I Hate Smartphones

I agree it's not good to waste time with friends and family on your smartphone. But let's also look at the benefits of having one in this situation:

* Helping additional people find your current location * Showing pictures * Taking pictures * Checking a map * (Sparingly) looking up mutually relevant facts * Getting info on family emergencies

And not to mention all the time waiting in lines all week. Sure when walking around enjoy the scenery, but when you're waiting in line by yourself at the same place every week maybe it's okay to enjoy your smartphone.

If you have friends and family that use their smartphone in front of you, politely ask them what's wrong and if they need to excuse themselves to a more private location. Even for texting more than a few minutes, one should have at least the courtesy to leave the table and step into a hallway.

There are restaurants (e.g., the University Club in Orlando) where if anyone answers their phone they pay the bill for everyone in the restaurant. The rule is rarely "enforced," of course, but people generally follow it and meals there are a palpably different experience. :)

The phones in the middle of the table works well, but isn't that something you do to children to get them to behave? If you're so attached to your phone that you can't just choose not to use it, this idea is pointless.

So use a feature phone. They still make them by the billions.

ALSO GET OFF MY LAWN YOU DAMN KIDS