+31 Guys who watch live sports on their phone while they're supposed to be socializing with family or friends are the adult version of iPad kids. amirite?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I think refreshing scores or whatever like that is ok. Completely ignoring people and watching your phone is another thing. That being said, people will do what they want. If they are being dragged along or the company is boring, the sport is getting watched.

by Elishajacobson 1 week ago

I'm at this point with a friend of mine because of this, among some other things. It's really a situation of "if you're gonna make it seem like it's some act of begrudging altruism for you to be present, everyone would rather you just not be here." Really it's out of nowhere but seems like it gets worse every time we do anything, even the stuff he picks to do.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Yeah I have a friend like this. He's always asking whens the next game night but I don't invite him because he literally plays other games or watches Instagram videos on his phone the whole time.

by Ill-Advance 1 week ago

Maybe he just wants to be near people and not play the game you are playing. Have you talked to them about this?

by Swimming_Cranberry24 1 week ago

Yes exactly, the consequences of their actions is people thinking they are rude.

by Elishajacobson 1 week ago

I'm ok being rude if using my free time for me is rude. If someone I'm seeing wants to invite people over all the time I'm alright with that but that's how they're choosing to spend their free time. They don't get to decide for me, I think that's rude. Sometimes, sure, I will visit your family or something but my free time is limited and no one gets to decide how I use it

by IllustriousDig122 1 week ago

lol just don't go. It's absolutely unhinged to completely check out of social situations with your partners' friends or family, and it reflects terribly on you and your relationship.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Ah yes, just don't go to my own house.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

By doing that are you not wasting their free time that they choose to spend with you? Is their free time not limited? You're a child. Be an adult and tell people you don't want to hang out with them if you don't respect them enough to give them your attention. Don't waste your time and don't waste their time. No one's time is worth more than another's.

by antoniettahand 1 week ago

This 100% it's my time I'll damn well use it how I please, if I told you I didn't want to do x, y, or z and whoever is making me do those things you bet I'll be watching TV on my phone or bringing a book to read

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Sorry you got grounded. I was the same, except I never got grounded, just made fun of by everyone but my mom.

by myrtisjones 1 week ago

nailed it. If it's your friend ignoring you, maybe you're not really friends. If its a stranger at a party, or a family member, you're not entitled to their attention.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

If its a stranger at a party, or a family member, you're not entitled to their attention. You're also not entitled to be in someone else's home, eating their food. If you really can't stomach interacting with other adults, just stay home. It's rude and makes everyone else uncomfortable for you to show up to a party and then excuse yourself to watch your cartoons.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You're projecting. That's not what OP said.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

The monkey's paw of this is that people would get accused of not being "present"/paying attention if they take more than 0.5 seconds to respond (while thinking) even when they are giving the person their full focus, and constantly having to take off their normal none-AR glasses to show the person "Look, see, no screen, I'm listening to you I promise, I just needed a moment to process what you'd said before responding"

by New-Weather 1 week ago

That's fine I can deal with with that

by Cute-Marsupial 1 week ago

I was running videography at a wedding recently, and there was a guy watching a sports game on his phone while speeches were going on, and got lost in the game and cheered out loud for something… in the middle of someone's speech. I almost smacked him on behalf of the entire wedding party.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I went to a work function for my wife last year during the hokey playoffs last year. I was really good and just had score alerts on my phone. I looked over half way through dinner and get VP was watching the game. I went over and sat with him and made friends - double points I got to watch the game and helped my wife get to know her VP better.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Yeah fall weddings are frowned upon in the south because of college football.

by Jacyntheschulis 1 week ago

Big band and a lacrosse fan? Leave some women for the rest of us buddy.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I wonder how it would be received if I went to a lacrosse game and started practicing trumpet?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Not really a good enough comparison. If you went to a lacross game and started watching videos of a guy playing trumpet, nobody would care.

