Having Your Phone Face Up on the Table Is Bad Manners

The holiday season is here, and I’m planning to meet up with lots of friends and family. My smartphone is a great tool for arranging hangouts and staying connected. But sometimes, it cuts me off from the people who are right in front of me. 

There are occasions when I’m having dinner with friends, only for the conversation to pause or stop entirely as everyone picks up their phones to check their notifications. This kind of subtle disconnect, often called “phubbing,” happens more than we…