Would you please put that down?

No, you're not the only one. It seems downright rude to pay more attention to a cellphone than to a person you're supposed to be talking to. About 3 Christmases ago, two of my granddaughters and my daughter got new cellphones for Christmas. (Not from me!) I have wished so many times that I had had a camera that day. There were four people in the living room, all of them staring at or texting on their phones and no one saying a word. It would have made a great picture. It seems that technology removes people from real life interaction.

I have a friend who does the same thing and I don't like it. I think it is annoying ot talk someone who pays more attentions to their phone than our conversation. Sending one text message is okay. When my friend visits me she sends her husband a text message when she arrives at my home. We don't live in the same part of the country and it is a long drive so I understand that she wants to let her husband know that she arrived safely, but I think is rude to keep keep on texting. I would never do that. I when I visit someone I switch off the sound and leave my phone in my bag. When I leave my friend I check if there are any calls or messages.

when my mom was alive I made sure to always have my phone near at hand, because she wasn't doing well... if it rang, I at least looked to see who was calling but they wouldn't have texted me. I have a friend who has this one gal calling him all the freaking time - he has a special ring for her because she's such a pest - he may take a call from other people when he's over, but only if the call is something he does need to deal with - otherwise he just looks and silences it. I am TOTALLY there with you!

Yes, I find it extremely rude!!! I carry my cell strictly for cases of emergencies. My Bluetooth announces in my ear who is calling & I can auto determine whether I need to answer or not. It also reads my texts to me so I can determine if it is more important than the person I am with at the moment. Before I got this headset, I ignored calls & texts & then checked them after I finished my visit. If I'm visiting with someone who pays more attention to their texts than they do my visit, I tell them I'm sorry I'm interrupting their important friends & I leave. Normally I only have to do that once before they realize that I don't appreciate their rudeness & they make a conscious effort to ignore their texts. If they do it a second time, I leave & don't make any future plans with them!!! Am I losing a friend??? NOPE, if they were truly my friend, they'd participate in my visit!!!

I feel that is rather rude to be honest. I told a friend that I would not hang out with her one on one because half the time I had to repeat myself over and over because she was having several discussions with different people through texting. I sat there like a fool and I decided I would not do it again. You invite me over and then ignore me completely? No thank you.

They should review their manners. There are times I experience such situation with some friends. What I do? I would stand up, excuse myself and leave the conversation. I would try as much as possible to keep a distance on that person the next time.

I completely understand where you are coming from. Sadly I too have done this to a friend and I realized that I wasn't being a very good host. I kept checking my cell and my laptop and I think I kept doing this because I try to stay in the loop with everyone and I am so used to talking with people via electronics that when I have someone in front of me I forget to pay attention to them. So being an offender myself and a victim to this I realize just how annoying it can be. We all just need to realize that electronics aren't everything and that we need to get back to the person n person relationships.

No, it is incredibly rude to pay attention to your 'phone over an above the people you are in face to face contact with. I think some people like to keep getting messages to show how you how "popular" they are. I knew one guy who before everyone was due to meet up would text lots of people with jokes or questions so that his 'phone would be constantly beeping which was totally pathetic. I have walked away from people who are focussed on their 'phone and if they say anything I'll say "obviously there's some really important thing you need to be doing with your 'phone, just come and find me when you've finished". Either they take a hint or they don't!

hello mylotter, you are not alone my dear. and it is quite annoying if your friend is busy checking her text messages while talking to you especially your discussion is too complicated.

Well, although I'm not having a direct experience, I have heard people complaining of the same case that you presented in your question. I particularly remember one person told me he had gone with friends to eat pizza. One of them, they always alienated from the group, looking at his smartphone all the time! The others did not tell him nothing, but between them they muttered, as if that was a synonym for bad manners. Even I, however, I agree with you. Ok, sometimes the phone can be essential, and I do not want to question, but there are also times, especially when we are in the company of other people, to make a stop, and devote more attention to friends.

i never experience that,but many people really love texting calling even though it is not important. nowadays cellphone are really important to us its our way of communicating with other people. in your case perhaps you ask him/her to put down the phone for a while if she/he want.

Hi, Some people give more attention to their phone that the people around them. If we are sitting in front of someone and he is not giving attention to us for reading text message on mobile phone it is very insulting for us. Text message can be read after some time. It is important to talk to the person who is sitting in front of you.

Yeah, my brother-in-law has such "episodes"... Some are justifiable because sometimes this is work related issues, but sometimes they aren't work related and I think he just got used to talking on the phone whenever and wherever it suites him, which isn't always the best for everyone around him. Lucky for me, I'm not so dependent of my phone, so at least this bad habit I don't have.

Yes i do feel the same way about this. If one of my mates was to start doing it while i'm in fixed conversation or out on a social with them i would be annoyed and feel let down. It is just the guts as well to do it in front of there mates that gets me because you are with them to talk to them, not to talk to another person who isnt even there. One of my friends funnily enough was talking to me about this the other day and said if he saw me texting whilst talking to me he would have a go, to which i agreed.

The only person who does that is my neighbor and only recently and not often. She doesn't start the messages, and it isn't long and I don't mind because it is one of her girls, both who have moved out of state this last year, and since I know the girls real well, sometimes I have my neighbor send a message. But if it was someone who is texting to another who is local and it takes forever and I am not involved in the "conversation" then yeah, I would get very upset.._

I feel the same way it's such a pain, It's like why did you agree to hang out with me if you are gonna be texting and talking to everyone else in the world. I get so annoyed I start giving the person I'm with an annoyed look

Studies shows that hand-phone is one of the things modern people can't do without and it's true... The sad thing is that it becomes so bad that we tend to check our phone at a short interval without even noticing it! Well, it's considered rude and inconsiderate. You should make your friend aware of her behavior so at least she realizes that and hopefully will change her attitude :)