by Alfonzohoeger 1 week ago

If it's a meaningless game then okay. If it's a playoff game and it's like 50/50 watching and socializing with people that know you're a big fan of said sport, it's not a big deal to me as long as you're not yelling like crazy

by sherzog 1 week ago

That is rude. And men complain they have no friends in adulthood. You do it to yourself if this is you. I would not invite a man who does that. Blacklisted from my parties and invitations.

by TopCompote7737 1 week ago

I'm not the sports guy you're projecting on, but let's be honest for a second. You've never gone to a family function and looked at your phone, ever?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Or invited to a superbowl game then had a conversation with the other wives about something not related to football and didn't pay attention to the game at all.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Blacklisted from my parties and invitations. If your parties are so boring that I have to watch sports to kill time, it sounds like a win-win no?

by OpenJury8412 1 week ago

Surely it can be a social experience to watch a game? I've had plenty of fun nights where at some point the guys (mostly) gather to watch a game while the other people do whatever. Like if there was some series finale somebody wanted to see, I wouldn't mind

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Insecure iPad adults are coming out of the woodwork!

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I...what? Nearly everyone these days has trouble staring at their phones. "iPad kid" refers specifically to kids who were raised with iPads and similar technology, not literally anyone who has a screen addiction. What does this have to do with "insecure iPad adults"??

by westleywilderma 1 week ago

Shoot, depending on the event I've had multiple adults gathered around that phone. Watching the sport was socializing.

by Jsipes 1 week ago

I remember being at a concert last year during the playoffs and between bands someone started streaming the leafs game. There was about a dozen of us huddled around this one dude and his phone lol.

by Any_Hospital 1 week ago

I was at a music festival in Louisiana a handful of years back. Canadian band asked the crowd what the Montreal Canadiens score was and I was prepared with the score and period. They were beyond excited they got a response so quickly

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Simple Plan?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

lol. No. I believe it was a band called Les Breastfeaders

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Yeah asking for the score is just, like, a single step. Sounds like a well executed one too

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I watched the LA Kings win the Stanley cup during my high school graduation

by Murazikfermin 1 week ago

Was just at red rocks during game 2 of Avs/jets. Had like 15 people surrounding me between bands. Can confirm.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

That's their fault for scheduling a wedding on a Saturday in the Fall. My football Saturdays are the one thing I try my hardest to not give up.

by Ok_Dance 1 week ago

I was at a wedding during Wrestlemania. I was one of a handful of people watching on my phone. It seemed to be all any of the guys were talking about.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I was at a kid's birthday party. None of the adults were talking. So yeah, I busted out my phone since it's NHL PLAYOFFS BABY!!

by audraharber 1 week ago

The Colorado Avalanche is my inflatable bounce house for these kids. Y'all run around, and I'll watch my game thank you. They're my kid's friends, not my friend.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

GO AVS that's my team too

by audraharber 1 week ago

I was at one of my monthly political meeting, and an Oilers playoff game was starting right when the meeting did, about half the people showed up in Oilers Jerseys, and we did have a couple games streaming on phone. The president of the board just said "Well I think about all of us wants to see the game, let's try to get this meeting done as quickly as possible" and it was the quickest meeting I've been in. What usually takes 1h-1.5h was done in 15 minutes, and I was back at home at just the start of the second period

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I'll start paying attention when my nephew can throw 60 yard darts.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

As soon as the bride can throw a back shoulder fade to the groom I'll be fully invested

by Embarrassed-Yak-408 1 week ago

At least with a game it only happens once at a specific time. More understandable than someone doing something that isn't on a timer.

by Perryshanahan 1 week ago

I was thinking this too, most of the people I know who sit on their phones ignoring what's going on around them are playing video games. Which also feels like a much more direct comparison to iPad kids.

