When Did Spying Become Ok?

I was at a cafe yesterday with my Border Collie Rilla, when two teenage girls came in and sat at the table next to mine.
Shortly after their arrival, I heard them discussing Rilla. This always happens when I take my dogs out - everywhere I take her she receives multiple compliments and friendly comments.
I turned my head to face the girls only to discover that they were sitting with their backs to me, and were holding a mobile phone on the table. They had the camera open and set on "selfie" mode, so Rilla was displayed on the screen where they could easily see - and discuss - her.

I was very surprised to see them doing this and, I must admit, a little annoyed. If I hadn't been so taken aback at the time I probably would have said something along the lines of "Excuse me, you're welcome to come and pat her if you like".

As I've mulled this behaviour over I've thought how truly odd and unsociable it is. Instead of turning around and speaking to me about my dog (or even just to Rilla, as many people do) they had the idea to pull out their phone and use the camera to look at her.
Aside from this feeling a little like an invasion of privacy, it's actually robbing those girls of a chance to talk to other people.
If it had been two friends belonging to an older and wiser generation, I'm fairly certain they would have actually turned in their seats and addressed Rilla, rather than spying on her. (Because it really does feel like your dog is being spied on when this happens!)
This would have led to a conversation with me, however brief it might have been.



After that happened I observed the other people in the cafe. Many were staring at their screens, and some friends that were talking to each other were holding phones in their hands and continually disrupting the flow of the conversation by glancing down at it. It's worth pointing out here that they weren't all teenagers, or even young. (I'm fully aware that teenagers aren't the only people with a phone addiction problem these days.)

I certainly don't think we have to talk to every single person we meet when we're out and about, but I can't help but think that this socially acceptable standard of being absorbed in one's screen isn't a very good thing.
With everyone being distracted by their screens, they're missing out on the opportunity to meet other people, or even just simply enjoy sitting still for a moment and observing the world around them. You know - be in the moment.
If we all behaved like this, would we ever meet anyone or see anything worth seeing?
Whilst the internet is a very big place, it's also a rather small one to occupy most of your time with.

Do we have to be occupied by a screen 24/7?
Do we really need to waste time at a cafe trying to connect to the free wifi when you most likely have your own source of wifi at home?
I don't use the internet when I go out. When I leave the house, the only function the mobile phone serves is to be used as a telephone if I need one. That's it.

What about you?
Would you talk to an actual person about their dog or simply be contented to use your phone to spy on them? Do you stare at your screen whilst on a coffee date instead of talking to the person you've met up with?
And if you do - will you please answer my question of just what you possibly find to do on there so much? Because I'm baffled, and I'd really like to know.


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