Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Random Acts of Douchebaggery

First of all, I'm not even going to comment on the dude's outfit. Except to say that he's wearing plaid on plaid. And that he's wearing pajama pants.

Okay, what I'm really here to RAD is people who go out to eat with other people and, instead of interacting with the other people, spend the entire time on their phone. I think she's texting and he's playing Angry Birds. Is that even a phone the gentleman has? That thing is huge!

Anyhow, the point is that this is really uncomfortable. When you go out to a restaurant with someone, you should make an attempt to converse with them. When two people are sitting at a table, only paying attention to their electronic devices, they look like total douches. It also makes waitstaff and other patrons freaked out. Other patrons are worried that their interactions might disrupt the people's concentration. Waitstaff is wondering if they should take their order now, or wait until they have cleared the level.

A year or so ago, Mike and I went to Brasa in St. Paul. We were sitting next to this old couple who did not speak to each other once during their entire meal. Instead the man had his Ipad propped up, reading a book and the woman had an actual paper book that she was reading. It was so uncomfortable. Why weren't they speaking to each other? Did they get into some horrible argument on the way to Brasa, but they were so hungry that they decided to come in and eat anyways? How long had it been since they had actually spoken to each other? Or was this just business as usual?

Look, if you can't muster up enough social graces to have a conversation with your partner at the dinner table, then keep that hot mess at your own home. No one else needs to be subjected to it.

Photo and idea credit to Anne H. Thanks friend!

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