One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Use Your Cellphone While Dining Out? 67% of Your Fellow Diners Think You're Rude
Photo by Lucyrk in LA via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
Can't part with your cellphone while having a meal in a restaurant? Using cellphones for conversation, texting, or engaging in social media while at the table has become what Zagat co-founder Tim Zagat calls "part of the changing culture of restaurants," according to CBS. The most recent survey of Zagat diners indicates that 67% of Angelenos think that "texting, checking e-mail or talking on the phone is rude and inappropriate in a restaurant." Comparatively, of those participating in the annual survey, which results in the Zagat Guide, 64% of New York City diners and 63% of San Francisco diners find the phone-at-the-table use annoying, too.
While using cellphones while dining out can annoy your table-mates or those around you, few businesses prohibit their use, or intervene when a customer's use is disturbing, unless, points out Tim Zagat, "you’re shouting while you’re on the phone."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
