DEAR MISS MANNERS: I do not own a smartphone. I have many good reasons why I want to keep it that way.
Apparently, it is now considered socially acceptable to “phone-shame” people, i.e., to make unsolicited, borderline-insulting comments about “joining the 21st century,” “evolving beyond stone knives and bearskins” and other similarly maladroit attempts at cleverness.
What is your suggestion for a firm and polite response that has just the right degree of iciness to point out the inappropriateness of the comment?
GENTLE READER: “I want to be able to remain fully attentive for conversations such as these.”