Hi, so I (19) was at a conference that I attended for my university and was just sitting in a row minding my own business with my phone out while the speaker was reading off the slides. Then this old lady gave me a glaring look then said "Are you recording" I then said no and then she just keeps pestering me about why i’m even here if i’m not going to pay attention and to get off my phone in a very rude away so I told her that I don’t have to listen to her. Minutes later she gave me another dirty look so I gave her a rude shrug and look and went back on my phone.
I really wanted to tell her to mind her own business.
Family said I was in the wrong and should have respected my elders more.
AITA?
ESH. Older people have been taught that it’s very rude not to give a speaker your full attention. If the lights were dimmed for the slides, the light from your phone screen may have been distracting her, like someone being on their phone during a movie. On the other hand, she shouldn’t be correcting your manners and should have been clearer if your phone was distracting her.
YTA. If you’re going to a conference stay off your phone and pay attention even if they’re just reading the slides. If you zone out do it without being a distraction to the speaker and others.
I mean, no, you’re not but she’s got a point. Why are you even there if you’re going to be sitting on your phone and ignoring the lesson? There’s someone else wishing they had that spot and opportunity to learn whilst you’re wasting it.
I’ll say ESH. She should’ve kept her thoughts to herself and you shouldn’t be wasting an opportunity
NTA If your screen wasn’t bright and the lights were not low and you were paying attention.
I always have my phone out during conferences. I multitask and my phone is a fidget but I’m also paying attention. I also photograph the slides.
She needs to police herself.
If she had said you were distracting her or making it difficult for her and you continued to do so then you would be the AH.
NTA. I am an oldish lady. Unless the room was dark and your phone was bright enough to be bothersome then it was none of her business that you were on your phone.
Why were you there if you weren’t going to pay attention? Your phone might have been distracting for other people. Maybe the old lady was harsh, but you might have been disrupting her ability to pay attention. I’ll go with ESH because both of you were probably disruptive to whomever else was there.
ESH. You weren’t an AH to the old lady, but you’re rude to the speaker by not giving them your attention.