Pope instructs followers to put the iPhone away during dinner - Polidicks

[url]http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/11/13/pope_says_put_your_damn_iphone_away_during_dinner/[/url] [quote=The Register]Pope Francis has slammed the use of smartphones and warned that they risk damaging family life. Speaking at the Vatican yesterday, the Pontiff noted that the dinner table is where families experience a sense of "togetherness," but that it can be ruined by over-attachment to modern technology. "A family that almost never eats together, or that never speaks at the table but looks at the television or the smartphone, is hardly a family," he told pilgrims in St Peter's Square. "When children at the table are attached to the computer or the phone and don’t listen to each other, this is not a family." It's not the first time that the Pontiff has reiterated what millions of parents tell their kids - and each other - seemingly every evening. But it doesn't seem to make the slightest difference.[/quote]

Except there's such a thing as multitasking, where you can talk and use your phone at the same time. And use your phone to show family members pictures, articles, whatever, which actually enhances conversation anyway. So, shan't, Francis.

I actually used my phone numerous times to show my dad articles and what not at the dinner table when we got to talking about things

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114107]Except there's such a thing as multitasking, where you can talk and use your phone at the same time. And use your phone to show family members pictures, articles, whatever, which actually enhances conversation anyway. So, shan't, Francis.[/QUOTE] [url=http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/multitask-masters]Except humans are actually really poor at multitasking (save for a very, very insignificant percentage of us-- which this article discusses and, no, odds are you are not a part of) and it degrades our attention spans[/url]. Modern technology has had a horrific effect on our ability to pay attention and perform once-basic memory functions. The pope actually makes a good case here; it's sad how incapable so many people are at just ignoring their phones for only a small amount of time.

But what if I always eat alone :(

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114107]Except there's such a thing as multitasking, where you can talk and use your phone at the same time. And use your phone to show family members pictures, articles, whatever, which actually enhances conversation anyway. So, shan't, Francis.[/QUOTE] Enjoy your food and be present in the moment. You can do that later.

Honestly my family and my girlfriend's family both do this and it really works for us. If we [I]need[/I] to check something, we'll ask politely and use the phone real quick, and then pretty quickly get back to actually paying attention to the people in front of us.

[QUOTE=Govna;49114149][url=http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/multitask-masters]Except humans are actually really poor at multitasking (save for a very, very insignificant percentage of us-- which this article discusses and, no, odds are you are not a part of) and it degrades our attention spans[/url]. Modern technology has had a horrific effect on our ability to pay attention and perform once-basic memory functions. The pope actually makes a good case here; it's sad how incapable so many people are at just ignoring their phones for only a small amount of time.[/QUOTE] Except I can tell you that most people I've seen can manage both a conversation and a phone at the same time. No, it's not hard. I do it all the time. And no, it isn't a good point. Ignoring the fact that yes, you can use your phone and talk at the same time (and by the way, I stated the phone was being used in relevance to the conversation, so), who's to say that the conversation hasn't run dry, or there's nothing to talk about, or that they're not doing important shit, or that they [I]just don't feel like talking?[/I] Should we just sit there and stare at the table? It's not a good point, it's not even a new point. It's just bashing on whatever people are doing now. The same thing was said about magazines in 1907. It was just as wrong then as it is now. Let people do what the fuck they want at the dinner table, it's none of your business. [editline]14th November 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=wootmonster;49114171]Enjoy your food and be present in the moment. You can do that later.[/QUOTE] Me using my phone doesn't make me not present in the moment.

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;49114113]I actually used my phone numerous times to show my dad articles and what not at the dinner table when we got to talking about things[/QUOTE] But I don't think that is the kind of thing the pope is getting at. Read the first part of the quote. [quote] A family that almost never eats together, or that never speaks at the table but looks at the television or the smartphone, is hardly a family, [/quote] I think he's talking about the nature of a lot of people to eat in front of their tv's, computers, or spend their entire time isolated while they eat, instead of paying attention to each other and bonding. [quote]When children at the table are attached to the computer or the phone and don’t listen to each other, this is not a family.[/quote] Using your phone to show your dad an article that you're both interested in and are going to talk about isn't what the pope is complaining about. I get that some families aren't this way, I just think the headline doesn't fully explain his position.

