Is it rude to interrupt someone while they're texting?...

[cheeky_starfish]

The other day I was sat on my break at work and was having a text conversation with my girlfriend. A work colleague came and sat next to me and just started talking to me for the remainder of my break.

I felt it was right to stop texting and listen to my work colleague, but it bothered me that the conversation I was having with my girlfriend came to a sudden halt... I guess leaving her on the other end of the phone waiting for a reply to her last text, which I was only able to send at the end of my break before I went back into work...

So what I want to ask is...

a. Was it rude of the work colleague to interrupt me whilst I was sat on my own texting? or...

b. Would it have been rude of me had I chosen to continue texting, whilst only partially listening to what he was saying?

I think I did the right thing to stop texting and listening to my work colleague, but it did bother me that my text conversation with my girlfriend came to a sudden halt...

Your thoughts would be much appreciated...

Thank you.

[selfishstars]

I don't think what your colleague did was rude. We live in a text-culture now. People are constantly on their phones, either texting, playing games, reading their e-mail, etc. Most of the time, it isn't intense conversation going on, so most people are okay with someone talking to them while they're on their phone (I mean, not actually talking on the phone, but if they're using their phone for something else, like texting).

Did your colleague even know you were texting, and in particular, the kind of texting that someone would mind being interrupted from? Unless he could see your screen, for all he knew, you could have just been playing a game or surfing the web to pass the time and wouldn't mind the company.

And yeah, I think it would be rude to continue texting but only partially listening to him. But there are other options, for example, you could say, "Hey, hold that thought for a minute, I just have to say goodbye to my girlfriend"---text her, then continue the conversation; or if you wanted or needed to continue texting your girlfriend, you could say, "Hey, sorry, I can't talk right now. I'm having an important conversation with my girlfriend, but I'll catch you later."

[cheeky_starfish]

Thanks for your answer... Yeah, he knew I was texting because I had my phone flat on the table in front of me and the whole screen was text dialogue. Plus I was actually in the process of texting as he came over and sat with me. I like your idea though of just saying to 'hold on a second while I say goodbye to my girlfriend'... That would've worked well for me in that situation... Thanks! :o)

[Anonymous]

No, it's not rude to talk to someone while they're texting. If you were texting when he started talking to you, you should have just continued to text and talk at the same time. It's called multitasking.

[cheeky_starfish]

Yeah, I thought about doing that, but I didn't want to appear like I was ignoring him or not giving him my full attention... lol

[Anonymous]

Always! haha

[Anonymous]

no its not rude.