Disconnecting the WIFI experiment
 

I thought this was amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN04OO67_do

Yep! Loved it!! Went out for lunch on Sunday and one table a family of 4 all had devices going even while eating lunch. One was on a laptop. One sent all a message and they gave high fives. They were irked though when the waitress tried to place their drinks on the table. Hubby and I just shook our heads. WE went on to enjoy our meal.

That is just unbelievable!

It's sad that this is what family life is coming to. Funny video!

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*** They are all going blind, have bad posture, and miss all there is in the beautiful world.
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*** Glad my kids are grown because I would not have allowed it at the table.
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*** There was no TV allowed back then at meals.
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What's even scarier, is that at some point that generation will be old enough to run? this country.

When my daughter was a waitress, she talked about this frequently. It is a very common thing for families to ignore one another at dinner, and it's not just the children. Aside from the fact that it is rude, it creates a disconnect for the family. If parents don't see their children all day, and the few hours they could spend engaging them and showing an interest in their lives is spent actively ignoring them instead, what will the finished product be when the kids become adults? Who is providing the devices the children are immersed in? It is up to the parents to establish rules and set boundaries. What is the glue that bonds the family together? It is not hours spent in front of televisions, on cell phones or other tech devices. Parents need to lead by example themselves, and also forbid children from bringing their toys to the table. Studies have shown that children who are raised in families who sit down to dinner with one another each night statistically grow up to be successful adults. Dinnertime is an important time to interact with one another and to come together as a family. It propagates a sense of belonging.

I will be 69 next week and I LOVE my technology - but not with other people over a meal!!!! In fact, I really do t like these vehicles that co e equipped with DVD so all the kids need to do is plug in and become zombies.whatever happened with the road games. So it prevents fighting and that kind of stuff - parents need to actually parent - I a, not a crabby old person but parents need to connect with their kids instead of giving them technology or pitting the, into anger-school classes every single day. Now I shall step off my soapbox!!!! Thanks for listening.

Sandy in Mooresville, NC

Seems electronics have taken over the world. I have a cell phone but only use it if I'm broken down somewhere. Otherwise its turned off and in my purse. I'm also unsubscribing to a lot of my websites I receive emails daily. I feel I need to get back to basics and keep off the PC more. As to the TV, I have a DVR to record all my favorite shows which there are not that many these days. By recording them I can fast forward the commericals and if I feel the show is not in my best interest I can justs "DELETE" and not waste the time. Works for me.

long before personal devices became common, it was TV. I can't begin to say how many people I've visited over the years who never turn off the TV and look like they are viewing a tennis match. Look at guest, look at TV, look at guest.

One of the many reasons we don't even have TV

When someone is absorbed in their phone or computer when in a social setting I ignore them completely. If I'm not worth paying attention to then neither are they.

I detest having to talk over the TV when visiting people. That is so rude to keep the tv blaring. It's not like I dropped in unexpected. One time is enough for me. I don't go back. They can come to my house if I invite them.

I grew up in a house where we weren't allowed to watch much tv. We had a black and white set when most households had graduated to color. There were also only 3 channels that came in clearly (if you adjusted the antenna and the horizontal and vertical controls.) Before television, people listened to radio, and before radio, families gathered in parlors and read to one another or played music and sang. When I studied sociology, we studied about how television had altered the family. People once faced one another and interacted and communicated. With television, familes face the television and are usually quite.

When out in public and someone is speaking very loudly on their phone, I softly, politely and with a smile say to them 'Excuse me, but I am sure you aren't aware of your personal conversation being heard by all these strangers'. Usually, out of embarassment, they lower their voice. Some don't care and will never care, but many will move or soften the sound. When I am working, I just stand perfectly still and wait. Eventually the customer stops and repeats what they wanted cut. I say (again softly and with a smile) that it's ok, I can wait until they are done. It frosts me that people think so little of the folks they are either dealing with or that are around them. My kids say I am being rude and just don't 'get it'. I think I am getting a small victory when they either quiet down or get off their phone.

My mom used to have her programs. She also taped them, so if I stopped by she could have turned off the tv. But, if her programs were on, she would just shush me. So, I started to leave whenever she did this. After a few times, she got it. (I did not try to come by when her special programs were on. Her new specials changed all the time and I couldn't have ever kept track of them.)

