When it came to dinner time, my mother had one rule; no phones at the table.

Dinner was a sacred event. A time for family and friends to break bread, share stories, and simply be present. This mentality was not lost on me. I still approach each meal in the same way.

However, a recent innovation is challenging my mom’s rule; QR code menus.

Electronic menus have trained a new behavior. Sit down, take your phone out, and review the menu. Oh, and check the text that just came in. While brief, this mandatory action robs our attention before the meal even starts.

So, this raises a question…. is all innovation a sign of progress? I’d argue no. Not in this case.

NH.

///

P.S. I realize that electronic menus have saved countless trees. I won’t debate the positive environmental impact. Just call me old fashioned on this one.