When my family's talking at the table and there's a disagreement, our phones are always good fact-checkers. At dinner I put it aside, face down, and if it vibrates i peek at it to see if it's important. It's also good for when my sister and i have photos or posts from family and friends that are worth sharing. In this case phones should be used as a tool to enhance table discussion rather than a shield from it.

[QUOTE=wootmonster;49114171]Enjoy your food and be present in the moment. You can do that later.[/QUOTE] Some people can use their phones [I]and[/I] "be present in the moment".

This seems a hell of a lot like advice one gives instead of follows I wonder how many people in this thread actually sit down around a dinner table every night and don't use phones or watch tv or anything, I wonder how many of you have ate dinner at your computer, or watched tv during it, or read a book, in the past month or so

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114268]This seems a hell of a lot like advice one gives instead of follows I wonder how many people in this thread actually sit down around a dinner table every night and don't use phones or watch tv or anything, I wonder how many of you have ate dinner at your computer, or watched tv during it, or read a book, in the past month or so[/QUOTE] With our family we have to wait until after dinner before being allowed to go to the toilet

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114191]Except I can tell you that most people I've seen can manage both a conversation and a phone at the same time. No, it's not hard. I do it all the time. And no, it isn't a good point. Ignoring the fact that yes, you can use your phone and talk at the same time (and by the way, I stated the phone was being used in relevance to the conversation, so), who's to say that the conversation hasn't run dry, or there's nothing to talk about, or that they're not doing important shit, or that they [I]just don't feel like talking?[/I] Should we just sit there and stare at the table? It's not a good point, it's not even a new point. It's just bashing on whatever people are doing now. The same thing was said about magazines in 1907. It was just as wrong then as it is now. Let people do what the fuck they want at the dinner table, it's none of your business. [editline]14th November 2015[/editline] [B] Me using my phone doesn't make me not present in the moment.[/B][/QUOTE] Completely disagree

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114268]This seems a hell of a lot like advice one gives instead of follows I wonder how many people in this thread actually sit down around a dinner table every night and don't use phones or watch tv or anything, I wonder how many of you have ate dinner at your computer, or watched tv during it, or read a book, in the past month or so[/QUOTE] I wouldn't be eating dinner in front of my computer if I wasn't miles away from my family at college right now :c

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114268]This seems a hell of a lot like advice one gives instead of follows I wonder how many people in this thread actually sit down around a dinner table every night and don't use phones or watch tv or anything, I wonder how many of you have ate dinner at your computer, or watched tv during it, or read a book, in the past month or so[/QUOTE] I ate with my family almost every night growing up without any outside distractions and hope to do the same with my own family in the future. People can pretend that they can be completely involved while also using their phone, but that's just not the case. A real face to face conversation can never be replaced by two people talking as they use their phones. The pope and I are OBVIOUSLY not talking about bringing out the phone for a minute to check a fact or show an article. It's silly to even bring up examples like that.

[QUOTE=sgman91;49114453]I ate with my family almost every night growing up without any outside distractions and hope to do the same with my own family in the future. People can pretend that they can be completely involved while also using their phone, but that's just not the case. A real face to face conversation can never be replaced by two people talking as they use their phones. The pope and I are OBVIOUSLY not talking about bringing out the phone for a minute to check a fact or show an article. It's silly to even bring up examples like that.[/QUOTE] So then, you've just admitted you actually have no idea what it's like to have a meal with your phone out, since you've apparently never done it? Well, it's great that you're calling me a liar, but last I checked you've never been at a dinner table with me. Feel free to buy me dinner and then comment on my table habits.

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114503]So then, you've just admitted you actually have no idea what it's like to have a meal with your phone out, since you've apparently never done it? Well, it's great that you're calling me a liar, but last I checked you've never been at a dinner table with me. Feel free to buy me dinner and then comment on my table habits.[/QUOTE] I really don't think there's any point in trying to actually present an argument against you. It's preeminently obvious to any non-angsty teanager that real, face to face, conversation is superior to conversation with someone actively using their phone while you talk to them. Mature people generally give each other their full attention when having a conversation. That's just the way the world works.

You sound upset and defensive, Sandman. Stop doing that. Pope's right here, watching TV or browsing the Internet and removing yourself from the conversation isn't a good thing. Now, I won't claim to follow that, since my family eats in the living room almost every night, but we usually have a conversation over the news or a Doctor Who episode. It's not the best, and sometimes I do wish we'd just talk over dinner instead, but it's what we do. The man has a point, though. There are times when we should probably put the phones away, and spend time with the people in front of us. It'll be a sad day when you look up from your phone and they're gone.