It rather irks my hubby and myself when we go out to eat and everyone sitting around us has their "toys" to play with. All with heads down--even babies have theirs. We have thought it would be fun to have pretend ones to sit and pretend to be busy on them but why bother. Too bad people have them on but don't use them unless they get a call and then take them outside or another area to talk so that everyone else doesn't get to enjoy the conversations.

No TV on during meals here. It is a hardship for one 17 yo GS on Christmas Day. There is some bb game on he feels he can't miss. He always pushes the wrong button on the remote and I don't fix it until after dinner. Problem solved. I used to tell him it was a magic remote that respected Christmas dinner time, but I don't think he's fall for that now. Phones? Put it away or put it in the toilet. The parents let me get away with that though I feel they are the ones that should be saying it, but it's my house, so my rules if they don't.

My cell usually is off, sitting either in the bottom of my purse or on my nightstand. I must confess, if I wake during the night and can't talk myself into going back to sleep a quick game of scrabble w/ computer on my cell will make my eyes tired and off I go. I try texting occasionally, but that keyboard is way smaller than my fingertips and I can create the oddest language.......and company....when I get.....is courteously requested to turn off..........

Lynnie, I just wanted to comment on what you said about the devices keeping the children quiet in restaurants. I think a lot of people must feel this way. When my children were younger, I saw going out to eat with them as an exercise in how one should behave when they are out to eat. It was a perfect opportunity for them to practice using their manners. I didn't have to contend with devices then, but if I had, I would not have allowed them at the table. It seems a lot of parents either are not aware that it is in poor taste to be on the phone during dinner, or they just don't care.

I, also find it rude when people use their electronics when they are in a group of people. What is the point? Either you are there to socialize or you are not. Personally, I would rather interact with the group than with an "object."

I have a mobile phone which rests in my handbag usually with a flat battery . Never bothered me until I had a flat tyre the other week. I just thought how did I manage this problem before mobiles? Hey presto new tyre. It annoys me those people who answer a phone call when you are out to dinner with them. Do they want my company or is the call person more important?

I was in the Reno airport last Christmas and a man sitting close to me was talking very loudly on his cell phone. Another lady was sitting next to him and was very definitely "listening" to every word he said. Finally he stopped and looked at her and said, "Do you mind?" She replied that she thought he wanted her to listen since he was talking so loudly in a public place. The man quickly ended his call and then got up and left. She looked at me and said, "It works every time! Now we have peace and can visit with each other." We then had a delightful conversation! Loved that lady!

My rules are no devices of any kind allowed at meals..unless hubby gets a on duty call

I think the saddest thing I ever saw was a group of 20 year old girlfriends waiting for a table. There wasn't one sound among them for 30 minutes as they were on their cells. My DGD had a sweet 16 party and kept doing texts all night long to people who did not attend, she barely could talk to the kids who came. Poor manners.

[QUOTE=Snooze2978;7637064]. I have a cell phone but only use it if I'm broken down somewhere. Otherwise its turned off and in my purse. I'm also unsubscribing to a lot of my websites I receive emails daily. I feel I need to get back to basics and keep off the PC more.

My cell is in my purse turned off also, use it for long distance calls and in an emergency, like my flat tire.
Same here about not getting so many newsletters/emails, I want to have a life.
At Sunday adult class, a woman has her phone set up on the table in front of her and looks at it all the time. WHY??

I was at the grocery and my phone rang. The grocery clerk was shocked that I didn't answer it. "Aren't you going to get that?" "No, I'm dealing with you right now." She was honestly shocked. It was unreal. People must interrupt her all the time to answer their phones while they are checking out their groceries. Just rude, IMO.

Watson

My now 16 yo grandson has been in my custody since he was a baby. It has always been no phone, no tv, no hat on at dinner. He also knows to address all adults with yes mam, no mam, hold doors for all ladies, no foul language, always tell me where is going and with whom. I instilled this in him from when he was very young, very consistent, no exceptions. He follows all this now as his norm, times I have to say anything is almost nonexistent. He is very into school activities and sports, every time I am at a game or event another parent, grandparent, or teacher tells me what a great young man his is.

Bravo Jeanann!! Sounds like we have the same grandsons......lol........

Micheal has a cell phone, but getting him to answer his phone is like pulling teeth. He stayed with us for a week during spring break I think he used his phone once to call his Dad. Same for our granddaughter Dawnette, they see it as more of a necessity than a must have.

Jeanann, You are my hero! Your parenting strategies are a recipe for turning out an exceptional adult. If everyone were raising their children this way, the world would be a better place.

why even go out together, order take out or delivery since no communication is happening. that's sad