An actual conversation

When I worked as a waiter, I served countless tables of friends and families that ate silently while staring at their phones.

I suspect that it wasn’t the absence of a desire to connect with one another, it’s just that our apps are engineered to hold our attention for as long as possible.

It’s why some of us can scroll on our favorite social media app for nearly an hour without realizing it.

It’s that good.

All this is to say that it is somewhat concerning that our phones blend so well into everyday life that we can scarcely have a coffee or meal without gawking at them or being enticed by their feeds and noises.

Nowadays if someone slaps their phone face up on the table, you’re all but guaranteed to receive half their presence.

Alternatively, if they put their phone out of site and you do the same, not only has this become a sign of mutual respect for one another’s time and attention, but it’s also an indication that you’re both in for a treat:

An actual conversation.