If one person is talking to another, it’s respectful to make eye contact and listen.
So why is it acceptable to be disengaged during classes, meetings, or presentations? What’s the point of attending if most of the time is spent staring at a phone or zoning out?
We all get invitations that we want to refuse but don’t. We sign up but can’t figure out a way to back out when we have a change of heart. So to honor our commitment, we go. The thing is, our presence alone doesn’t make us courteous. Our mind needs to be there with our body.
Showing up to be polite but not paying attention is not polite.