Now before I get started, let the record show that this isn’t a “changing of the tide” complaint blog, but rather more of an observation. I’m not here to complain about how people prefer to tweet about all the fun they are having instead of living in the moment, or how people find it necessary to snap a thousand photos of their lunch before eating. I’m not here to complain about those people because at the end of the day, I have been that person at one time or another. I can’t pretend to think those people ruined social interactions because as much as I am a victim, I am also a perpetrator of the “heinous” social crime. I’ve sometimes caught myself at dinner or at a party glancing at my phone. Whether only a split second to check on my fantasy football teams or to tweet about how much of a good time I’m having, at that moment I’m the guy that bloggers feel is ruining a generation. Don’t believe me? A quick Google search of “social interactions + phones” will bring up plenty articles sharing the same thought: get off your phone and have fun! But what if I make the case for the poor guy who unknowingly uses his phone in situations where it’s considered rude? What if that guy is so used to being on his phone 23 hours a day, that the 1 hour he isn’t supposed to be on it he “accidentally” opens up Twitter or Facebook? It’s tough to say “don’t be that guy” when we live in a smartphone era. Up until my first iPhone, I never had instant access to internet away from home. Now I cherish it, and although it means I might have missed you telling me about your day, odds are I can just go to your twitter and read about it instead. Although this doesn’t excuse or validate the rude behaviors of some, I feel it would be hypocrisy for me to rant negatively about something I myself do. With that being said, I am aware of it and whenever I do catch myself in the act, I stop. This isn’t the same case for everyone. I know plenty of folks who spend entire outings on their phones, seemingly oblivious to the potential fun around them. Now when I go out with a group of friends, the first couple hours of the night are spent taking pictures. Most of the time I opt out and volunteer to take the group photo (although in reality I’m just scared people will notice I’m wearing the same shirt from my last Instagram post). After the photos comes the conversation, which always starts off fluid because there’s always some catching up to be done, but then quickly dulls. Soon as the awkward silence hits, everyone is inadvertently back on their phones. They’re checking how many likes that group photo I insisted on not being in got or checking if the tweet they posted about “how nice the place is” got any retweets. I can’t complain or ask them to stop, because as I go to reach for my phone I realize it has been in my hand the whole time.