Thubbing - are you guilty?

I love my smartphone and find it very useful. It is my phone, diary, newspaper, dictionary, crossword, telephone, laptop, calculator, loyalty card, tv guide, radio, cd player, weatherman, camera, library, A-Z, notepad, torch, train & bus timetable, encyclopaedia and much more.
My life and my handbag are so much less cluttered
But I make sure that all but the essential notifications are turned off and have even set it up to tell people I'll call them back so that I do not turn into a "phubber"
I find it has freed me up like never before. No more waiting in for an important call. Never miss a TV programme because I can set remote recordings..my PVR is a godsend too! Never be the last to find out an important news story. Always able to locate a wandering husband.....the possibilities are endless.
Only yesterday DD1 and I were discussing the fact that my 2 year old GS would never know a world without this technology...

To add to my own thread and so I'm not branded as some sort of luddite :- I embrace new technology, I have used a personal computer for years and have had a mobile phone for at least 12 years. However, it has killed the art of conversation and spelling, it should be used wisely and not loudly when sitting say on a bus. It should be in your pocket/handbag unless you are needed in an emergency. Why people have phones and then have them turned off. Why? Might as well not bother and just used your normal landline.

I would have said I'd beat you to the record, tiggy, but I'm off on a bit of solo travelling in a few weeks, for a month, where I might need to rack-up a hefty bill if things don't go according to plan!

Ditto Butty (except my technology speed is pretty slow) My DD insisted I got a phone 7 years ago because I was hacking out on my own - but nothing new in that. I have pay as you go and so far in more than 7 years have spent about 15 pounds. Is this a record?

I'm fairly up to speed with technology, and own a basic mobile, but have no connection where I live. Consequently, I rarely take it out with me because I forget that I might go to an area where there is a connection. I simply don't see it as a part of my life.

Absent having a mobile doesn't make you accessible every minute of every day.
DD2 has a mobile, but it is usually lost, switched off, run out of charge, or she simply chooses not to answer it. She is rarely accessible, but finds her mobile useful for summoning assistance in her various crises.
They can be jolly handy too when someone finds they have inadvertently got on the wrong train
Ariadne Quite agree about the elderly luddites!

My (soon to be ex) SIL 3 is the worst I have ever encountered at this. It is really aggravating and has contributed to the breakdown of the marriage. He is always texting or speaking on the phone but can't be bothered communicating with DD. When she complains, it is all her fault! She is doing his head in. Pah!

I am au fait with technology but I don't want to be accessible every minute of every day so I don't have a mobile phone. I also dislike their little keypads. Mr absent has one and that does for both of us.

I just don't want to be the sort of older person who thinks it clever not acknowledge the advantages of modern technology - I meet so many who smugly say they don't really know how to turn the computer on, they don't understand this or that - and they disapprove of Facebook even if they have no idea what it's about and have never looked at it. (OK, so that's another issue, and just used for illustration)

Most of us on GN are au fait with technology to various extents, otherwise we wouldn't be doing this, of course. And we are intelligent enough to use it to our own advantages, I hope.

I suppose it's to do with not getting stuck in a rut. "Choose your rut carefully, you may be in it for a long time."

Policy at work was not to access phone except at break times..I have kept that up unless I am out and about rendevous-ing with people, someone is ill or expecting a baby to arrive!

I don't think there is any great virtue in switching your phone of etc. the virtue is to use it appropriately and effectively. Adapting to the times is essential.

Only have my mobile sound on if expecting a call. Otherwise I check it at set times and most people I know well are aware of this. Never have mobile out when eating! How rude!!

Mostly I'm not guilty.... only occasionally! But I know a couple of people, -no names!- who definitely are and it's darned annoying after a while.

We were recently having a lovely meal in a very nice hotel and noticed the couple at the next table had their iPhones placed opposite each other. Every so often throughout the meal they checked and responded to messages. I couldn't believe they could spoil a lovely dinner like that. Instead of looking into each others eyes they constantly scanned their phones. What a world!

The height of bad manners and I can't believe the chap concerned was surprised at the outcome.I never have my mobile switched on now I am not that important that people need to get in touch every few minutes,if they want me they know where I live.

According to BBC breakfast the word is phubbing.
DD is guilty of this. I don't think I am. I certainly don't use mine at meal times, and tend to have it on silent when with friends.

Certainly bad manners. I have a rule that no 'phones are allowed at the meal table , at home or in resturants. Of course mobiles can be very usefull but much of the time they are a great intrusion.

It shows complete and utter bad manners! I love my phone, iPod, iPad etc, but hope I know when to put them away. She is well rid of him.

Australia ? anyway there has been a campaign imported from there to try and stamp it out.

Thrubbing is a wee bit rude really !!!

Who came up with the word, Thubbing??

No I am not. Like sunseeker, I regularly forget about mine and miss messages - sometimes the battery's run out altogether...

Or drowned it in his wine, liz? Like your style!

I always have my mobile phone on me but very rarely check it and on several occasions have arrived home and when taking the phone out of my bag notice I have several missed calls or messages.

We have had a number of family crises recently so I have become guilty of 'thrubbing' recently although I hate it. I think I should have thrown his mobile 'phone into his Pavlova Dorsetpennt

Not me either. My sister and DD complain I don't look at my phone enough.
I hope the woman really told her colleague/date exactly where he went wrong! It sounds as if he is too full of his own importance.