Opinion: Some people need to learn some phone etiquette

I am as guilty as the next person of spending too much time on my phone.

It’s worse in the city where I have access to my daughter’s unlimited internet.

However, I never use it while driving unless I set the voice activated maps app up before leaving to go somewhere.

When visiting people or eating out, I put it away and ignore anything other than calls.

If they aren’t urgent, I let them go.

It is often the younger generation that is accused of being the rudest group when using mobile phones — loud music on public transport, earphones in when exercising — oblivious to anyone else in their path and ignoring friends and family in favour of their phone.

However, the other night while eating at a restaurant with friends, I became aware of a loud voice that was constantly interrupting our conversation.

Looking around, it didn’t take long to spot the culprit.

An older man was sitting alone at a table, talking on his phone, which was on loudspeaker!

I doubt anyone in the restaurant was the least bit interested in his conversation, but he obviously felt we all needed to hear it.

Perhaps he had a hearing deficiency, in which case, he could have just stepped out into the foyer or, at least, further from people in the restaurant. His conversation ended when his meal arrived, which was lucky for him as I was about to have words with him!

My friends and I discussed whether the restaurant staff should have requested he turn it down or off, or to move outside. It’s probably not part of their job description, but somebody needed to.

My extended time in the city has led to quite a few observations about mobile phone use.

People walking dogs often have no idea what the dog is doing on the end of its lead because they don’t lift their head from their phone. I’m just waiting to see someone walking a lead, not knowing the dog has long gone. Once again the majority of these are not teenagers. I get the feeling it is not in a teenager’s job description to walk the dog!

As for not talking on your phone while driving, well that message is definitely not getting through. Every day we see people driving while on their phones. If you don’t give a rat’s about your life, at least respect other people’s.