Has technology ruined the art of conversation?

[abaris]

I also play tabletop rpgs (such as D&D) and I've had to make a hard rule about restricting electronic devices at the table. Some people just can't set their phones down for more than five minutes. I have to gather them up and put them in another room before we can start.

Lucky we played our D&D sessions in the 80ies then. No mobile device to be had in these years. I can't imagine how this goes down these days.