# Free WiFi in restaurants - Good or Bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2014, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-wifi-in-restaurants-good-or-bad/694014 "2014-07-25T11:46:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-wifi-in-restaurants-good-or-bad/694014/41 "2014-07-28T16:43:32Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > My son is a server at Cracker Barrel. They deliberately don’t have Wi-Fi. So, he uses data while working there. Costs money on the phone plan, but at least his tables get a good turn. I think Cracker Barrel is one of the very few major chains that doesn’t have Wi-Fi. Why is your son surfing the web or using apps while he’s working as a server? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-wifi-in-restaurants-good-or-bad/694014/42 "2014-07-28T18:23:55Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Why is your son surfing the web or using apps while he’s working as a server? IME, the former cigarette breaks have evolved into Facebook,etc breaks. Nobody works 60 minutes out of every hour. ETA: IANAServer, but I’m posting this from work. Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!! ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-wifi-in-restaurants-good-or-bad/694014/43 "2014-07-28T19:25:08Z")
I saw the report that’s going around and it’s just something that a NY restaurant supposedly learned from studying their security footage or something. If I recall, most of what they claim in the “report” is dubious at best. > [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I saw this report where they say so many people go into restaurants that have wifi that they are taking so much longer to order, eat, and generally finish so they can turn the table. One study says an average of 35 minutes more. > > So I have to ask - how important is wifi to you when you choose a place to eat? > > Also do you have any other suggestions for restaurants to deal with this? Ex. Charging extra? Limiting time at table? > > I think the furthest would be a cell signal blocker so nobody can do anything but talk to each other. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-wifi-in-restaurants-good-or-bad/694014/44 "2014-08-05T14:56:58Z")
Here we go— #6. Smartphones Aren’t Making Restaurant Service Slower 6 B.S. Stories That Fooled Everyone on Facebook (8/5/14) By: David Christopher Bell > **[6 B.S. Stories That Fooled Everyone on Facebook (8/5/14)](https://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/6-b.s.-stories-that-fooled-everyone-facebook-8514)** > > Hey, here's the fake news you fell for this week. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-wifi-in-restaurants-good-or-bad/694014/45 "2014-08-05T18:37:45Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Here we go— > > #6. Smartphones Aren’t Making Restaurant Service Slower > > 6 B.S. Stories That Fooled Everyone on Facebook (8/5/14) > By: David Christopher Bell > > [6 B.S. Stories That Fooled Everyone on Facebook (8/5/14) | Cracked.com](http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/6-b.s.-stories-that-fooled-everyone-facebook-8514/) Yeah, I literally just did the following: 1. Open that article, but didn’t a single thing in it. 2. Open this thread, read a bit. 3. Go back to the article, see the first item(!) I like these series on BS news. The original story had serious “fake!” warning signs. The drawbacks to free wifi pale in comparison to the advantages. Everyone either whips out their phone regardless, having data, or doesn’t. It only affects people like me, who would have no other way to access the internet except wifi. And I don’t regularly tote a tablet everywhere, but when I **do** need internet, I am grateful that it is available. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-wifi-in-restaurants-good-or-bad/694014.md?page=2)