Put Down Your Phones!

[Nancyg56]

THIS SADLY IS HAPPENING EVEN IN HOME LIFE

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


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

This has been happening with some people since the dawn of time, and technology has nothing to do with it. Everyone parents in their own way, and they interact within their family, with their children in the manner in which they choose. I heard your argument with I was growing up from my own parents who heard it from theirs.

Technology changes how people relax, communicate, keep kids entertained, and how they distance themselves. What I find odd is how a glimpse at total strangers gives anyone an insight as to how they parent their children, how close they are as a family, or if they use technology as a way to remain isolated from the people they are with.

I will often hear about that couple who barely spoke at the table next to someone. How sad. How distant, blah bah blah. That couple could be my DH and me. There are times when we will go to dinner, and have not a lot to say. After 33 years together, we are as comfortable together in our silence as we are when we are talking, and once in a while by the time we get to the restaurant, we don't need to say something for the other to know what we ate thinking. Now this does not happen a lot, most of the time you cannot make me stop talking, but once in a while............I guess I'm tired.........which is why we are our to eat in the first place

I think that in this thread there are observations, and then there are judgement made about those we have observed. My point is that unless you know how this family operates, you have no insight into what is appropriate for them.

 

[HippieChickadee]

Wow! those are some old phones!

Yeah, that one on the right is like a brick now a days! Look how thick!!!

 

[Magpie]

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:

Wow... that's really nasty.

Do you know these people? No? Then why on EARTH would you photograph them and put them up on a public forum to be judged? Or if you just googled a random photo, why would you perpetuate that kind of cruel behaviour?

You know what? It's cool. I'd rather spend time at THAT family's table, than be the person behind the camera.

 

[HippieChickadee]

Wow... that's really nasty.

Do you know these people? No? Then why on EARTH would you photograph them and put them up on a public forum to be judged? Or if you just googled a random photo, why would you perpetuate that kind of cruel behaviour?

You know what? It's cool. I'd rather spend time at THAT family's table, than be the person behind the camera.

Yes it's the first thing that popped up under google out of thousands when you search "texting family"

Really makes ya think when you see it doesn't it?

 

[Suzanne74]

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!

That is pathetic. People give their kids phones to quiet them down because they don't want to interact with them. They just want them to shut up and that is okay now in our society? Families playing games and interacting: I spy, 20 questions, favorite ride, remember when, disney trivia, hangman, etc...don't have screaming group of kids. And if your kid cries a fit, you remove them from the restaurant as a consequence, not hand him/her an electronic as a reward.

 

[Laura66]

Oh my gosh! I remember playing all day with my kids, answering all of their why questions a million times, fetching snacks, playing Polly Pockets! You better believe I took them to the playground to play with the other kiddies so I cld have a break by reading my my book or catch up on Facebook or the Disboards! Judge away!
Love Disney and I love being with and talking to my family! But after talking to them and riding rides and dealing with the heat and crowds we all like down time catching up on our evil devises! Again, judge away!

 

[catherines_mama]

It is our habit to lock our phones in the safe when we leave the rooms for the parks. We check them when we get back, see what's what and put them back. We truly enjoy "disconnecting" from reality and technology when in the World.

we are under 2 weeks from our next trip. I said to DH, I need to run to Radio Shack and get one of those portable pocket chargers for the iPhone. He looked at me like I had 4 heads. He said "we leave our phones in the safe, what do you need THAT for?" I then tried to explain MDE and FP+ and Wait Time apps to him.

We won't be using FP+, we've survived traveling together as a family for 4 years without the wait time apps... I think we might just leave the phone again and survive again this year. I don't know... we'll see. I'm a bit anxious. If I do have it it will just be for wait time apps. I love my Disney bubble and I love the kids my kids become when they are within it.

Now, this WILL be our 1st trip where DD12 has a phone, this will be a test. She and her little boyfriend just broke up so I think there is more of a chance to get her to leave it in the safe than if they were 'together'. We'll see.

 

[HippieChickadee]

Wow... that's really nasty.

Do you know these people? No? Then why on EARTH would you photograph them and put them up on a public forum to be judged? Or if you just googled a random photo, why would you perpetuate that kind of cruel behaviour?

You know what? It's cool. I'd rather spend time at THAT family's table, than be the person behind the camera.

Here is a cartoon version for you so as not to distract you from the topic-

 

[LaurenT]

No, its not hypocritical, I never said anyone here can't or shouldnt comment on anything someone else says. We are all sharing our opinions on this discussion board, we are all opinionated.
I do wonder though why some are getting so defensive over it. Do you guys really care what some stranger in a restaurant or on the internet thinks?

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

Luvmy3, do you not see the irony in being defensive about being called hypocritical while you are surprised that someone else is being defensive about being accused of ignoring their family just because they spend some waiting time in the parks on their smart phones?

 

[LSUfan4444]

That is pathetic. People give their kids phones to quiet them down because they don't want to interact with them. They just want them to shut up and that is okay now in our society? Families playing games and interacting: I spy, 20 questions, favorite ride, remember when, disney trivia, hangman, etc...don't have screaming group of kids. And if your kid cries a fit, you remove them from the restaurant as a consequence, not hand him/her an electronic as a reward.

Do you know the amount of interactive games, learning games and apps they have for kids today?

It's so funny to hear people complain about this on an internet message board of all places. Oh, the irony.

20 years ago, only your hairdressers, the other curmudgeons in the hair salon and your spouses heard the gripes. Now, you can take your negative opinions on technological devices to the world wide web and broadcast your opinions and judgments world wide.

