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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask why people insist on making calls using speakerphone when in a public place?

113 replies

auserna · 16/04/2026 14:30

I mean aside from the obvious fact that it's highly irritating and inconsiderate to those around you, I don't understand the benefit. The sound is tinny, unpleasant and distorted, and you have to wave it in front of your face instead of simply holding it to your ear as we have done since Alexander Graham Bell were a lad.

I can see the point if you're at home, say cooking, and you pop it down on the worktop, or you're having a family chat with multiple people looking at the phone at the same time, but people on their own - on the bus, for example - I just don't get it.

I also hate it when other people put me on speakerphone - I find the resulting quality of sound uncomfortably unpleasant.

I'm in Italy at the moment and it's every bit as bad here.

Please explain, as it might help me to find it less annoying.

OP posts:
Feelingworried26 · 16/04/2026 16:08

I wouldn't do it in public but I do at home. Easy to hear and leaves my hands free.

cramptramp · 16/04/2026 16:07

WiddlinDiddlin · 16/04/2026 15:23

I don't do it in public as I am busy doing whatever it is I am doing in public..

But I never put my phone to my ear, its horribly uncomfortable and my ear presses buttons.

If I need to talk to someone when I am in public, i send them a whatsapp/fb message.

For all those irritated by it though - in what way is it different to two people holding a conversation in public? Asides from the fact only one of them is physically present?

It’s nearly always louder than 2 people talking to each other.

JHound · 16/04/2026 16:07

EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 15:47

Because it is the same.

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Hit dogs hollering.

Classiclines · 16/04/2026 16:00

EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 14:50

I used to do it as my phone was broke so I had to put it on speaker as it was too quiet when not on speaker.

I do it now if I'm in a really loud busy place and cant hear the person.

To be honest I really dont care what others think around me, Im busy and if I need to take a call and put it on speaker I will. To many people get up in arms about sweet FA now. People need to mind their own buisness and just get over it.

TBH I think your attitude is absolutely so selfish and appalling, but unfortunately increasingly common.
It's not about people minding their own business. It's about you intruding on, and spoiling, other people's enjoyment of their own lives.
I find your total disregard of other people quite astounding.

LightYearsAgo · 16/04/2026 15:58

EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 15:42

Because im not the one with a problem, if someone has a problem with me on the phone then they can move.

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I can't imagine knowing I was acting in a selfish manner and not thinking that was a problem

But it seems from your posts that you might be a generally not very nice person

ParadiseIsNoBunker · 16/04/2026 15:57

Do you really not care that the vast majority (as identified on this thread) see you as incredibly rude? I’m baffled that people go about life not caring about inconveniencing others.

edited to add tag @EasterBunBun11

Original poster
auserna · 16/04/2026 15:56

Tillow4ever · 16/04/2026 14:43

The only time I might put my phone onto speaker is if I’ve been put on hold and it’s just hold music. But I’d only do this if I’m outside and away from other people. I try to avoid phone calls at all costs though, so if I’m on a call it’s either an emergency or no other ways to contact them.

I haven’t ever really noticed people behaving in the way you describe though op. Pretty much anyone I see on a call either has a headset or has the phone to their ear.

Please tell me where you live so I can move there.

OP posts:
EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 15:52

ToastSoldiers · 16/04/2026 15:50

I’m sure people are very often moving away…

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Works for me

ToastSoldiers · 16/04/2026 15:51

randomchap · 16/04/2026 15:22

For many questions like this, the answer is simple. Some people are arseholes.

Why do people talk in a theatre?
Why do people use phones in cinema?
Play music loudly on the bus
Talk on speaker phones
Speed through villages
Let their dogs bark

Etc etc

The answer is simple. They are complete and utter dickheads

I also think, often a bit thick, too.

ToastSoldiers · 16/04/2026 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I’m sure people are very often moving away…

Yourinmyspot · 16/04/2026 15:49

i hate it, my MIL had it on speakerphone in the car yesterday (she wasn’t driving), it was the doctors and you could hear every word. Just why?

ErrolTheDragon · 16/04/2026 15:49

EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 15:45

Oh well. Dont let it ruin your day.

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Oh, I won’t, same as I wouldn’t let treading in dogshit ruin my day. Doesn’t mean I have to shut up and suffer other people’s inconsiderate behaviour in silence, does it?

EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 15:47

JHound · 16/04/2026 15:46

Because they are rude and have no manners.

Also some people see it the same as talking to a person next to you.

Because it is the same.

JHound · 16/04/2026 15:46

Because they are rude and have no manners.

