system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: It is unacceptable for children to be playing games on a mobile device at the dinner table or at a restaurant.

I want to preface this by saying I am not that old (17) myself and I don’t have children. When I was young I was never allowed to play games on my DS or on another mobile device at the table. I I was allowed to game at pretty much every other moment than the diner table. Actually, most my friends weren’t allowed either so I think its mostly a problem for the younger gen Z (maybe the ones born in the 2010s or slightly before? I have no idea). 

I’ve been noticing for about 5-7 years now that whenever I go to a restaurant, I always see children playing games on a mobile device. It’s mostly while they’re waiting for the food, but also when they’re finished eating or even DURING the meal. 

I know that different families have different values but most people seem to agree that an adult shouldn’t be on their phone when they’re in the company of others, and children need to be taught this. I know that children need to be entertained and that waiting for food at a restaurant can be long, but there are other ways to entertain a child than giving them an iPad or your own mobile phone. (This is slightly unrelated  and subjective but I always cringe at parents who allow their children to play on their cellphone because they’re throwing a tantrum if the parent doesn’t give them their phone. Children also need to learn that a phone is a personal item and their parents don’t have to lend it to them.)

I’ve also seen multiple similar examples at family dinners with the younger children who should be playing together or talking together and not being isolated on their iPads. 

In my opinion you need to teach your children that when you go visit family that you don’t see very often, they have to be in the present, especially when there are their children their age about. 

Also I get that perhaps there are situations where you’d rather your children stay quiet and focused on something. For example if you need to have a serious conversation with another adult and your children are demanding your attention constantly, then I would get it. But that’s not the same as just allowing your child to be in their own bubble playing a game while they’re in the company of others. You’re doing a disservice to your child be teaching them that that’s okay.

However, since this seems to be so common, maybe there’s a facet of this that I’m missing? Clearly if so many parents are allowing this there has to be a reason. 

CMV :)
gpt
Honestly, if its not loud, distractive or noisy/disruptive. why the fuck does it matter what a child that isnt yours does at another table? If its loud, then yeah, NOT ACCEPTABLE but if they arent bothering anybody, then no harm done. Also if it is YOUR child and you dont like it, punish THEM for it because you can. Unlike that random ass child youve never seen and never will again playing games two tables over that you cant hear. focus on yourself.