Completely false analogy. First, the Canute legend offers various interpretations but they all refer to a natural force (tidal) that is unstoppable. Your digital so-called tide involves social and behavioural choices. I agree you can't un-invent a technology, nor would I want to, but you surely don't believe we can't regulate its use. Or do you? I'm not sure quite where you think the inevitably lies. Second, if what you're saying is that we can't interfere with people's right to do whatever they choose, well that was often said about smoking. Those who pointed out that tobacco addiction is anti-social and that passive smoking harms the health of others were voices in the wilderness. Currently we're at a similar stage in the debate about e-communication addiction and passive phoning, which is increasingly being recognised as a cause of stress-related illness.

Admirable sentiment, and Sam Bee's example offers a great model but it would be naive to rely on it generally. Education hasn't worked yet for mobile phone use in public areas (as this forum repeatedly demonstrates) and there's no reason to assume it would be more successful with Skype etc on planes. In Japan self-restraint with mobiles is relatively successful because it operates within a wider culture of respect for others. In the West where there is a more individualistic culture of entitlement, people are more resistant to education and targeting specific bits of behaviour is unlikely to succeed. That's why we are entitled to look for other ways to control nuisance behaviour.