Also some people see it the same as talking to a person next to you.

EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 15:45

ErrolTheDragon · 16/04/2026 15:36

wtf should other people move because you’re being an inconsiderate oik? And of course it’s not always possible to move - it’s those circumstances (especially public transport) which are particularly antisocial.

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Oh well. Dont let it ruin your day.

nevernotmaybe · 16/04/2026 15:44

EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 15:42

Because im not the one with a problem, if someone has a problem with me on the phone then they can move.

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If you don't have a problem, you don't care that others have a problem. Caring or commenting on others having this problem, is you having a problem with them doing, thinking, or saying that.

EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 15:44

ErrolTheDragon · 16/04/2026 15:22

Other people would like to mind their own business and not have someone else’s chat blathering on. 😂Presumably you don’t mind if people near you are talking to each other and the person you’re talking to therefore can’t hear you clearly because of the background noise you’ll be picking up?

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No, I dont have a problem with it.

GrumpyCommuter · 16/04/2026 15:44

This drives me nuts.

I used to loudly ask why they are not using headphones, but this wasn’t very effective at shutting them up.

My current strategy when someone does this on the train is to record snippets and then play it back, loud. This is effective, and usually results in a lot of giggling from other irritated people in the carriage.

(Seriously: no one wants to listen to other people’s phone calls / videos / music. Just use headphones!)

EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 15:42

nevernotmaybe · 16/04/2026 15:31

You seem incapable of taking your own advice on a forum you have to seek out and repeatedly read conversations you don't like or want to hear.

A level of embarrassing hypocrisy that seems about right, for the sort of person you are generally showing yourself to be seperate to this amusing fact.

Edited
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Because im not the one with a problem, if someone has a problem with me on the phone then they can move.

RomeWasVisitedInADay · 16/04/2026 15:39

WiddlinDiddlin · 16/04/2026 15:23

I don't do it in public as I am busy doing whatever it is I am doing in public..

But I never put my phone to my ear, its horribly uncomfortable and my ear presses buttons.

If I need to talk to someone when I am in public, i send them a whatsapp/fb message.

For all those irritated by it though - in what way is it different to two people holding a conversation in public? Asides from the fact only one of them is physically present?

People often talk a LOT louder on phones than when sat next to each other. It's an irritating sound unlike a human voice in the same room as you.

I was on a ferry recently and a young woman about 20metres away from me was having a very loud conversation whinging about some bloke to her friend, everyone could hear her. The family of four 2 tables away playing cards, I could hardly hear at all, because they were considerate people.

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 16/04/2026 15:39

LightYearsAgo · 16/04/2026 15:25

I've seen this argument before, if you genuinely can't see/hear the difference between two humans having a conversation and a disembodied electronic tinny voice sound you may need to visit an audiologist

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I agree. It's a very different sound quality. The same as hearing music or video reels played from a phone. It's only bearable for the person holding the phone. For everyone else it's intensely irritating.

It's not the same as just having some ambient music, TV, or normal conversation burbling away in the background. There is a horrible, tinny, hissy, jarring and intrusive quality and the noise really carries.

ErrolTheDragon · 16/04/2026 15:36

EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 15:19

move away then. problem solved for you.

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wtf should other people move because you’re being an inconsiderate oik? And of course it’s not always possible to move - it’s those circumstances (especially public transport) which are particularly antisocial.

Fizbosshoes · 16/04/2026 15:32

I was on the train this morning in a carriage with a woman having an annoying face time convo. The reception is patchy along our line, and usually cuts out a several times within a 40 min journey. Every station she told the person, loudly, "I'm at <insert station> and reception is really bad"...but unfortunately she persisted with the call.
I find it really annoying.
Once I heard the person on the other end of a call ask if they were on speaker phone and sounded quite embarrassed and tried to wind up the call, but the other passenger just kept talking!

nevernotmaybe · 16/04/2026 15:31

EasterBunBun11 · 16/04/2026 15:19

move away then. problem solved for you.

Show quote history

You seem incapable of taking your own advice on a forum you have to seek out and repeatedly read conversations you don't like or want to hear.

A level of embarrassing hypocrisy that seems about right, for the sort of person you are generally showing yourself to be seperate to this amusing fact.

nevernotmaybe · 16/04/2026 15:27

SomedayIllBeSaturdayNight · 16/04/2026 14:38

Because my phone is broken and it only works on speakerphone!
I make sure to take any calls as discreetly as possible, honest!

The speakerphone mode uses the same speaker, it doesnt seem possible for it to be broken and only be able to use the speakerphone. That would be a software glitch, fixable with a reset.