Re: Facebook, Internet and Family Time
 

I am too nice a person I guess. I would rather be offended than to offend.

Re: Facebook, Internet and Family Time
 

Yes, I most certainly have noticed the same things. It is very sad to see.
I have family members of my own who can act this way....we can be out to eat somewhere and it's like they just can't turn their phones off and socialize with the ones in front of them for an hour, but instead have to constantly look at their phones. I believe it really is becoming an addiction of sorts.

Re: Facebook, Internet and Family Time
 

For some of us we are checking our phones from paranoia. We are terrified that we are going to receive a phone call or text message.

Re: Facebook, Internet and Family Time
 

But, it's very rude.

When you are out with other people, you should talk to/with them and turn the phone off for an hour or so.

Re: Facebook, Internet and Family Time
 

In this digital age...you're asking a lot.