[QUOTE=woolio1;49114528]You sound upset and defensive, Sandman. Stop doing that. Pope's right here, watching TV or browsing the Internet and removing yourself from the conversation isn't a good thing. Now, I won't claim to follow that, since my family eats in the living room almost every night, but we usually have a conversation over the news or a Doctor Who episode. It's not the best, and sometimes I do wish we'd just talk over dinner instead, but it's what we do. The man has a point, though. There are times when we should probably put the phones away, and spend time with the people in front of us. It'll be a sad day when you look up from your phone and they're gone.[/QUOTE] Yeah, I'm just not exactly fond of people complaining about shit I do that has no bearing on them or anything because it has 0 impact on my family relations. I see no problem with people using phones at the table. Hanging out together is pleasant, even if you're doing other shit at the same time. I think if it's anywhere we need to be focusing on when it comes to putting the phones away, it's while driving and at a movie theater if the pope was like "turn your phone off at the movies you shits" I would be way more down with that

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114554]Yeah, I'm just not exactly fond of people complaining about shit I do that has no bearing on them or anything because it has 0 impact on my family relations. I see no problem with people using phones at the table. Hanging out together is pleasant, even if you're doing other shit at the same time. I think if it's anywhere we need to be focusing on when it comes to putting the phones away, it's while driving and at a movie theater if the pope was like "turn your phone off at the movies you shits" I would be way more down with that[/QUOTE] well the pope is basically just a grandpa. that + most south american cultures being very family-oriented, and i don't really blame him for having this sort of opinion

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114554]Yeah, I'm just not exactly fond of people complaining about shit I do that has no bearing on them or anything because it has 0 impact on my family relations. I see no problem with people using phones at the table. Hanging out together is pleasant, even if you're doing other shit at the same time. I think if it's anywhere we need to be focusing on when it comes to putting the phones away, it's while driving and at a movie theater if the pope was like "turn your phone off at the movies you shits" I would be way more down with that[/QUOTE] But he didn't say no phones at the table. You are getting upset over the headline without even reading the paragraph in the OP. The pope is just making an observation about the way people in the west are eating together as a family now. [B]Sensationalist Headlines [/B]I get it though, some families do not eat together and it isn't a big deal.

[QUOTE=Funcoot;49114678]But he didn't say no phones at the table. You are getting upset over the headline without even reading the paragraph in the OP. The pope is just making an observation about the way people in the west are eating together as a family now. [B]Sensationalist Headlines [/B]I get it though, some families do not eat together and it isn't a big deal.[/QUOTE] Actually, yes I did read it.

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114826]Actually, yes I did read it.[/QUOTE] You're singling out one half of his statements tho, which makes them appear very differently from both halves put together. He's not advising against watching TV/using your phone while eating with your family period - he's advising against doing that [b]instead of[/b] talking with each other. If your family can enjoy their meal together as a family while having their phones out or the TV's running or reading newspaper or <insert entertainment distraction here>, more power to you, going by his statements.

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114826]Actually, yes I did read it.[/QUOTE] If you actually read it you wouldn't be making yourself look so goofy right now

[QUOTE=Mister Sandman;49114107]Except there's such a thing as multitasking, where you can talk and use your phone at the same time. And use your phone to show family members pictures, articles, whatever, which actually enhances conversation anyway. So, shan't, Francis.[/QUOTE] tbh it's basic manners to look at a person if you're talking to them rather than just starting at your phone. I know I fucking hate it when I'm talking to someone and they won't look up from their phone.

I kinda have to agree with the pope, while the phone is nice for pulling up relevant information, I find it a little rude when people just do something else on their phone when we were interacting. I use my phone and eat when I'm alone, but I really try to avoid it when in the full company of others.

Me and my girlfriend vowed years ago now to never bring our cell phones into restaurants. It's been a good thing.

Another example is when you take a walk with someone, then they receive a call, and you have to walk next to them and be silent for 5-10 minutes like an idiot for them to finish.

[QUOTE=Araknid;49115454]tbh it's basic manners to look at a person if you're talking to them rather than just starting at your phone. I know I fucking hate it when I'm talking to someone and they won't look up from their phone.[/QUOTE] tbh it comes off as a sign of disrespect