Simon seems confused
“Is conversation a dying art?” No, it’s not. People converse all the time, whether it’s face-to-face or through the phone. Just because people have their noses pressed up against their phones or tablets doesn’t mean they can’t talk. Simon, there’s nothing impressive about your observations or your post.
A commenter on this post pretty much summed up what everyone was thinking. This random guy you encountered at Costa Coffee was conversing with someone because they knew each other. Try doing this with a complete stranger, and you’ll probably be told to get lost. Simon, you’d rather post about someone having a conversation than have a conversation yourself, so you’re in no position to talk.