 

[Magpie]

Yes it's the first thing that popped up under google out of thousands when you search "texting family"

Really makes ya think when you see it doesn't it?

Yes, it does make me think and since we're talking about things that make us sad...

The fact that some judgmental busybody felt the need to take that photo makes me sad.

That person is no better than the people who take pictures of big kids in strollers or fat people at Walmart, just so they can point, laugh and gossip. And you're helping keep that photo first in the search engines.

So you might as well have taken it yourself.

 

[Suzanne74]

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

It does. The food lines are longer because people call in phone orders to family on other rides or look at devises until they get up to front and then ponder over what to order. They stop short in the middle of the parks to answer calls. They run into us because they are texting and not looking up. Their kids are misbehaving at the boneyard and no one sees it because their noses are browsing the Internet. Watching the show Lion King there are 4 young girls on their phones and giggling. In Disaster at Universal, there was a man on his cell talking to his office yelling at employees during the whole ride.

If you don't think cell phone use has changed society into self absorbedness and how it trickles down to everyone else, you are crazy.

 

[wyurm]

Just remember: everyone is entitled to their own opinion but that's not likely to change reality. Like it or not device use is not going away, in fact it's getting a lot more prevalent. I've seen it at workplaces that adopt anti-cellphone policies and even where people have been fired for violations. A good majority are still carrying a phone anyway. Something people are willing to risk their own jobs for is not going away any time soon.

The main subject of this thread is ignoring your family because of device use. I might be inclined to agree if the children were running around possibly in harms way while the parent is oblivious or if a child is trying to get their parent's attention while they are busy with the phone. Otherwise, it's completely their business. And it harm none, do what you will.

 

[Magpie]

Here is a cartoon version for you so as not to distract you from the topic-

You should have posted that cartoon the first time, if you just wanted to make an amusing point.

The fact is, you held actual people up to ridicule, without knowing a single thing about them. That takes this from the theoretical to the very real.

I'll never know... who are the people in the picture? What happened five minutes after the photo was taken? What are their stories? Who are the people on the other ends of their phones? Where are they now?

Just because someone is different from me, that doesn't mean they don't have value.

 

[LSUfan4444]

This has been happening with some people since the dawn of time, and technology has nothing to do with it.

If it wasn't cell phones, it would be something else. If it wasn't sitting in a restaurant, they would complain they were on the phone while walking, or waiting in line, or something else.

People have always formed negative opinions on things done by others that they disagree with, only now, we're "lucky" enough to read about it on the web.

This is no different...some people will just judge and bash things that differ from what they do or how they do it.

 

[Suzanne74]

Do you know the amount of interactive games, learning games and apps they have for kids today?

It's so funny to hear people complain about this on an internet message board of all places. Oh, the irony.

20 years ago, only your hairdressers, the other curmudgeons in the hair salon and your spouses heard the gripes. Now, you can take your negative opinions on technological devices to the world wide web and broadcast your opinions and judgments world wide.

Yes I know how many games and apps they have. Doesn't mean I am going to plop on down in front of each kid instead of playing together.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

On our last trip in may. We Saw this A LOT!
It does sadden me, but it also makes me grateful that my DH & I try so hard to shut out the world and be with our family..

We had always left our phone in the hotel room, but this trip we had to take them, b/c We had to split up..

The rules about phone, iPod, ipad, use are
Phone use:
You can only take calls From Each other and the dog/house sitter..
Any other person calling in gets a call back at other time.. Normally in the evening back at the hotel.

iPod, iPad:
iPad is only to be used the plane, and in the hotel room..

iPod goes to the park..
Used as a back up camera, & for Disney trivia game (played as a family) why waiting to be seated for a meal..
Not to be use by one person for games,Facebook, or any other personal reasons..

Now that Disney has the MY experience app (which didn't work at ALL when we went)
I thought it would be helpful, but it seems to create more problems than it fixes...

I agree people put those phones down!
Spend time with your family, you'll be grateful 1,5,10,50 years from now for the memories

 

[Magpie]

Just remember: everyone is entitled to their own opinion but that's not likely to change reality. Like it or not device use is not going away, in fact it's getting a lot more prevalent. I've seen it at workplaces that adopt anti-cellphone policies and even where people have been fired for violations. A good majority are still carrying a phone anyway. Something people are willing to risk their own jobs for is not going away any time soon.

The main subject of this thread is ignoring your family because of device use. I might be inclined to agree if the children were running around possibly in harms way while the parent is oblivious or if a child is trying to get their parent's attention while they are busy with the phone. Otherwise, it's completely their business. And it harm none, do what you will.

Hey!

Got lots of friends who abide by this belief system, too!

 

[tjmj9801]

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:

That you bothered to take a picture and (I'm assuming without their consent) post this picture tells me you're way over involved in others lives.

Edit: the irony is the person who took this also got out their phone, taking attention away from their family, to judge and put down this family.

 

[LSUfan4444]

You should have posted that cartoon the first time, if you just wanted to make an amusing point.

The fact is, you held actual people up to ridicule, without knowing a single thing about them. That takes this from the theoretical to the very real.

I'll never know... who are the people in the picture? What happened five minutes after the photo was taken? What are their stories? Who are the people on the other ends of their phones? Where are they now?

Just because someone is different from me, that doesn't mean they don't have value.

Sadly, I don't think there is anything that anyone can say to make this sink in.

Although, it was previously said by one of them, that none of that matters.