Put Down Your Phones!

[LSUfan4444]

Okay, that makes more sense. But still, why would you get so defensive about something a stranger notices or says about you?

In an open forum, if someone starts speaking negatively about something, requesting that others stop certain behavior (widely considered as perfectly acceptable and often encouraged). Defending my actions to someone who disagrees doesn't mean I have a problem with you noticing what I do. I don't care what people notice. BUT, if you take your judgements, or what you "notice" I do and speak of them publically, or to me, I will defend them.

As to why.....I can only offer, because. Because that's my personality. I often times defend my actions if others speak of them negatively, especially if my actions are widely considered acceptable and often times encouraged by a hosting organization.

I will also defend yelling at football game and taking my time while playing a round of golf.

Nobody has a problem with what you notice or your personal opinions on anyones cell phone use. Disagree, teach that in your home...that's fine. But, if you (or anyone) suggest others need to stop or speak of it negatively, it changes things.

 

[luvmy3]

I can't imagine why people would get cranky about being criticized.

For what it's worth, you wouldn't see my family all on their devices at dinner.

I encouraged books and devices when the kids were small, but as they got older they outgrew the need for entertainment at the table, and now when we go out we all just chat with each other. Sometimes my husband has to respond to a work text, which he does as quickly as possible. Sometimes one of us will look something up online, with regards to a discussion we're having. I've been known to pass the camera around the table so everyone can see the pictures we've taken during the day. But other than that, no.

However, despite not needing to defend my own actions, I'm still happy to take the "mind your own beeswax" side of this debate. I dislike the judgmental mindset that says, "I SAW you on your iPad at the dinner table and you make me sad. Clearly your children are neglected, you terrible parent."

This is what I mean about being so defensive. (I know you are saying this in jest). I dont think using your phone at dinner means you're a neglectful parent, I just think its sad to see an entire family engaged with their gadgets while sitting together for an hour or two. And in my case, I'm not assuming anything, I witness this every time we go out. There are families who sit there totally ignoring eachother, but there are plenty that dont too.

 

[Love Tink]

I can't imagine why people would get cranky about being criticized.

Nobody has a problem with what you notice or your personal opinions on anyones cell phone use. Disagree, teach that in your home...that's fine. But, if you (or anyone) suggest others need to stop or speak of it negatively, it changes things.

Yep and yep.

I mean, seriously? You're just astounded that when people basically say "stop doing things your way - my way is so much better and also, your family is dysfunctional"...people might defend their viewpoint?

Regardless, devices are here to stay and all the yelling into the wind in the world won't change that. It doesn't really matter if you like it or not.

 

[Magpie]

This is what I mean about being so defensive. (I know you are saying this in jest). I dont think using your phone at dinner means you're a neglectful parent, I just think its sad to see an entire family engaged with their gadgets while sitting together for an hour or two. And in my case, I'm not assuming anything, I witness this every time we go out. There are families who sit there totally ignoring eachother, but there are plenty that dont too.

So... if you don't think the parents are bad parents, and you don't think they're neglecting their kids, and they're not encroaching on your family time or doing anything disruptive in the restaurant, then what's making you so sad?

So you personally prefer not to have devices at dinner. So what? In the absence of any kind of judgment of others for choosing to have devices of their own, you might as well be talking about their shoe choices.

"I just think it's sad to see an entire family wearing sneakers while sitting together for an hour or two."

 

[Suzanne74]

Joining this conversation a little late. When I first had my son I happened to read an article by a long time daycare provider who had noticed this same trend and had also coincidentally noticed the effect it has had on children. Something that I still remember from the article and that I took to heart was that she said, everytime you look at your phone instead of your child, or talk on your phone while picking your child up you are saying, "you are not important, you are not important, you are not important". I think there is some truth to that, and we make an effort to never use our electronic devices while we could be engaged with our son.

When I observe other parents like the OP has I feel a little sorry for those kids, because to me the parents are saying "you are not important", and that should make any parent sad.

Sent from my phone using DISBoards Ap, please excuse any typos and autocorrect mistakes.

