People living their lives through Facebook/Mobiles etc

[Deleted User]

This is something that is starting to get on my wick, it didn't used to previously annoy me, but its becoming so common that I think people are forgetting to enjoy the moment or their own company.

I'm not sure if i'm wording this very well, but there are two things that I've noticed that seem to happen more and more.

1. People, including some friends seem to think its ok to just pick up and check their phone every time it bleeps, even if we are talking, eating, socialising etc. I was asking one friend for advice on an outfit and she was spending more time on her phone than looking at my wardrobe. I wanted to say something, but I felt I couldn't without causing offence. It happens so much this kind of thing that I think people have forgotten the fine lines between rude and etiquette.

2. People living their lives through facebook...oh look at what I'm having for breakfast, oh i missed my bus i'll just have to have a drink in costa, oh my other half is really annoying me tonight and more..... Now don't get me wrong Facebook has its advantages, but a lot of what people put is trivial, unnecessary and I think they are so busy thinking what they can put on FB that they are forgetting to live in the moment. Yes I know I don't have to read or I can scroll down, but when its people I know it catches my interest, until its too late.....

I have a smart phone, I have a facebook account, but I caught myself morphing into the above and now I actively try not to be that way. Some may think me a grumpy old wotsit, or not moving with the times, but I'm hoping some of you might understand where I am coming from.

When people say to me, oh you didn't reply to my text or did you see my post on FB, I find myself wanting to say, "No I was working, or enjoying the kids in the garden". I find this assumption that i'm available or online all the time to be intrusive.

Feel better for that.......:D

CH27

Deleted_User wrote: »

This is something that is starting to get on my wick, it didn't used to previously annoy me, but its becoming so common that I think people are forgetting to enjoy the moment or their own company.

I'm not sure if i'm wording this very well, but there are two things that I've noticed that seem to happen more and more.

1. People, including some friends seem to think its ok to just pick up and check their phone every time it bleeps, even if we are talking, eating, socialising etc. I was asking one friend for advice on an outfit and she was spending more time on her phone than looking at my wardrobe. I wanted to say something, but I felt I couldn't without causing offence. It happens so much this kind of thing that I think people have forgotten the fine lines between rude and etiquette.

2. People living their lives through facebook...oh look at what I'm having for breakfast, oh i missed my bus i'll just have to have a drink in costa, oh my other half is really annoying me tonight and more..... Now don't get me wrong Facebook has its advantages, but a lot of what people put is trivial, unnecessary and I think they are so busy thinking what they can put on FB that they are forgetting to live in the moment. Yes I know I don't have to read or I can scroll down, but when its people I know it catches my interest, until its too late.....

I have a smart phone, I have a facebook account, but I caught myself morphing into the above and now I actively try not to be that way. Some may think me a grumpy old wotsit, or not moving with the times, but I'm hoping some of you might understand where I am coming from.

When people say to me, oh you didn't reply to my text or did you see my post on FB, I find myself wanting to say, "No I was working, or enjoying the kids in the garden". I find this assumption that i'm available or online all the time to be intrusive.

Feel better for that.......:D

That drives me bonkers. It is so rude.
I don't have FB so can't comment on that aspect.

go_cat

It's great if you want to rob their houses though as you know exactly when they are not in

[Deleted User]

I know its as if people have forgotten how to behave.

Another one ispeople being overly familiar when texting/messaging/emailing. Why put a "X" when you don't even know me, we've only arranged for you to collect the "xyz" i'm selling.

[Deleted User]

Go-cat that is true. In fact that did happen to somebody I know, they posted all over FB they were away and surprise surprise.....

FB posts saying where people are and what they are doing today , whilst in action allows burglars time to go round. What a horrible shock to come home too! I try to post these things well after the event.

Sorry I do sound really grumpy today. Maybe its because I have nothing exciting to plaster all over FB.

trolleyrun

Some of my friends had this problem when going out for meals. Now they all put their phones on silent and stack them up in the middle of the table. First one to check their phone pays the bill. Works a treat

Mumof2_2

I know exactly where you're coming from so if you're a grumpy old wotsit then so am I! I think it's so rude when people are always checking their phones for Facebook and typing messages when you're eating your meal - my SILs family are awful for this. I like your idea Trolleyrun!

I did have a Facebook account but deactivated it - got fed up of messages like 'I'm going to bed' and 'Isn't it rainy today' etc! Got better things to do with my time.

daisiegg

Deleted_User wrote: »

Go-cat that is true. In fact that did happen to somebody I know, they posted all over FB they were away and surprise surprise.....

FB posts saying where people are and what they are doing today , whilst in action allows burglars time to go round. What a horrible shock to come home too! I try to post these things well after the event.

Sorry I do sound really grumpy today. Maybe its because I have nothing exciting to plaster all over FB.

I very much hope that my close friends and family that I have as Facebook friends are not planning to rob my house as soon as I post about being on holiday !

JIL

You are so right about FB. Spawn of the devil.

Last week my son told me of one of his friends who put on FB she was now 5cm dilated.

My sil who posts everything on FB will often tell her husband and the whole world how much she loves him on FB and he will be sitting in the same room as her. She had an operation some time ago and even gave an update of going down to theatre now, just out of the anaesthetic, just been to the loo after the pain killers etc. She even posts from the dance floor at parties.

People take photos of everything, and put it on FB. Can you imagine how much it would have cost in photo development costs if you photographed everything that gets photographed these days.

I am showing my age!!

daisiegg

JIL wrote: »

You are so right about FB. Spawn of the devil.

!

I hate it when people say things like this. Yes, like anything, some people misuse FB and some people are just idiots and will be idiotic no matter what the medium. But for me, my close friends and family, FB is fab. I very rarely post status updates (especially not of the 'just had my breakfast now ironing my jeans' variety) but use it to keep in touch with family spread far and wide, to easily arrange gatherings with friends (much more simple to have a group message to organise something than to keep track of texting everyone individually), to share and look at photos (and not just mundane everyday pics...why would I not want to see amazing pictures of my family's holidays in fantastic places?). My grandparents are in their late seventies and love FB. They found some old friends they have not seen in forty years on there; these friends now live abroad and they are able to exchange messages, send each other pictures of grandchildren etc, and generally keep in touch without ever having to pay for a transatlantic phone call (which my frugal grandparents would never do). They also love being able to look at what their grandchildren are up to, and my grandad sometimes phones me up saying 'why haven't you put anything on Facebook recently? We want something to look at!'

Anyway, I suppose what I am saying is, I completely disagree that FB is inherently bad. I do agree that some people are idiots with it, but luckily I am not FB friends with any of these people, and to be frank, they would be idiots with or without FB.

With regards to the OP, also agree it is so annoying when people are surgically attached to their phones. My husband is terrible for this - though he is inevitably checking work email or Bloomberg; he does not even have a FB account - and it drives me up the wall. I agree with much of what the OP says, but always find it annoying when people start going in about how terrible FB is ('spawn of the devil'? Really?) just because they happen to dislike the way some people (not all!) choose to use it.

Phew. Rant over!

Sethisis

You're not alone in thinking this. I'm getting pretty sick of spending evenings with friends just to have them staring at their phone the whole time. It's rude and makes me feel a little sad.

Also Facebook just seems to encourage vanity, so many selfies! And so many status updates from people on holiday! You're on holiday! Go and actually be on holiday instead of on facebook!