Talk to a Stranger or Nose Stuck in a Cell Phone?

[ashley0139]

It's a waiting room, not a dinner table. There's no requirement to have conversations with those waiting next to you. I'm an introvert, and I don't enjoy small talk at all. I would have politely responded, but I don't care how old he is, it's rude of him to have criticized her generation to her face.

The problem is the older generation thinking it's young people's fault for using technology. It's not. There's nothing wrong with being on your phone in a waiting room. Would he have had a problem if she had been reading the newspaper or a book? I doubt it. But they see and electronic and think there's a problem with "kids these days." Yawn.

I'm sure many will disagree with this post as I see many threads about "kids these days" here too.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I make friends in an empty room and I'll talk to anyone willing to listen. I LOVE asking questions and listening to the answers. I LOVE it when I find that one thing that lights someone's eyes all up and glowing about a subject.

We have to start going together

 

[Saimaeve]

It's a waiting room, not a dinner table. There's no requirement to have conversations with those waiting next to you. I'm an introvert, and I don't enjoy small talk at all. I would have politely responded, but I don't care how old he is, it's rude of him to have criticized her generation to her face.

The problem is the older generation thinking it's young people's fault for using technology. It's not. There's nothing wrong with being on your phone in a waiting room. Would he have had a problem if she had been reading the newspaper or a book? I doubt it. But they see and electronic and think there's a problem with "kids these days." Yawn.

I'm sure many will disagree with this post as I see many threads about "kids these days" here too.

Yep

A lot of it comes back to ignorance. Many people fear that which they do not understand. So they blame the world on technology when they simply don't understand it and are afraid of it. People said the same thing when email came out.

 

[lynxstch]

I would be proud of your Granddaughter, she brought some less lonely time to the gentleman, and maybe learned a lesson herself. In the end, I have to say, that she was brought up very well!

 

[lynxstch]

I just noticed your post Tina, and have to say , great picture of you and your husband!!

 

[ashley0139]

I would be proud of your Granddaughter, she brought some less lonely time to the gentleman, and maybe learned a lesson herself. In the end, I have to say, that she was brought up very well!

What lesson did she have to learn exactly?

 

[gemini2727]

What lesson did she have to learn exactly?

I don't think she was doing anything wrong in the first place, but she did learn how something as simple as a conversation could mean so much to someone else. A kind word, a smile, or maybe a conversation may really brighten someone's day who is elderly, lonely, etc.

 

[unhinged]

Oh, okay. I didn't take his words offensively, I just thought it was something to think about. About how some people seem to spend so much time on their phones, either talking or texting or checking e-mails, or playing games, etc. And often not having a real conversation with a real person. I'm as guilty as the next person on that as well. My brother-in-law comes to mind, as he is a big "phone person" and is on it almost constantly. But that's a whole other thread! Anyway, I thought it was sweet of my granddaughter how she stopped a sour moment and turned it into a nice conversation with him that seemed to make his day and got me to thinking about how I handle situations like that myself.

I find our cell phones actually stimulate conversation, but then I live in a household of nerds. Phones are not banned at our dinner table because my nerds are usually on google to get information to supplement some intense conversations going on.

For me, I love my snippets of down time when doing errands. I am usually reading news or texting somebody. And if I am texting somebody, I am having a conversation with another person, just not the person sitting next to me. If somebody started a conversation with me, I wouldn't be rude and I would participate, but I am not going out of my way to start conversations with strangers when I am out and about.

 

[scrapquitler]

Which are you?

Here is something my oldest granddaughter posted on Facebook this afternoon. It's long, but it sure made me stop and think.

"I was waiting to get an oil change and like anyone else I pulled out my phone to pass time. I was sitting next to an elderly man and he turned to me and said "is that one of those iPhone things?" I replied yes and he proceeded to tell me about how his nephew prank calls him all the time on an iPhone. What started out as a polite conversation quickly turned sour as he proceeded to tell me that iPhones have ruined the world. I had put my phone away and engaged in a real conversation with the man at this point but none the less felt embarrassed that instead of willingly engaging in conversation upon my arrival I pulled out my phone. For the next 20 minutes, the man and I bonded over the work we were having done on our vehicles, the loss of my great grandfather and his wife to Alzheimer's, and many stories about his past. My car came off the lift and I stood to go pay my bill. I thanked the man at the front desk and turned to the man and said "it was very nice meeting you. I hope you have a good day." In reply the man said "thank you for having a genuine conversation. It was something I thought your generation forgot how to do. It means more than you think to a lonely old man who doesn't have anyone." I then hugged this stranger and our paths separated. It's moments like these that make me so thankful for the upbringing I was blessed to have. Respect your elders and speak when spoken to were two big morals that my parents imposed on my brother and me. It was because of these morals that I was able to have the amazing conversation with a stranger while getting my oil changed. It's something I will never forget."

