Being Present When You're Present

People and their electronics have been perturbing me of late. Consider the following scenarios:

• A university student is invited to a special school function. During the speeches plays Solitaire while sitting at the same table as the dean


• Being the only one not on a laptop during a documentary. I felt like I might as well had been watching it alone


• A business man accompanies his mother to church. He checks his email on his Blackberry instead of paying attention. Really? That email couldn't wait an hour?

I'm not sure if people see the barriers they are creating between each other; divided attention does constitute quality time.