I do wonder though...
If one had gone to a similar location 30 years ago, is it likely one would have seen a few people reading a book or magazine, one or two others going through a day-planner organizing their week, a few writing letters or making lists....
I remember an argument I got into with my aunt a few years ago during a family visit. Every time she had the opportunity she would tsk tsk and squawk "there he goes again, playing with his phone, these kids today and their phones...blah blah blah" She just flat out refused to accept that I "wasn't playing and addicted to my phone" but using it as a tool which replaces several other objects. The night before, I was reading a book on my Kindle app. then that day, dad mentioned he needed a new blade for his mower, so I added something to my shopping list in my notepad app. Then mom wanted to know what time a show was on NPR, so I looked that up on their site, and then wanted the number to a place we were eating to make reservations, so I looked that up too. I suppose had I taken out a scrap of paper and wrote "mower blade" on it and stuck it in my wallet, then gone to the hall closet and gotten out the phone book and told mom the phone number, and then called the local radio station and asked for their time schedule, that wouldn't have counted as "playing."
However I digress I do find it distressing when I go out with friends and they either play with their phones the whole time (often making plans for whatever is after our outing) or texting others during what I consider "our time." Usually when I notice this I make a point to say "oh, it's phone time" and will pick mine up and start facebooking too, and will make a point to be the last one "done."
