by Justine Doherty
Social media getting you down? Is your partner spending more time on Facebook than on you?
While we can't offer any solutions, you can take comfort in the fact you're not alone.
A publicity release for a cafe chain has released statistics about technology use and manners this week.
The report commissioned by The Coffee Club looked at whether the devices designed to connect us instantly are in fact, diminishing the quality of our relationships.
It said NSW residents were the most guilty of interrupting time with family and friends to take a picture of their food/drink to upload to social media.
I don’t know about you, but the NOM NOM NOM posts on Facebook are highlights of my news feed and I never tire of seeing what people had for dinner or brekky. Especially if it was particularly unusual or in a fabulous or weird setting or looked like something that came out the back end of their pet.
My partner and I evolved the idea further by putting up a picture of our big seafood platter dish from the Balkan restaurant just off Taylor Square at Darlinghurst.
But it wasn’t while it was groaning with seafood - it was after, when we’d left only an oily film and some squashed lemon. We then continued this theme over the weeks, which was briefly taken up by others.
It was the ultimate Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah of one-upmanship - we weren’t even giving viewers the delight of the sight, just the aftermath as we burped with satisfaction.
I don’t see uploading food pics as rude as it’s usually celebrating in a public way the meal you’re about to have with your dining partner.
It’s when they sit there scrolling through their news feed that it’s rude. Very rude. Especially if it’s just the two of you.
The survey also said NSW had the highest number of people who believed that phones and internet were reasonable replacements for face-to-face time in relationships. Welcome to the age of the Jetsons.
It also said 1 in 3 Aussies acknowledge that it could be anywhere between a month and a year before they would catch up with their friends in person. That pretty much describes hermit me. Doesn’t mean I don’t love ’em though.
BTW, pictured above is my lunch from last Thursday.
