Time on phone isn’t just for leisure
Dear Abby: I would like to respond to “Ready To Bail in New Jersey” (Sept. 1), who was complaining about women being on their phones all the time. Does this man have any idea how much information and communication is shared electronically now?
Women have a lot going on in their lives, and we use our phones to accomplish most things. Maybe the women he was referring to are trying to avoid contact with him.
Dear Michelle:
I warned “Ready” that my readers would have a lot to say about his letter and whether he is, indeed, a misogynist. Read on:
Dear Abby: If you start a sentence declaring you’re not a misogynist, you probably are one. In that man’s case, make that a definite. If I had to endure his company, I’d be on my phone, too, calling an Uber to take me out of there.
Emily in Texas
Dear Abby: I agree with “Ready,” but it’s not just women who do this. People of both sexes are constantly on their phones and oblivious to what’s going on around them. I’m a mom of three small children, and I love organizing play dates with other parents and kids. Rarely are the other parents interested in chatting for any length of time or watching our kids play.
They prefer to take photos for social media and scroll through their phones. I get it — we’re all tired and long for rest time. Still, I do feel that a good conversationalist is hard to find. Sometimes I wish this technology didn’t exist. I long for a deeper connection with other humans.
Kassie in Maryland
Dear Abby: Speaking manto-man, I would tell “Ready” that he has no real understanding of women. Whether or not he’s a misogynist by definition, his view of women is based solely on stereotypes and tropes. Most telling was his statement about “shopping, which is a female addiction.” What a ridiculous perception, no different than saying all men are interested only in beer and sex.
My advice to him about finding a mate is to start with the basics. Make sure your appearance is well groomed and your clothes are pressed and clean and fit well. You need to be able to connect as a person. If you can do that, the person is more likely to put down their phone and pay attention to you, all toward the possibility of building a relationship with you.
Write to Dear Abby at P.O. Box 96440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 or dearabby.com