“Oh look at this guy reading a BOOK at the cafe, he must think he’s sooooo cool! I get he thinks a woman will sleep with him cuz he’s so smart and cultured.”
Or maybe my roommate is having their partner over and they kicked me out and I’d rather do this than just be on my fucking phone for two hours?
Unsure as to whether or not people have this negative perception in their head when I read (though I doubt it) but I do find it annoying that people tend to try and talk to you more when you’re reading a book versus being on your phone.
Especially since the former requires more attention than the latter. Many a time I have been approached by people at work who ignored others in the room who were clearly bored just to be asked “what are you reading”- and call it anti social but everytime I have to hold myself back from saying “I don’t know yet, let me get back to it so I can tell you later”.