4 ms·
I'm fascinated by the concept of "phubbing" as a new and negative phenomenon. People would previously read/scan the newspaper in most situations that people scr
by Kerrick 4y ago
I'm fascinated by the concept of "phubbing" as a new and negative phenomenon. People would previously read/scan the newspaper in most situations that people scroll on their phone today: at the table, on public transit, and in casual group settings. But, importantly, it was considered a highly interruptible task.
If you were in a group setting but nobody was talking, somebody would probably start to look for interesting things in the paper to prompt discussion (as one might today on a phone). Rarely did anybody take that to mean they shouldn't talk to the person. If something more interesting or urgent came up, or even if somebody just felt like talking about a new topic, they'd just... bring it up. They'd have no qualms about interrupting the newspaper-holder, who also took no offense to being interrupted.
- JohnFen 4y ago> Rarely did anybody take that to mean they shouldn't talk to the person. I've always taken that sort of thing as a social cue that the person doesn't want social interaction.
- renewiltord 4y agoInteresting. People on BART ten years ago would read over my shoulder or borrow a section. Or talk to me about the book I'm reading. I like holding books up at eye level rather than looking down at them in my lap just for neck strain. That makes the cover more visible for sure, but I don't think it's a significant factor in the interrupting. Just in the noticing. I never minded.
- JohnFen 4y agoHow strange. I wonder if this is a SF thing? Or a recent development (10 years ago counts as "recent" to me)? In my part of the country, anyway, that sort of behavior has always been considered extremely rude (or at least over my entire lifetime). I wouldn't even consider doing it, and the few times it happened to me, it was exceedingly irritating.
- renewiltord 4y agoFascinating. I've only been in the Bay Area for 10 years or so, but I recall this would very rarely happen to me on East Midlands trains before that. Certainly never on the Tube. But I've also changed in that time and it is possible some aspect of my demeanour invites this. All for the best, I suppose, that people treat us both as we wish to be treated.
- dw_arthur 4y agoI can't recall anyone ever bringing a newspaper to a dinner table. I know what you're talking about but that was when you were informally hanging out and popping in and out of the room. The TV served the same purpose at times.
- InfiniteRand 4y agoFrom my experience, I used to always have a stack of newspapers on the dining table as a kid (in the 90's). We'd clear it off for dinner, but for breakfast or lunch I would read the comics section as I ate.