by Aquitzon 1 week ago

It's the same energy as the people that used to say Nintendo would melt your brain in the 90s but watch TV all day

by Sad-Service-8526 1 week ago

Preach friend

by Anonymous 1 week ago

This is the one time I think it's okay to have your phone going. My favorite teams often play on Thanksgiving or Christmas and I still interact and enjoy being around my family but also keeping up on the live game.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Sports in nature tend to be more social anyway than the other things i mentioned. If i have a game going on my phone when im hanging out with friends, i usually have people watching over my shoulder or at least asking about the score

by Available_Active 1 week ago

That was my initial reaction to this, I feel like you could say all this about, I dunno, people who are on their phone in general at social gatherings?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's almost like people who are forced to be somewhere they'd rather not be, would prefer some form of entertainment vs. not.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Strangely enough, this also describes "iPad kids" a lot of the time. Not always admittedly, and there's arguably better means of entertaining kids than always going for the tablet, but its still kinda the same thing. We just don't think about kids having a say in whether they wanna do something or not like we do adults (for combination of valid and stupid reasons).

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I genuinely hope someone makes you sit on a bench and twiddle your thumbs for a couple hours. Maybe you'd learn some empathy.

by CombinationGlad317 1 week ago

Spending time being bored is genuinely really important for child development. Being able to be present in a moment that's not immediately 100% engaging to you is a life skill that requires teaching just like anything else. Ever seen some psycho go beet-red yelling at a service worker for making them wait? That's a baby that wasn't given the opportunity to emotionally handle boredom. It's not a punishment, it's not about giving kids a voice in making their own decisions, it's just part of raising a socially capable person.

by Xflatley 1 week ago

It sounds more like people will succumb to readily available stimulation, whether there are any other expectations on them or not. I don't think I'm ready to give a pass to people ignoring social or cultural obligations (read: being rude) or to say the only time people retreat to their phone is when they're forced to be somewhere.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Is this not what an iPad kid is?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

iPad kids need the iPad wherever they go because the adults keep dragging them to places they have absolutely no interest in. Just like adults who are forced into social gatherings they don't want to be. Take those same kids to Chuck E Cheese or somewhere similarly entertaining for kids, you won't see a single of those iPad kid glued to the iPad at a table in favour of being out on the game floor.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Unfair, you can't set the timing, and watching a replay is not the same as watching it live. However there's no sport that you have to be glued to the screen that you can't interact with others.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

That's my brother in law. He's just on his phone watching Philadelphia sports and doesn't interact with anyone at all. The dude barely watches his kids. He's a man child. I feel bad for my sister in law.

by Sigridnikolaus 1 week ago

Feel bad for who? Am I missing something because it ain't adding up.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

They feel bad for the woman married to the brother in law in question. Either the brother in law or the sister in law are likely the sibling of BBQpirate's spouse.

by Kacipaucek 1 week ago

Maybe you're just not that interesting

by Anonymous 1 week ago

As are women who scroll their social feeds constantly

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Glancing at your phone is ok. Being completely absent as your mind is miles away is not cool. I mean just put vr goggles and headphones on. Be totally absent at the restaurant

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Took my brother once to a stand up show. He sat the entire time with his phone propped on his drink and watching a basketball game. Didn't pay any attention to the stage. Why not just stay home? Lol

by Unhappy-Manager4024 1 week ago

I guess it just depends on how you go about it and what type of event it is where you are "supposed to be socializing". If you don't give them a heads up or explain yourself, it's a bit ignorant

by Katelyn01 1 week ago

Supposed to be? If you're an adult, you get to decide what you're "supposed to be" doing.

by Key-Scientist 1 week ago

Let me let you in on a little secret: sharing your life with someone comes with responsibilities. Maybe you dislike your wife's best friend, doesn't mean you can get away with not going to the wedding just because "you're an adult" To think anything else is either immature or self centered and oblivious.

by Ok_Commission_3026 1 week ago

By that logic you could've just decided that you're "supposed to" stay home lol.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Ya, but I, and my friends, wanted to eat out. Wanting to vocalize is not the same thing.

