My disclaimer: I am not one to be overly reliant on instant communication - its over-rated if you ask me. With that in mind, I find it all very unsettling when guys need to check their phone everytime there is a break in life. You know what it reminds me of - how folks used to light up whenever a pause in life happened. To me its a bit different if one receives a call, but even then most of the calls received by most people are in no way special and one could have easily taken a message and called back. Indeed, many times in business an answer to a query can't be given until checks are made anyway. However, to pick up a phone and make a call or be checking for messages when in a social situation is the height of rudeness. Imagine if someone pulled out a book and started to read it during a meal, conversation or a game of golf? Its no different so far as I am concerned. Yet, we see this all the time. I think its all part of a new way of thinking that privacy is not important anymore. People will talk about all sorts of stuff on the phone in front of others. People will post all sorts of private stuff on social sites. I know I am in the minority on this issue, but as mentioned before, I can see reduction of connectivity between people in a room. It used to be a tv which was the culprit, now its the tv and hand held devices - a double layer of mostly white noise. The ease of communication is fantastic, but there has to be a certain amount of social grace which should be adhered to. I find that standard of grace to be lowering with each passing year.
Ciao