Facebook & the iPhone - T.M.I. What Personal Rules Would You Love to Impose on Smartphones in Your Personal Life?

I can't believe even I'm writing this. I've actually reached a point where I am really tired of seeing people on their iPhones all the time, especially when someone is constantly reading their Facebook newsfeed. I think Facebook is starting to suck the life out of people. Who seriously has the time to read about everything everyone is doing and on top of that to comment on it, and then get continuous annoying alerts every time someone else comments? 

I worked with a doctor in the E.D. who once said "it's like everyone thinks of themselves as a rockstar, like the whole world really cares what you're doing every minute". I think he has a point. I remember a long time ago it being said that would-be robbers stayed on top of the obituary section in the newspaper, knowing when someone was likely not home as they were attending a funeral service, and then hit their place. What the hell, we have provided all of this on Facebook: approximate age, gender, the city we live in, where we work, what our occupation is, if we don't work, our favorites of, well, you name it, just about everything that could fall under that category, our likes, our dislikes, our relationship status, who we are friends with, etc. It's just too much at times. 

I understand we all need time to decompress after work or a long day. It used to be over the newspaper and a cup of coffee, or just turning on the T.V. and eating a snack. Now our smartphones have become a part of everything we do. And I do mean everything. If you tell me you've never read the paper, Facebook, checked email, have been on eBay or answered texts while sitting as I like to refer to it in "the reading room", then I'll tell you you're lying to me. I've personally upgraded from using the iPhone to an iPad in the "reading room", but isn't that a bit TMI? The basis of this posting to begin with? 

There was a time when you wondered who your significant other was talking to on the other end of a corded phone. Now, who are they texting, reading about, or answering email to in your very presence? And it certainly seems innocent enough when they're doing it right in front of you, right? Fortunately, I do trust the person I'm dating, but there are times I want to say "put the phone down". I would hope that I'm entertaining enough more so than an iPhone, or am I? Because I know what it's like to feel insecure as having been cheated on in the past, I'll make a point to let my significant other know who that incoming text was from, and even share a photo if a funny one was attached. That is my way of making an effort in a subtle way to let the other person know they have nothing to worry about, not that he needs that reassurance, but I feel it's the polite thing to do. Sometimes the polite thing to do is to just put down the phone. We have a rule when we go out to eat, to not use our phones at the table. I try to keep mine in my purse. The last time we went out to eat, I couldn't believe I pulled my iPhone out of my purse to check the weather. Who cares about the weather over a delicious dinner of sashimi while in the company of my handsome boyfriend? Where was my brain? It's just a small example of how imbedded and ingrained using our phones in our everyday, every minute, waking part of our lives has become. Fortunately I'm in a loving relationship and we forgive our iPhone faux pas moments. 

I was watching a show on the telly recently and there is a city, can't remember where right now, and they are considering making it illegal to use a cellphone while walking around in public. Apparently there is a concern that people are not paying attention and having near misses with traffic while walking around the city. 

Well, enough of my venting. I believe I've made my point. As much as I'm a tiny bit jealous of the kids who are growing up with this and exposed to all of our technology at such a young age, I'm also equally thankful I know what it was like to live during a time when we all weren't so absorbed with our gadgets. So, I'm curious. Do you impose any rules for your smartphone usage? I know of one person who limits her grandchildren to using her iPhone to play games with for only ten minutes. What do you do? What do you want to do? Weigh in, I'd love to know what others think about this.