Imagine you’re about to go on a date with a significant other you really like. You dress cute, pick a nice restaurant and arrive fashionably early. They enter, greet you and sit down across the table. Everything is perfect, and then they pull out their phone.

The time has already passed in which they could quickly check the time, which means they are texting or checking in on Foursquare or playing Temple Run.

Really?

I’m giving you, the phone-handler, my disgruntled face at the moment.

Yes, I know you have friends and family, and you need to keep in contact with them on a daily basis, but you chose to spend the evening with the person across from you.

Not your phone.

(Unless you are being held there against your will, and in that case just write a note on the receipt, and the waiter or waitress will hopefully help you out. If not, sucks to suck.)

I work at Hilltop Mankato Buffalo Wild Wings and am constantly bringing numerous trays of food to customers. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve arrived at a table when one or both of the customers are hunched over their phones, clicking random keys with apathetic intent.

First of all, when you don’t acknowledge the person delivering your meal, it makes them feel inadequate and forces them to grunt or clear their throat loudly. It’s just an awkward situation all around.

If your date (or you) is that boring, leave. It’s difficult to watch, let alone endure. I find myself frowning excessively at the couple that doesn’t even look up from their phones to accept their delicious wings.

Yes, I’ve been told to smile more often by managers and staff. Don’t worry about it. I can frown at you in secret.

What does that say about your priorities? If you put your phone above your date, that’s rude. If you put your phone above your food, that’s just horrifying.

So, unplug for a few hours when deemed necessary. This includes family events, date-like activities and any type of one-on-one interaction. It really isn’t that hard, and it makes the other person feel vivacious and interesting.

If you’re expecting an important call or text, tell the other person and quietly excuse yourself when that time comes. How would you like it if the person you wanted to bond with pulled out their phone and had a text conversation with another person (or automatic robot named Siri)? Ouch.

Once you’re safe at home, take your pants off and spend some quality time with technology. Light a candle, dim the lights and just be with your phone or your computer. There’s a time and a place for this kind of bonding – it’s when you’re alone and not engaging in social activities.

So just chill on the phone usage in social situations. Your friends (and your waiters/waitresses) will thank you for it.

Though not taking off the pants part.