I've of two minds about the Thanksgiving Unplugged campaign. It's true that I don't want digital devices at my Thanksgiving dinner table, but do we really need to sign a pledge to keep that from happening?
A little background: Two etiquette experts, Diane Gottsman and Thomas P. Farley, have created Thanksgiving Unplugged, a campaign asking Americans to do a digital disconnect before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner. Supporters are asked to sign a pledge. Call me crazy, but I think using electronics at the dinner table is a breach of etiquette on any occasion. My grandchildren are just as fond of their devices as any children in America, but they know that a family dinner is not the proper time and place to use their gadgets.
If you click the "Get Involved" tab and enter your email address, you will receive a cute diagram called "My First Place Setting." It's perfect for showing grandchildren how to set the table. Getting them involved in preparation and clean-up is a good strategy for getting them away from their electronic devices. It's hard to text or game while you're washing the dishes!
Image © Thanksgiving Unplugged
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I agree that electronics don’t belong at the table and I agree you don’t need to sign a pledge to make it happen. I’m of the mind that unless your are policeman, or doctor or something critical like that — the text can wait!