I went to a class on development for my masters in nursing and it talked about the same thing with technology. Also the side effects of eye sight, hearing, ADHD, carpel tunnel, possible cancers that are proven yet etc....

The kids that crave the attention and say "look mommy!" and mommy looking down at her phone without looking up says "yes hunny, great
Watching a dateline NBC, every kid that texted and drove, admitted watching their parents do it. It is a learned response that parents then complain about when their kids are tweens/teens.

 

[Suzanne74]

There are a lot of people here saying "family or work emergency" let's be real. I am guessing 5-10% tops of WDW texters are on them for emergencies. Most are just addicted. Thinking they will miss something important or have to post every moment of their life.

I don't think OP was talking about emergencies. He is talking about those detached and ignoring - which happens all the time.

 

[HippieChickadee]

This is what I mean about being so defensive. (I know you are saying this in jest). I dont think using your phone at dinner means you're a neglectful parent, I just think its sad to see an entire family engaged with their gadgets while sitting together for an hour or two. And in my case, I'm not assuming anything, I witness this every time we go out. There are families who sit there totally ignoring eachother, but there are plenty that dont too.

You can talk and talk and talk but all they want to do is accuse us of calling them things we didn't. In fact, they are the ones that keep coming up with the name calling.

Heaven forbid we make an observation and share it together. Our observations quickly become "trying to make everyone do things our way".

But here, have a flower

 

[luvmy3]

So... if you don't think the parents are bad parents, and you don't think they're neglecting their kids, and they're not encroaching on your family time or doing anything disruptive in the restaurant, then what's making you so sad?

So you personally prefer not to have devices at dinner. So what? In the absence of any kind of judgment of others for choosing to have devices of their own, you might as well be talking about their shoe choices.

"I just think it's sad to see an entire family wearing sneakers while sitting together for an hour or two."

I've already said why I think its sad in past posts here.
And yes I personally choose to not have personal devices at the dinner table, so much so that it is in fact a rule I have for us. Not, once did I come on this thread and say that others should have the same rule. I could not care less what other families do at their dinner table. However when I am out and about and see a family sitting around their table with their heads down staring at their phones/ipods I think its a sad statement about how society now, how people cant be sitting next to eachother without breaking out their phones and engaging themselves with them instead the real live people they are sitting with. And I've already covered the CEO/Dr. checking his texts, or the currency converter, etc. I'm talking about an entire table of people doing it for the entire time they are sitting at that table next to me, or in front of me (which is why I notice, just the way I'd notice a cute purse or top, or a little baby). If you don't notice that stuff, okay, but lets not pretend that it doesn't happen and that other people don't notice.
You are free to embrace technology and never actually speak to the people sitting next to you if you want. It doesnt effect me one way or another, but that doesnt mean I shouldn't/wouldn't/couldn't notice you doing it at your table and have an opinion about it

 

[BigAlsGal]

Please sit me next to the quiet family on their cell phones any day! If people weren't complaining about people on their cell phones, they'd be complaining about the loud people next to them at dinner. Nobody can win. THAT is what's sad!

 

[luvmy3]

You can talk and talk and talk but all they want to do is accuse us of calling them things we didn't. In fact, they are the ones that keep coming up with the name calling.

Heaven forbid we make an observation and share it together. Our observations quickly become "trying to make everyone do things our way".

But here, have a flower

Thanks, right back at you

I know, those that are most defensive are reading things that were never said. I posted earlier that to me that means they see truth in what we are saying, they just dont want to admit about themselves But I'm sure they'd tell us otherwise.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Heaven forbid we make an observation and share it together. Our observations quickly become "trying to make everyone do things our way".

Did you even read the thread title?

The entire basis of the thread is doing just that.

 

[nuke]

There are a lot of people here saying "family or work emergency" let's be real. I am guessing 5-10% tops of WDW texters are on them for emergencies. Most are just addicted. Thinking they will miss something important or have to post every moment of their life.

I don't think OP was talking about emergencies. He is talking about those detached and ignoring - which happens all the time.

