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My geezer is showing . . .

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Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 5:28 pm | Updated: 9:46 am, Wed Sep 22, 2010.

Went to the Grape Festival on Friday night. (For the readers outside Lodi, it's a festival, not unlike a county fair, that celebrates grapes.) We saw Led Zepplica and I'm here to tell you . . . they were AMAZINGLY . . . adequate. Sorry guys, it didn't work for me. When songs have been played the same way for 40 years, don't mess with the mix. Anyway - it was a good night. Good fair food, good wine, everything was good.

Except - now here's where my geezertude starts showing.We were standing in the Midway, which was being what a Midway should be: Happy, busy, crowded, bright and shiny. The Midway is typically for younger people. People who enjoy (and fit into) the rides and like playing the games. I love the energy. We got some good fair-food and stood to the side of the taco truck to eat it. And I'm sure I'm not the only person to comment on this in the past few years - but it's been on my mind.

Lots of kids were there with their friends. Many of them adolescents who probably got a rare night out with their friends, and among most (not just many, but most) groups of 4 or more - half of them were on cell phones texting or talking to someone else.

I know this is not bound to change. I know that our society is headed in the direction of being totally hooked-up all the time forever and ever amen. But if you're out with your friends, what's wrong with them that you have to disconnect from them and talk to somebody who isn't there? Hook up with somebody-who-isn't-there another time!

I've seen it for years. Two people walking down the street in a social way (as in - not in business suits going to a meeting, but casually - shopping or going to the movies) and one of them is carrying on a completely different conversation on their phone while the 'friend' is all alone.

This makes me sad. When did this become okay?

I know I'm showing my age here. But most people who I hang around with would not think of doing that. It's considered rude. Sometimes the phone rings and they might check to see who called and put it away. Or answer it if it's an emergency, I get that.

I just wonder when it became socially acceptable to completely ignore the person/people you're with and hang out with somebody else on the phone.

The rules of polite society are changing. I'm not okay with this, but I think I'd better get used to it.

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6 comments:

  • Mike Govette posted at 10:49 am on Fri, Sep 24, 2010.

    Mike Govette Posts: 25

    I like the idea of politeness making a comeback. What about random acts of politeness??

     
  • Brandi Poole posted at 1:37 pm on Thu, Sep 23, 2010.

    Brandi Poole Posts: 79

    I was at a restaurant once and there were two teen age girls at the next table. They were laughing and commenting to each other, which is fine, but after watching and listening for awhile I realized that they were texting each other! They could utter sounds and words about each other's texts, but having the actual conversation with each other was apparently beyond them.

    So, I tossed a piece of squid at them.

     
  • Jim Anger posted at 3:53 pm on Wed, Sep 22, 2010.

    Jim Anger Posts: 89

    Let me finish this cell call then I'll comment....
    "OK, uh-huh...DUDE! Like...uh...he's all...and they're all...DUDE!...uh-huh! NO way!.. WAY! Like...fer reals...uh-huh! DUDE!...Later!"
    There! That's better (it was kinda important). Now about my commnent. I've experienced this same cavalier, inconsiderate attitude with young people, as you have Drools... It affects every aspect of my life: Home life, work life, recreation, hanging out with religious wanna be's at slaughterhouses, in soup lines, walking the freeway, while growing herbs....Literally EVERY aspect (of my life). I've come to the conclusion - and now live by these sage beliefs: "Young people are all stoopit as bags of hammers and have the manners (and upbringing) of Neanderthals on a 3 day high! Consider this philosophy the next time you come across a similar situation and I'm sure you feel better....after you pitch beer bottles at them and flip a few of 'em off! (lil' punks!!!)

     
  • posted at 3:23 pm on Wed, Sep 22, 2010.

    Posts:

    You can "get used to it" with the general public but as its pertains to your friends, family and kids...no dice. Call them on it. My boys used to walk thru the door on their phones. I tell them "Hang it up or I'm not feeding or watering you.

    Rudeness is epidemic. I think we need to call people on rude behavior. How about if being polite makes a come back?

     
  • Marc Lutz posted at 1:04 pm on Wed, Sep 22, 2010.

    Marc Lutz Posts: 31 Staff

    I know what you mean. Just the other day I — ooh, goodie! I got a text! BRB.

     
  • Mike Govette posted at 11:33 am on Wed, Sep 22, 2010.

    Mike Govette Posts: 25

    I never understood the cell phone "need" either. If a person can't walk around a mall for 20 minutes without interfacing with friends, maybe they should have asked these ultra-important people to come with them. Otherwise, use the cell for emergencies. When did people become so dependent on these electronic pacifiers??

     
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