I worry that our phone device obsession is corroding common courtesy in addition to all its other known problems.

I’m very fortunate that our gym has an excellent steam room.  I enjoy heat after working out.  In fact, sometimes the after workout steam is what gives me a final push of motivation to go, even when I don’t really feel like it.

That was yesterday—I didn’t want to go, but pushed through.

I get in the steam room with considerable relief.

90 seconds later, this guy comes in with his phone on speaker listening to the news.

I asked him, in my best exasperated-but-trying-really-hard-to-sound-pleasant-and-neutral voice, if it’s the news on his phone. 

He goes: ‘Can you hear it?’

I tell him, yes, I can hear it, without belaboring that it’s a 100 SF (10 sq m) room, made of TILE, so yes, I can hear it.  And he turns it off, which was nice.  

What bothers me about this isn’t just this one guy being rude, it’s his casual attitude that it’s ok just blaring a phone anywhere, because he can, especially in a place that’s supposed to be quiet and calming.  And almost daring someone to say something, which most people won’t because it’s awkward.  (Happily, I don’t have that problem; I’m ok with awkward when it has a point.)

And it brings to mind that we are, perhaps, losing our ability to be quiet—or even bored—for a minute or two.  And that our device-obsession is further exacerbating this.

There was another guy in the steam room, three of us, and we sat, in silence, sweating copiously for a while, which is the point.  I hope speaker-phone man was relaxed and got to contemplate life for a few minutes. 

That’s a good thing for all of us.