OH objects to my smartphone

Sandra - it's the opposite with us. I hate the things and he keeps insisting I need to use one. Why? We managed before.
OTOH I couldn't do without my 'puter.
Also I'm obsessed with with ww2 and he isn't.

Fennel - Sandra, change over

Im amazed at some of the reactions to this post. I get on very well with my H most of thectime but he too objects to me 'wasting time' on my ohone and I have to admit he does have a point. He doesnt have one and thinks Im addicted and to be honest I do spend a lot of time on it.
Admittedly it's a bit different if he is watching a film or reading a book and I do say Im not ignoring you any more than you are ignoring me which he concedes. But he thinks Im doing trivial things like playing games or using social media which he does not approve of!
However I wouldn't class it as grounds for divorce -just a minor disagreement!

grandtante has a point. OP said her phone was on silent. She didn't say she was on silent. Talking on a phone in the same room someone is watching a TV programme is rude so I hope that's not what was happening. If it was happening then I don't blame the OH for what he said at all.

Perhaps the OP will clear that up for us.

Go to another room when using the phone.

My dh bought me an iPad for my 70th he moans that I am always on it. I am not I give myself certain times in the day to go in and catch up with things and yes he does ask me too to look up things.
He likes to look on Rightmove. ?

Offer to make an appointment for him to attend your local library for a two-hour session with a Computer Buddy.

He then may not have a fear of computers so you and he can share the value of being connected.

He isn't a needy child what a selfish attitude to have you should be able to please yourself how you spend your time in the evening it sounds like he does

Give your husband your current phone and buy yourself a new one. It worked a treat except now he is on his phone more than I am on mine!

Some people have just decided to take an attitude about mobile phones. I find the same applies to credit cards. I pay mine off every month, which makes it pretty much like a debit card and obviously I therefore pay no interest and accumulate no debt. But every year I can afford to buy something large like a new TV from the points I have accumulated from using it!! I use it for every tiny purchase including food.

If DH doesn't like smart phones, he may accept a more basic mobile phone that can only do phone calls, with no smartphone features. These are still available, presumably for people who are technophobic.

Ask him to right down a list of rules and regulations for you, tongue in cheek of course ! What makes some men think they can dictate what their wives do ?

I love my smartphone I love Youtube, I love Facebook. One or two friends comment that "Facebook is a waste of time". I SO disagree it has enriched my life in so many ways. BUT I personally never watch TV except the news. I consider TV a waste of MY time so we are all different.

I love my smartphone, I love Youtube and especially I LOVE Facebook. Some friends declare "Facebook is a waste of time" but it has enriched my life in so many ways so I disagree. BUT I never watch TV except for the news, I consider that to be a waste of MY time.

I can't possibly conceive of any situation where not having a mobile phone when out and about disadvantages you, in a difficult situation.
Get a life. Rely on brain power and the power of speech. Gordon Bennett!

Gabriella, I can't conceive of a situation where having one disadvantages you. Or did you actually mean to say that in the first place and typed to many "not"s?

Baggs

Texting? Whatsapp.

I typed 1 x 'not' and meant to type 1 x 'not'.

Exactly Coconut !

Mine blames my iPad for us not talking as much as we used to whilst conveniently forgetting his newspaper addiction (1 or 2 papers cover to cover a day) and overlooking the fact that the TV MUST go on for the news so he can sleep through it!!

I think the problem is that if you are watching a film together, even if one person hates it, there can be the illusion that it is a shared activity, it is companionable, you can refer to it afterwards and comment on something in it and the other person will agree/disagree whatever. This still works if you knit or sew, but if one person is reading a book or using a device, you can no longer hold on to that feeling

What does DH do if you watch a chick flick? Even if you don’t like them, try insisting on alternate choices and make sure you sometimes choose something he hates. Does he read a book, leave the room or fall asleep? You could offer him you phone to play with! Once you’ve made the point you can stop watching the rubbish and have a serious conversation about the situation.
I must admit that when I visit/am visited by family, I do not feel any companionship with them if they are on a device whereas if I watch tv it feels one step closer to being with them.

Tell him to take a running jump ... and while we’re on standing up for ourselves - does he criticise anything else you do? You may need to reappraise your entire relationship - the reason why he doesn’t want you to have a smartphone don’t like is he can’t see what you’re up to - he can’t control you so is seekings to deny you the means of communication with others - look beyond this one example and consider his behaviour in total

Gabriella I was counting the not in "can't" which is actually can not. Ie so many combined and counteracting negatives, so that your meaning was not entirely clear.

DH used to complain I was often on my laptop but I would be checking emails, doing paid surveys, facebook or researching family tree. Luckily we had a kitchen/diner where we would sit with tv on or a separate lounge where DH would go to watch "his" programmes. Difficulty is when you only have one lounge, why should OP go into another room if the tv is in the only room with comfortable chairs.

DH could only cope with a basic mobile phone, he could make & answer calls, just about manage to open a text message not send one. Last phone I bought was not long before he died 5 years ago but I believe ASDA were selling basic phones last year for £5.

Is he jealous because you are enjoying what you are looking at more than he is enjoying his film? Is he jealous because he can’t join in with what you are doing whereas you could easily watch the film that he is looking at? Maybe jealous is the wrong word here, maybe resentful would be more apt.

Very good points made by Starbird!

The only way I feel closer to visiting family/friends when they're using phones/tablets is when they want to share something they've seen with me.

I wouldn't be without WhatsApp and Messenger though, they keep me in touch with our AC but I sometimes forget that DH (a technophobe who only has an old Nokia brick!) doesn't know about things discussed on the group chat.