by Key-Scientist 1 week ago

Then that's not a situation in which you're supposed to be socializing with friends and family

by North_Enthusiasm 1 week ago

You could've just decided you're "supposed to" not care if someone around you isn't speaking to you. I can see why this is such a big issue in your life, clearly people just don't want to interact with you

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Used to be on live music bandstands in front of crowds while some of the musicians had a separate iPad with "the game." 🙄🤢

by Potential_Tackle_225 1 week ago

I was in the Olympics in Korea and was partying at Heineken house when a team Canada hockey game was on. There were probably 10 of us crowded around a phone screen watching the game, all Canadians watching hockey in the middle of a club

by Diligent_Bug_3428 1 week ago

ITT: Delusion and brainrot.

by Glad-Pool-209 1 week ago

Doesn't have to be sports. Anyone who prioritizes games or social media, or whatever over the people around them is more or less doing the same thing.

by mathiasanderson 1 week ago

What in the world? How many people are going to coddle to you like that? Just don't go if the game is that important to you.

by LevelTraditional 1 week ago

Or.... Lets have some social time, have the game on in the background, an all make everyone as welcome as we can....

by Anonymous 1 week ago

And people who feel the need to govern what a person does are the real problem.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

supposed to be socializing with family or friends Who says they're "supposed" to be socializing? Are they adults? Can they not decide for themselves?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Since TV started showing live sports, this has been a thing.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

The Red Zone made it so much worse.

by New_Holiday_3997 1 week ago

My cousin's wife did that while we were sharing stories of our grandfather the day before his funeral. And then she had the gall to read bible passages at the service. I've rarely ever been that angry.

by santiagokoss 1 week ago

A fantasy football draft ended my first marriage.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

The saints schedule comes out before the season starts. It's not my fault someone decided to get together when they play.

by noble99 1 week ago

Watching sports on tv is for people with no hobbies

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I had a baby on April 21st. First grandkid for everyone. Husbands family visited us in the hospital that evening to bring dinner and visit. Turns out my son's birthday was also the first NHL playoff game for the Canucks, FIL had the game playing on his phone in his pocket with the audio streaming to his hearing aids.

by Dmoen 1 week ago

It depends. iPad kids watch because they're addicted, and they don't know any better, and they don't realize they're missing out on real human interaction. I'm sure there are adults that check those boxes, but when I watch sports when I'm "supposed to be socializing with family or friends," it's because I've made the choice that the sports are more interesting. On purpose. No one in my circles ever calls me out for watching sports, because they know my answer of, "I could just go watch it at home, if that's better for you," is always 100% in the chamber, and sincere.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Tbh i have a friend that invites me for a beer to be always on his phone wich makes me feel like i am there to make him company like a tv that is on but ur not watching

by AudienceSalt7681 1 week ago

No technology just evolved. It's not radio with headphones anymore.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Some mommy's little princess never grow up to be kings. Just spoiled little man babies looking for a gf to fill in for mommy.

by Shot-Road-9162 1 week ago

If you don't like it, don't host your event when major sporting events happen. They draw tens of thousands to the stadiums and millions on TV. Expecting your pointless little house party to supersede that for everyone is arrogant. Especially during playoff. People have invested hours and hours into their teams and you are going to make them miss the climax just because the attention isn't 100% yours. How would you feel if someone asked you to miss the finale of a show you've watched for a year with basically 0 chance to watch it later? Instead you just have to go online and read about what happened. I went to a wedding recently and over by the bar they had the Final Four on the TV because it's reasonable to expect some people to be interested in it. A couple guys hung out around there watching the games. They seemed to have a great time socializing and watching. Sports are an engaging socializing activity and restricting that is closed minded

by Larondare 1 week ago

Sports are an engaging socializing activity and restricting that is closed minded So are a lot of things... and people save them for after the party. If the game is that important to you, then don't go. Also, who is hosting a party and checking every major sport to see if there's an important game happening??

