Further to my blog on the lost art of conversation (February 1^st, 2013) I thought I would share a nice illustration of my point about the worldwide obsession with mobile phones. Still on my US travels, I was in a restaurant the other day, well in fairness it was more like a cafe, when I could not but help observe the behaviour of a couple sat at a nearby table. They were  young to middle aged and both, as soon as they sat down, took out their smart phones and began pressing away as though their lives depended on it.

The attentions of the waiter seemed almost an intrusion as they quickly glanced at the menu and made their order whilst avoiding all eye contact, so focused were they on their screens. Their starter arrived and I detected a little mumbled conversation in between their hurried mouthfuls, though not for one moment did either one of them release the grip on their gateways to cyberspace.

Eventually, they were joined by three teenagers, presumably their children, who promptly (yes, you’ve guessed it!) took out their smart phones and began tapping away at that infuriating speed  that us older folk can only look upon with wonder and envy.

It was all building up to a glorious finale and when the father of the family suddenly took out another smart phone and simultaneously began operating one smart phone in each hand I felt like rising to my feet in loud applause cheering Bravo! I wish I could have taken a photograph but unfortunately, I’d left my own smart phone back at the hotel! What a dinosaur I am!