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#Post#: 75192--------------------------------------------------
Cellphone rules in restaurants
By: Contrarian Date: April 29, 2022, 1:17 pm
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I’m taking my first mini-break in years. I’m staying at a posh
hotel that has six restaurants. Most of the time I’ll be eating
at the pub.
However my stay includes a 3 course meal in the “fanciest”
restaurant which comes with the instruction, “please abstain
from use of your cell phone, relax and enjoy the evening”.
This is fair. Except, I will be making the trip alone. I almost
always dine out alone. I never talk on my cell phone. The music
is loud, plus, I’m eating. And yes, I can bring a hard copy
book.
But, it’s often much easier to read on my phone. Plus, I can be
a bit moody. I may tire of the book I’m trying to read amongst
the noise of the dinners and the music. I certainly don’t want
to sit back and watch the other diners. Although, I will glance
occasionally.
And I like browsing shops, vacations I can’t take, movie
reviews, things you used to be able to do with a hard copy
newspaper. But without the nuisance of a two foot long folded
paper to unravel, while I’m dining alone.
I promise I will not voice my lament to the staff. I will arrive
with a big purse with two books to choose from, and a pad a pen
should I chose to do some writing.
But, I would love to hear your opinions about this.
We can all agree that someone chatting on a cell phone may be
more distracting than chatting with someone right in front of
you. Because volume and technical difficulties make it so.
But with that being agreed, is a solitary diner, reading or
typing on their cellphone or tablet really going to disturb
others? She asks while typing this out dining alone in a
restaurant as Amy Winehouse sings “Oh why?”
PS, one can argue that outlawing the phones completely means
less work for the staff and less disruption for the other
patrons when the rule breakers are present. My defence is this
doesn’t work in theatres and very few people will actually leave
their phone at home. I only reached this restaurant with the
help of google maps.
#Post#: 75193--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cellphone rules in restaurants
By: random numbers Date: April 29, 2022, 1:30 pm
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Maybe I'm ornery or something, but in those circumstances, I
would still be using my phone or tablet, but (here's the
difference) as a book or guidebook. Reading, silent browsing,
the like. If the noise level and my behavior is the same as a
newspaper or book, what difference does the medium/device make?
If no one can tell if it's a tablet or a book without looking
closely, does it matter?
#Post#: 75195--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cellphone rules in restaurants
By: Rose Red Date: April 29, 2022, 1:35 pm
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I don't know what's the difference between reading on your phone
and reading a book/magazine/newspaper.
I would take it as "polite" wording to say no loud talking or
videos to disturb the other patrons. Go ahead and be on your
phone. I bet nobody will say anything as long as you're quiet.
eta: but bring a book or magazine just in case. I prefer
magazines with interesting articles to pick and choose or a book
of short stories. Reader's Digest is compact.
#Post#: 75196--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cellphone rules in restaurants
By: Contrarian Date: April 29, 2022, 2:14 pm
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Thank you randomnumbers and red rose. I tend to be a rule
follower. And I think I may take it to far sometimes as anyone
who has walked with me and wonders why I’m just standing there
when there are no cars at an intersection.
Short stories? Yes! I thought the P.G. Woodhouse would be
especially suitable! Of course, I have three of the series on my
phone and will have to check if I have a hard copy.
A magazine is a great idea. They were my guilty pleasure at
salons, when I regularly went for a haircut. It’s strange, isn’t
it? The small things that Covid has changed. I should fill my
suitcase with Hello magazine! It’s a great idea! I’m on a break
after all. A much, much needed one.
#Post#: 75198--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cellphone rules in restaurants
By: lakey Date: April 29, 2022, 5:02 pm
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I wonder if this restaurant's cell phone rule has to do with the
abience they are trying to project. I had a coworker whose
daughter worked in a very high end restaurant in my area. They
had all kinds of rules for their servers. The servers' shirts
and slacks had to be laundered and pressed by the hotel that the
restaurant was part of. They had to wear a particular kind of
shoes, and they had to be polished. Anyway, restaurants like
this are concerned about image. I feel for you, because I too
often eat in restaurants alone and I take my ipad, so that I can
read, or whatever. I'm not sure what I'd do in your situation.
#Post#: 75199--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cellphone rules in restaurants
By: Bada Date: April 29, 2022, 5:05 pm
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I've heard that some diners make the staff crazy by taking 10000
pictures of their meal for Instagram, then complaining their
food is cold. Could this rule be about more than loudness?
#Post#: 75201--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cellphone rules in restaurants
By: Winterlight Date: April 29, 2022, 6:56 pm
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My guess is that they don't want people watching videos with the
sound cranked and no earphones, or loudly telling the entire
restaurant about their horrible date/upset digestive
tract/falling into a mud pit as they obliviously chat. I don't
blame them. I'd take a book just in case, but if you're just
reading on it, that should be OK.
#Post#: 75203--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cellphone rules in restaurants
By: DaDancingPsych Date: April 30, 2022, 9:32 am
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I have to agree with others that I don't think that they are
trying to remove your sort of behavior. I would quietly read
from my phone and see if the server says anything. And as others
mentioned, I would have a back-up plan. I like to sit alone and
think, but that's not for everyone.
#Post#: 75206--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cellphone rules in restaurants
By: jpcher Date: April 30, 2022, 1:13 pm
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[quote author=Bada link=topic=2338.msg75199#msg75199
date=1651269951]
I've heard that some diners make the staff crazy by taking 10000
pictures of their meal for Instagram, then complaining their
food is cold. Could this rule be about more than loudness?
[/quote]
This is an interesting point. Not just taking pictures of the
food but other patrons as well. A high-end restaurant might have
famous people as their clientele.
With that thought in mind I think I would keep my phone tucked
away. I'd hate to be that person where the waitstaff has to
remind me of their cell phone policy, no matter how polite I am
about the phone's usage.
#Post#: 75207--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cellphone rules in restaurants
By: Wanaca Date: April 30, 2022, 2:49 pm
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I'm a rule-follower, so I'd go by the rules. So many people
think that rules don't apply to them, so I figure that somebody
has to follow them. That somebody is me. It wouldn't bother
me if other people didn't go by the rule unless it interfered
with my experience. Then again, I'm also not dependent on my
cell phone to enjoy myself, even when I'm alone. I don't even
think about it. I guess I'm weird like that.
This may sound odd, but if I really wanted to use my phone, I'd
probably ask first.
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