Let's say your an intern, summer associate or new hire, and your boss has invited you to lunch. As soon as the last bite of the most amazing appetizer, entree, or dessert slips past your teeth, over your tongue and down your gullet, don’t even think about texting friends and families about the delight. So says the majority of Americans who recently responded to a Zagat survey about their dining habits. A full 63% of respondents felt texting, tweeting, and chatting on a smart phone while dining is rude and inappropriate.

 

Respondents were more accepting of diners who use their smart phone to take an image of a meal. A full 85% said snapping a quick shot is okay.

 

For those of us who endorse good behavior, the Zagat survey may be among the best news we’ve heard in ages. The truth is nice little old ladies like Emily Post and Letitia Baldrige never created the rules of business etiquette. They merely codified what society generally regarded as acceptable behavior. The Zagat survey suggests that society is prepared to draw some lines regarding when it is and is not appropriate to text, tweet, and chat.

 

Whether eating out or in, each of us has the opportunity to ask of our dining companions to share a smart phone-free meal. To the extent we do, it looks like we’ll be making lots of other diners thoroughly pleased.