Wow, really made me stop and think about how I would have handled that type of situation. As I have grown older I find it increasingly difficult and uncomfortable to have a conversation with someone I don't know. In all honesty I probably would have kept my nose stuck in my phone instead of engaging in conversation with the man. Oh, I would have smiled at him and answered his questions politely but I wouldn't have pushed the conversation to continue. But I'm not too old to learn by example, even from my young granddaughter. Put my phone away and talk to people. So, which type of person are you? One who would willingly engage in a conversation with the man, or keep your attention focused on your phone?

I responded to my granddaughter by telling her she brought a tear to my eye, and that I was proud of her. And I said that cell phones can be a wonderful thing, but sometimes I kind of wish they were still "bag phones plugged into the car."

Sometimes I sit and talk to the stranger, and other times I'd rather sit and look at my phone (or more likely even than the phone my sewing or a book).

I like to avoid having to interact with strangers a lot of the time, and when I do, its not because of an 'evil phone' its just because I don't want to deal with people. And years ago even before phones I did it with a book , a newspaper, etc.

Honestly I get sick and tired of hearing how technology is evil. Think about all the old time sitcoms on TV....the Dad ALWAYS sat at the meal doing what? Reading the newspaper. But we are bad now because we look at our phone? Why was the newspaper ok and not detrimental to family life but the phone is?

 

[Shutterbug]

No small talk? How does a person meet any new people or make new friends that way? Questionnaires?

 

[Handbag Lady]

We have to start going together

We really should. Are you like me and can sense an introvert and let them off the hook by NOT talking to them? I love that instant relief they exude when that happens.

 

[DisneyLuver2013]

I am more of an introvert, and can get awkward sometimes during small talk (i.e. sometimes I'll jumble up my words or stutter). I hate it! I wish I was better at talking to people. I always like having something to fall back on like a phone or iPod (kind of like a security blanket) just in case I don't want to interact with others.

 

[Luvchefmic]

What lesson did she have to learn exactly?

I think she came away from the experience having shown an act of kindness and it does show how she was raised. Perhaps the gentleman came away not judging " kids today " as a result.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I hope someday for some people if you need someone to talk to they don't ignore you. Life can be lonely.

 

[lovemygoofy]

We really should. Are you like me and can sense an introvert and let them off the hook by NOT talking to them? I love that instant relief they exude when that happens.

I try my best to never make someone uncomfortable. I know that many people don't want to chat. I do carry a book to keep me entertained. You know what I really miss? Small talk on the plane. I fly at least once, if not more, a month and sometimes I'd just like to have conversation about something other than work during these trips.

 

[BellsFam]

I think certain situations maybe but something similar happened to me and the older woman started asking me for money for the repairs to her car... She couldn't afford what was necessary work. I'm sorry but that was just awkward. She got pretty angry when I didn't cough up the funds too!

I also don't appreciate the "kids these days" comments and I HATE to see the elderly reprimand my child! I taught her not to talk to strangers and constantly we get "what a rude girl that you can't say hi to someone"... GET A GRIP! She's shy and obedient, she's not rude because she doesn't acknowledge you! You are a stranger!!!

 

[Dizlvr]

I hope someday for some people if you need someone to talk to they don't ignore you. Life can be lonely.

The thing about introverts, they don't mind being lonely

I don't really use my phone, but I always have my nook on me. I really don't want to make small talk with strangers, I want to sit quietly reading my book until whatever I'm waiting for is finished. If someone says hello, I'll say hello back, but I'll put my nose right back into my nook so I don't have to have any further conversation.

 

[Shutterbug]

I think certain situations maybe but something similar happened to me and the older woman started asking me for money for the repairs to her car... She couldn't afford what was necessary work. I'm sorry but that was just awkward. She got pretty angry when I didn't cough up the funds too!

I also don't appreciate the "kids these days" comments and I HATE to see the elderly reprimand my child! I taught her not to talk to strangers and constantly we get "what a rude girl that you can't say hi to someone"... GET A GRIP! She's shy and obedient, she's not rude because she doesn't acknowledge you! You are a stranger!!!

Because all people you don't know are all evil with bad intentions so its best not to even acknowledge them?

 

[Laura66]

What lesson did she have to learn exactly?

I know right? Maybe the person really didn't want to talk at all and was just being polite!

 

[Nancy]

I never talked to strangers before cell phones and I don't now. And it definitely isn't the cell phone's fault.

Before we had cell phones, I would have my nose buried in one of the magazines provided in waiting areas. I also often had a book in my purse I could pull out.

Same with me. I don't do small talk with strangers and never have. Of course I do TYPE small talk with strangers LOL.