@lanodan @Arcana @adamgreenfield What he is doing is the equivalent of getting his laptop out and continuing with work using public transport. Except he no longer needs to worry about having a table or his lap.

I understand the concern that he isn't going to be aware of his surroundings or be able to be present with the other people there. But we are already atomised, I don't think this is much different to phones or laptops in public. There are better ways to tackle being present in public, but that requires creating an inviting environment that you want to be present in that isn't overwhelming the senses and creating communities where people grow up with and know each other. It requires creating high trust in society, fewer people around so there are less strangers. I don't think cities are conducive to this... although you can probably create a mini-community where neighbours know each other and looked out for each other if people didn't keep moving around and weren't so quick to cut people out over differences in opinions.