Anyone else miss the days when people weren't on their phone all the time?

I don't like seeing people glued to their phone constantly. I'm sure it makes them happy and I'm all for that, but I still can't help but be bugged by it. I remember a time before "smart" phones came along and it wasn't like that. I miss those days.

What about you? Are you one of the many people who are always on their phone or not?

@Stranger_36: I'm reading this on phone now :)

Hmm, not really since them being on or off the phone has never had a impact on me and my travels.

But it is fun to see how much it has changed in the last 10 years , from almost noone to everyone and their cat thanks to smartphones and Facebook.

Yeah, I do. And I'm in my early twenties.

I'm glad that it's given so many folks - especially in 3rd world countries - access to more information, but it's also depressing to see so many folks on their screens all. The. Damn. Time.

I miss not walking into people while there staring and walking at there phone. These days they look at you to say. WTF why arnt you on your phone and its your fault for walking into me as your one paying attention.

It's bad enough when they take their sweet time crossing at an intersection because they're nose deep into their smartphones. I splashed one with puddle water after he made me wait.

He was going to get pissed off at me. But then, someone in another car behind me yelled something at him. That got his attention instead.

Absolutely agree with TC.

And when I'm spending time with a woman, that would be a huge turnoff if she even had it on. It can be put aside for an evening. Back in the day, we actually concentrated on being with the person we were with at the time.

it bugs me a lot lol. I avoid my phone as much as possible. the worst is when you're playing a game and people get mad that you dont answer instantly <.>

Wait what? if you are on a date and she uses her phone, then my bet is that it's not because the date is going great :D

I have never been on a date and have her use her phone during the evening unless it was for entering my phonenumber :D

It use to bother me hanging out with people who would be on their phone the whole time. Now I realize it's like a defense mechanism. Most people on their phone are shy.

I agree, and it's probably going to get even worse. in the near future.

I barely see people on the smartphone as it is, at most I see people use it on the bus stops, but never when walking on the streets. Unless they are playing Pokemon Go, which isnt anywhere near as popular as it used to be.

I see plenty of deformed people all the time. Either they are actually talking on the phone nonstop or they are texting someone. Damn plastic and electronics growing out of hands and stuck to ears.

They have plenty here, especially after school for K-12.

Where are you based? because i can´t remember the last time i've not seen anyone without a smartphone plastered to their hands walking or driving.

Get off my lawn.

Karlskrona, Sweden.

When going out shopping, I see far more people holding a dog leash than I see people holding a smartphone.

Yeah. It's so bizarre when you're on the outside looking in (I have a dumb phone). You realize the severity of addiction people have w/ their phones.

I seriously suspect this whole issue is mostly exaggerated.

And when waiting for something, the only thing that changed was the device.

@Stranger_36: One of my pet hates is the large number of people who start their cars in parking lots, turn on their lights and then just sit there staring at their 'phones. (Presumably, they're checking their maps or something.)

Other drivers wanting to pass are likely to assume that the person is about to reverse out of the parking and wait ... and wait ... and wait for nothing.

Sh*t. They're comparable to those idiots who stand at pedestrian crossings without intending to cross.

I don't care about how people choose to live their lives.

It is their existence they can do what they want with it short of harming others.

I generally miss more that you didn't need to be reachable at all times, and it was fine. Compared to now when friends seem to go haywire if I don't talk or reply back to them for a day.

I don't mind if people want to be on their phones, but there is a time for it and a time not for it.

Times for it:

• Passing the time while you're in a waiting room
• A passenger in a vehicle
• Sitting quietly in a park or on a bench waiting for a bus
• Replying to a text or answering/making a phone call (while you're NOT driving)
• And such similar instances

Times not to use it or places you shouldn't use it:

• Standing in line while waiting for food at places such as Chipotle - I get to read so many stupid posts on someone's facebook or their sick, twisted text messages it's very amusing. If the person tends to ignore the folks behind the counter or are slow to respond, I'll pipe up about their phone conversation and boy oh boy, do people get really embarrassed about it. They tend to get off the phone quick and actually pay attention to the people trying to wait on them.
• Driving - seriously! What in the fucking world is that important that you have to stare at your phone while you're driving? Anyone caught doing this should have their license pulled and barred from obtaining it ever again
• Around other people when you should be socializing. You're there face to face - unless it is an absolute emergency, you should not be on your phone. If you're not storing someone's number or adding some kind of reminder to your calendar for a future date/get together, put your god damn phone away.
• In bed with your significant other. Get the F off the phone and pay attention to your significant other. Facebook is not that important.
• Talking loudly and having the receiver volume up so loud that people around you can hear both sides of the conversation. If the place you're at is too loud to have a normal conversation, your phone call will be no different. Go some place quieter so you're not yelling on your phone and the person you're talking with on the other end can't be heard by everyone around you.

