Have a read of David Carr’s column for the NYT, presented almost without comment, except to say that sadly, this kind of behaviour really is becoming more and more noticeable:
You are at a party and the person in front of you is not really listening to you. Yes, she is murmuring occasional assent to your remarks, or nodding at appropriate junctures, but for the most part she is looking beyond you, scanning in search of something or someone more compelling.
Here’s the funny part: If she is looking over your shoulder at a room full of potentially more interesting people, she is ill-mannered. If, however, she is not looking over your shoulder, but into a smartphone in her hand, she is not only well within modern social norms, but is also a wired, well-put-together person.
Add one more achievement to the digital revolution: It has made it fashionable to be rude.
On the plus side, it might actually force people at parties to be more interesting to overcome this new social phenomenon.