The encroachment of rudeness

I remember when you went to a meeting with (maybe) a pad and pen and listened carefully or not so carefully, taking notes and/or doodling.

Today, you go to a meeting and the first thing everyone does is put his or her smart phone/blackberry/android or whatever on the table and checks emails, posts on Facebook, calls friends, texts, tweets and pays little to no attention to the presenter, agenda or matters at hand.

My mother would think this rude. So do I.

And while this is rude at meetings, it is even ruder at social occasions. I remember being in a restaurant several years ago.  Four women were meeting for lunch. Or so I thought. Unfortunately, three of them were speaking on their cell phones to people who were not there. Nobody was talking to the people whom they ostensibly were meeting for lunch.

This makes no sense. People who are there with you should take precedence over people who are not. Unless you are an EMT or surgeon on call or an attorney awaiting the jury's return, there is no reason to answer your phone or even give it the place of honor at the table.

Until androids truly take over the world, let's put real people first.

I am not technology averse, but no smart phone could replace a real friend. So keep the phones in your pocket or purse, and pay attention to the people you're with. It's the courteous thing to do.