by LevelTraditional 1 week ago

My dad regularly DVRs and catches the replay of his favorite sports teams so he can attend social or family functions. Restricting yourself to only watching them live seems close minded to me.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Expecting your pointless little house party to supersede that for everyone is arrogant. ...maybe don't go to the house party? Going to the house party and then watching the game anyway seems like the worst of your available options

by RemoteCheesecake 1 week ago

Yeah, that's definitely the sort of thing a guy who only gets invited to things because people like their partner would say

by Aquitzon 1 week ago

lol a lot of adult iPad kids here

by Hmorissette 1 week ago

Who determines when people are SUPPOSED to socialize?

by Jonatan28 1 week ago

I think if you are at a social event, such as sitting down for a meal with friends, it is implied.

by Elishajacobson 1 week ago

Sports are a huge social lubricant for a lot of men You might think they are being anti social but it's the opposite. It's how I bond with most friends

by cronaallene 1 week ago

Doesn't gel. If you're with a group of people, you are supposed to be socializing, not totally immersing yourself with whatever is on your phone.

by Brownhelena 1 week ago

"supposed to be" lolol

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You're an idiot lol no parallels just a dumb ignorant take

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Hey, that's not very nice!

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You'll be fine it's just my take lol

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You're not wrong, but I'm only there anyway because my wife wanted to go. I have no issue separating myself and staying out of the way. My dad beat that into me for 18 years.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

My dad was the same. He ALWAYS found "his spot" at a relative gathering, or whatever. It was always a chair in the corner or somewhere in the den. Away from people. He always wanted to make himself invisible. I don't blame him now as an adult. I'm the same way. And I love it. I'm not going to change.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

What if I'm watching sports so that I can make conversation with the security guards at the mall I work at while I bring them sweet treats to learn their monitoring habits?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

This is exactly what I'll tell my friends when they do this in public. Lol

by Superb-Collar3028 1 week ago

But OP, what about the hyperspeceifc version of this scenario where it might be said to be socially advantageous to watch spots on my phone bet you didn't think about that!

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I think anyone who sits nose deep in a phone while supposedly being social is confused. Sex/gender or even what activities being done on said screen are irrelevant. It's weird to say that it's just guys with sports. Like a woman can't also be watching sports? Or it's less annoying if it's not sports but social media? Or maybe I'm confused lol

by Anonymous 1 week ago

supposed to be What?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Depends on the sport. American Footbll and Baseball have very turned based action which leaves plenty of time for socializing from person experience. I won a few boardgames while watching an American Football game before.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

If you think I'm gunna be socializing next weekend and not watching the first undisputed heavyweight fight in 30 years next saturday on my phone e while I have people at my property, you got another thing coming

by Sufficient-Dish-9722 1 week ago

Playing Steam Deck is how I prevent myself from outting my socialist leanings and how I ignore the ignorant hate the boomers in my family spew.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You mean anyone on their phones in social settings

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I feel like this also extends to social events where there's a game on a TV, but they're the only one paying attention to the game while everyone else is socializing.

by Same_Bicycle4601 1 week ago

Omg do you know my brother???

by Direct-Marsupial-749 1 week ago

It really depends on the situation.

by Used-Ad-5971 1 week ago

Depends on circumstance. Regular season games can be missed. The Lebron led Cavaliers coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA finals against the team with the best record of All-time is going not going to be missed under almost any circumstance.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Man if I didn't want to be here and was forced to come down and talk to my family I'm not gonna put in 100%

by Strong-Cranberry 1 week ago

yeah, but glancing at your phone for 3 minutes while your fam is being dry is ok.

by Billschaden 1 week ago

I take away the iPad from the kids and tell them to go play, then I watch sports on said iPad.

by schowalterjarod 1 week ago

I've was a game boy kid before iPads.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Guiltyyyyyy

by Anonymous 1 week ago

My family has been doing things since....well forever. My favorite has been when people decide to schedule events during major events and are told point blank either they pull out TV's or no one is coming.

by Nellaruecker 1 week ago