Immediately going to play on your phone to escape a perceived awkward situation only makes it more awkward, amirite?

Well… I won't try to change your mind. I'll ask you a question. More awkward for who? When I do that, my goal is to make it less awkward for myself. And, 10 times out of 10 it seems to work. I'm not trying to make it any less awkward for anyone else, I'm doing it for myself. The option is there for them to take out a phone and do the same if they want. If they don't, well, that's up to them. I acknowledge people with a nod. Then pull my phone.

by Wisozklavon 15 hours ago

This is what I came to say. I'm not trying to make it less awkward for other people, idek if they feel awkward! I'm just making myself feel less awkward

by Front-Animator 15 hours ago

Glad I'm not alone in this. It's really not my responsibility to manage the feelings of strangers. I acknowledge them nonverbally and then pull out my phone. Works in a few ways. 1 - they can take or leave the greeting responding in kind if they want. 2 - they immediately know I won't be trying to strike up conversation. 3 - it's a visual way for me to be "minding my own business" not trying to intrude on any pre-existing conversation or anything like that.

by Wisozklavon 15 hours ago

I don't feel awkward in the elevator, I'm looking at my phone because I want to pass the time.

by AgreeableGold9806 15 hours ago

Is there some sort of expectation of talk on the elevator and to entertain others? I nod at the neighbors I know, but beyond that I've always rode in silence.

by Anonymous 15 hours ago

This behavior predates smartphones. Why do you think waiting rooms have magazines

by bernhardtomas 14 hours ago

I don't owe random strangers small talk. It's not my job to entertain them just because we briefly occupy the same space. I'm not on my phone to ‘avoid' them - I'm on my phone because that's what I'd rather be doing.

by Anonymous 14 hours ago

What a grim take

by Infinite_Chest7107 14 hours ago

Why? I just want to mind my own business when I'm in public.

by AgreeableGold9806 14 hours ago

That's one thing, but viewing social interactions as something that people owe or as your "job to entertain", and not as a natural behaviour like every other generation and animal species, is interesting

by Infinite_Chest7107 14 hours ago

Not every single person you walk past or stand next to or sit in the same room with needs to be talked to, it would be exhausting

by Anonymous 13 hours ago

I don't owe a stranger small talk just because they can't stand the silence.

by Anonymous 13 hours ago

Yeah, phones can be avoidance but sometimes they're how we self-soothe. Say hey, then check your phone if you need to. Seems reasonable.

by Verdalehner 13 hours ago

I'm sorry but people won't care for this advice. We collectively lost the ability not to be entertained for more than a couple seconds, even if we are already engaging with someone who we care about. No one is going to do that for random strangers.

by Anonymous 13 hours ago

Play, il have you know my sudden business call in a no service zone demands my immediate attention.

by West-Tax-7696 12 hours ago

I mean maybe for everyone else. The person on the phone has avoided the awkwardness.

by Anonymous 12 hours ago

I feel like most people don't want to be spoken to any more than I wanna talk to them, and I have zero desire to chat with chatty people who would rather fill the silence is blathering than endure some quiet... I don't bury myself in my phone, but that doesn't mean I make eye contact or conversation, either. I can ignore people's existence without a phone to hide behind. That being said, I do smile at people if we make eye contact. Especially at old people and kids, cuz that's two groups of people that often get ignored by everyone in the middle. I still don't volunteer to chat, though...

by Anonymous 11 hours ago

It's not more awkward for me, skill issue

by Anonymous 11 hours ago

So, no one owes you to make a situation not awkward. It's only awkward if you make it awkward, meaning, you. Yourself. Not others. You can only manage your actions, and if that's something you value, awesome, but as you are maturing you need to realize not everyone has the same values. I think it's unhealthy to keep going into your phone all the time to escape or because you're bored. But that's life. Also, it's a very clear indicator- don't talk to me. Which is very useful.

by windlerelody 11 hours ago

You do you

by Anonymous 11 hours ago

Maybe they don't find things like lines and elevators awkward so they just go on their phones lol. It's not that deep.

by Anonymous 10 hours ago

People still do that, go outside and see for yourself.

by Unable-Sand3281 10 hours ago

i'm aware, but it's becoming less common as more people choose to look at their phones

by Anonymous 10 hours ago

If you can't handle a thirty second ride in an elevator with a stranger without taking out your phone then you have bigger issues to deal with.

by Key-Classroom 10 hours ago

If you expect a random stranger to have a conversation with you because you just expect them to, it says more about you than it does them if anything. We owe you absolutely nothing

by Anonymous 9 hours ago

Did I say anything about having a conversation? It's not a crime to stand silent in an elevator when you're with people you don't know. I do it all the time and so far it hasn't resulted in me having to go to therapy or take medication.

by Key-Classroom 9 hours ago

So you think that people that just want to be on their phone in a place where theyre waiting with other people makes them have an issue? Yeah, you 100% have issues

by Anonymous 9 hours ago

Also to add, you should probably mind your business instead of worrying about what someone who you'll never probably see again is doing.

by Anonymous 8 hours ago

It's interesting how you don't respond to OP but you think I have a problem.

by Key-Classroom 8 hours ago

How does this make any logical sense, are you just assuming anyone who goes on their phone in an elevator is trying to avoid human interaction?

by Beneficial_Chest 8 hours ago

I didn't say that. If the only reason why you are looking at your phone is to avoid talking to someone that you don't have to talk to in the first place, then yeah I would say you have issues. I was also raised with manners and I see where that's not common anymore.

by Key-Classroom 8 hours ago

You are allowed to talk to people but if your only way of making friends is expecting others to talk to you first then yeah you're gonna be pretty lonely.

by AgreeableGold9806 7 hours ago

but if everyone has that mindset than nobody is ever going to be social again. don't you see my point? yes it's important for me to make the first move, but i can't be the only one making an effort. people in the replies are acting offended at the possibility of meeting a friend in a public space. you're not obligated to talk to someone in public, but being blatantly rude isn't the alternative. there are ways to communicate you aren't interested in being social without straight up ignoring a direct question. that's why they invented earbuds lol, my dad used to tell me that if you don't want people to talk to you put in earbuds. simple as that.

by Zaria96 7 hours ago

I'm just not trying to make friends in an elevator.

by AgreeableGold9806 7 hours ago

Seems like you're not reading my replies either. I already said I don't think anyone is implying you should ignore people when spoken to. They just don't want to start conversations in an elevator.

by AgreeableGold9806 6 hours ago

No reason to be rude, I have not been rude to you.

by AgreeableGold9806 6 hours ago

*your

by Anonymous 6 hours ago