One of the more irritating ones I see are the parents that pull up to school to drop their young kids off and they have the phone already in the hand and in their face while pulling into parking spots. Then they sit there for (I've seen it this long before) 5+ minutes playing on their phone before they get out and get their kids out. Then the parent comes back to the car and sits there for another chunk of time playing on their phone.

Or, how about the kindergarten aged kids up through 5th grade, at least 1/4 of all the elementary aged kids I see are walking into school with a phone in their face as they text or play games....then when I pick my daughter up these kids are on iPads and cell phones playing games and texting. My daughter keeps telling me she needs a smart phone and I ask her why (she's 8, by the way). She says so she can call us if she needs to or if she needs to look something up for school online....yeah, fat chance. I tell her I have a perfectly fine phone (not smart phone) that she can have for emergency use to call mom/dad or even 911. She doesn't want that kind of phone.....

Usually while standing in line somewhere, roughly 2/3 of the people in line have their phones out. They can't seem to function properly without constantly checking their phone. This is pretty much in the age bracket of teen to late 20s (maybe early 30s).

not at all; people are less inclined to talk to me now, and that is just fine with me.

The exception, of course, is at the cost of good manners. Don't answer your phone when you're already talking to someone, don't get on your phone when you're eating at the table or in a more formal social setting (Christmas with relatives, etc), don't spend time on the phone when you're around old relatives, and so forth. Just use a little common sense, courtesy, and respect is all.

I do worry about the need for some people, specifically whatever generation makes up these late teens to late-20s right now, to be on their phones at all times. Like, they really can't just space out or daydream or wait patiently? You know, live in their head for an hour or two?

Hell, I am 32 years old (not old); you know what my friend and I did when we waited for our mom to pick us up from the movie theater when we were kids? We'd sit on the sidewalk and throw pebbles and a manhole cover to see who could get closest to the middle. Now THAT'S how you kill time, sonny boy! If we were kids these days, we wouldn't know how to kill time like that or compete with eachother because we'd just sit next to each other and use our phones.

Yes. I hate repeating myself after realizing the person I'm talking to is staring at their phone and not listening to me at all.

Why should I care if someone is reading a newspaper or a phone while waiting for a train, bus or whatever? Either way they haven't got anything to do with me.

@Maroxad said:

I seriously suspect this whole issue is mostly exaggerated.

And when waiting for something, the only thing that changed was the device.

We'd have to go all the way back to a time before newspapers were around.

What do you care what other people do? All that changed is the device. Whether you read a physical newspaper like your grandparents or watch you phone, what's the big difference?

Yep, its over done. I can understand one wanting to keep up with news, friends, ect. But to be constantly glued and not enjoy other things around you, the beauty of the world is missed.

I'm reading this on my computer =)

I really noticed that in college. Which is when smartphones started becoming more commonplace for my age. People sat down, probably look around briefly. Then quickly retreated to their phones, usually to text others. And this was before social media really exploded. With hashtags and trending topics. Which also forced all newspaper and news outlets, to go digital to stay relevant.

And for me to be fair, I will say its even harder nowadays to not use your phone. As its multipurpose functions have only grown and improved. But losing the ability to talk and interact with the person in front of you. Can be very socially damaging beyond shyness as one can imagine.

I'm going to miss the days when the president isn't a racist buffoon with bad combover.

@jak42: I said it to annoy the OP he sounds like a real life member berry.

Remember chubacca ?

@thehig1: Oh I caught on to that. Just was having a little fun too.

I don't know who is chubacca. Haven't been on Gamespot that long.

@jak42: it's a south park reference

Worth a shot to see if anyone twigged onto it

@thehig1: Found it on YT. Pretty funny.

@jak42: I member

@skipper847:

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

In general, no. It can be annoying in certain situations like while in line at a store/restaurant, at the movies, in mid conversation or during coitus.

Oh and it doesn't effect me but when I see people at concerts with their phones out it blows my mind. They are so concerned with recording the experience that they miss the actual experience.

Like, Explosions in the Sky are on fucking stage, touching my soul with their ethereal sounds and you're worried about the focus of your video. WHAT ARE YOU DOING

@Jacanuk:

I have never had someone whip out the phone on a date with me either, but that would be unacceptable and I'm sure it happens to people because people can't stay off the frickin phone, you just don't disrespect someone who is treating you out....enjoy the moment or say you want to go home.