If it doesn't directly affect you or your family why should anyone care?

 

[luvmy3]

Please sit me next to the quiet family on their cell phones any day! If people weren't complaining about people on their cell phones, they'd be complaining about the loud people next to them at dinner. Nobody can win. THAT is what's sad!

I'm not complaining, I'm discussing things I notice. There is a difference.

 

[luvmy3]

Did you even read the thread title?

The entire basis of the thread is doing just that.

Lets be clear, the OP may have said that, but what you fail to see is that the entire thread has not said that.

 

[aneka]

THIS SADLY IS HAPPENING EVEN IN HOME LIFE

why have kids if you wont interact with them and teach them values and about life

people are talking less and less
I even find going out with friends years ago used to be great craic sitting round a table drinking and chatting and laughing and joking, now since technology has taken off we head out and half the people sitting round the table are glued to there devices, mostly twittering or face booking

"yeah having such an amazing time " etc etc, *** if they were having an amazing time they wouldn't even look at there device

I even see it on face book couples sitting in the same room talking to each other through face book on there mobile
put down the phone and interact with each other


it not a judgeing thing its noticing how technology has changed our culture

My adult daughter and I just returned from our annual WDW trip and we both were disturbed by what we observed....whether on the bus, at dinner or standing on line waiting to go on an attraction we saw parents more involved with their cell phones, ipads, whatever than their kids. We noticed parents telling kids to be quiet so they could read their emails or check something online. As a parent and educator I was so saddened to see this over and over again. While there were parents interacting with their children and having a great time, there was an overwhelming number completely "checked out." I always thought vacation was a chance to spend time with your kids without all the outside pressures of everyday life. The other disturbing thing was the kids that had a device put in front of them so they can play games or watch videos during dinner. Sadly, we noticed many tables where there were parents and children and absolutely no conversation.
This seems to be something that's getting worse every year. What's the point of a family vacation where the family doesn't interact with each other? Maybe it's time for the parents to put away their electronics and start reconnecting with their families and pay attention to their children, not their phones. Disney really is a magical place, but the magic needs to start by acutally paying attention.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Lets be clear, the OP may have said that, but what you fail to see is that the entire thread has not said that.

What I fail to see? I never implied the entire thread agreed with that. Hippiechick said others tried to change it to that, which is flat out incorrect. That's what the thread was originally about.

There are numerous gripes against cell phone users, and numerous suggestions on what should or shouldn't be done and what reactions someones cell phone use should or shouldn't be and when and where it should be.

The reaction and "defense" of these criticisms are simply, you don't know why I am on my phone. You don't know for how long throughout the day. You don't know where I am from, who I am communicating with, what my daughter is doing on her iPhone or my wife on her iPad. Basically, if you're just noticing, you don't know anything. Now, if you want to take your incomplete information and form your opinion, thats fine. Nobody has any issues with that.

BUT, when you take your opinion (based off of incomplete information) and voice it publicly (or to me directly) expect a defensive response. Nobody is telling you your opinion is wrong, in fact, nobody really cares.

If you're only agenda is to voice your disagreement and opinion, mission accomplished. We ALL get it.

 

[mefordis]

If it doesn't directly affect you or your family why should anyone care?

That is the $64,000 question!

Everyone needs to get used to the smartphones at WDW because they are here to stay. People will be pulling them out to change dining reservations, change and obtain fast passes, read reviews for dining, and a whole slew of things that Disney is coming up with.

We will be seeing MORE of them being used and more often. And yes, even at restaurants amongst friends and family people will be using them then, too.

Bring plenty of kleenex if it is going to make you sad.

 

[molliewalks]

I'm gonna Facetime my daughter from across the table next time I'm in a WDW restaurant! Maybe that will make everybody happy.

Too funny!!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[HippieChickadee]

It's cool, you would rather spend time with your family like this:

Not me. My opinion is that's sad. I'm entitled to my opinion.

In my opinion this is what you are saying to your family:

 

[wyurm]

It's cool, you would rather spend time with your family like this:

Wow! those are some old phones!