Stone Soup by Jan Eliot for November 16, 2009

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

If you can’t be in a joint, beat it.

Actually, I think it’s sad how antisocial we’ve become (well, other than gocomics ;-)). I think it contributes to our lack of respect for each other. I’m dreading the day when my kids ask for their first iPod.

At least they eat as a family some don’t. Sometimes family don’t want to talk want to fill their stomaches.

ITA kab2rb! Cute thing though, my 15 yr old answered the phone during dinner and this was after our daughter asked if we could eat as a family tonight since it had been a while. He answers the phone and like the southern he’s become he says, “Yes they are here but we’re eating” Previously, we would have had the phone shoved in our faces no matter WHAT we were doing! LoL!

I think a family should eat together and not be allowed to bring the ipod, cell phone, or texting doohicky to the table. It only takes about 15-20 minutes to eat!

Why would people use dinner time to talk? You should not talk while eating. It’s rude, unsafe and bad manners to boot. Also, I think I would have left the table with my plate if this was me.

That’s just as pathetic as people who are supposedly spending QUALITY & a bit of quantity time together @ a restaurant & almost every1 @ the table is “yacking’ on their cell phones. Technology is for our use not abuse &not to give us an excuse to be inconsiderate. 2 of my Drs. have banned cell phone use in their offices because patients will be “yacking” on their cell phones, hold up their hand & tell them to wait when they’re talking to their girlfriends or whoever about NOTHING important whatsoever.

Why is it you ask someone you want to talk to out to lunch where you busy the only o-r-i-f-i-c-e you’re interested in?

What a sad family meal…

Ever try to chew crunchy food while wearing earphones? About all you can hear is the sound of crunching!

In my family, we were (and still are) such voracious readers that we all read at the table. I would bring my current book to school, and read during lunch, rather than talk to my friends. I was a lone wolf, anyway, so it really didn’t make much of a difference. This habit became so ingrained that it was almost impossible for me TO eat unless I was reading; this made dating difficult, as you might imagine. Eventually I broke the habit (it took some time and effort) but it’s still satisfying to munch and read now and then.

haha I read at the table at lunch, but dinner’s absolutely gimmick/bookfree. Actually we’ve never had the texting/ipod problem at dinner, sometimes my 13yr old and the 9yr old will grumble at being called away from the TV though. The 17yr old just comes to the table - provided she’s home, not at a rehearsal or something.

Agree with Burgundy2, it’s not unsafe to chat while eating.