Why do people talk on their phones like this?

User4223131 · 23/08/2022 05:47

PumpkinSpiceGirl · 23/08/2022 05:43

I’ve seen loads of people lately (mainly younger) holding their phone flat and talking into it like an Apprentice candidate instead of holding it to their ear. That means if you’re close to them you can hear their entire conversation which I find really rude and not sure why they’d want a stranger to hear it either.

Am I missing something or just getting old and grumpy?

Google it @PumpkinSpiceGirl - it’s actually a recommended thing! It reduces your exposures to radiation from the phone.

99redballoonsgobyy · 23/08/2022 05:48

yes it's bloody annoying in public but even worse when they are wearing headphones and it looks like they are talking to themselves. Think I'm getting old and grumpy too!

User4223131 · 23/08/2022 05:48

Clearly I’m doing well this morning - apologies for quoting the original post! I bloody hate it when people do that 🙄🤣🤣

Whycanineverever · 23/08/2022 05:49

My daughter will routinely FaceTime not call so maybe that? I have to tell her I'm at work so normal audio only!

ReeseWitherfork · 23/08/2022 05:53

I can’t completely imagine what you’re saying but are they just talking into the bottom of it? I’d assume they’re not on the phone at all but recording voice notes. My teenage relatives don’t ever seem to call or text, they just send each other voice notes all the live long day. Voice notes or actual videos. I was sat with DN the other day when she suddenly filmed herself asking what others were wearing to a party. And sent the video out to a million teenagers. All with my double chin in the corner of the screen!

yellowsmileyface · 23/08/2022 06:05

I'm not sure why other people do it, but I've accidently hung up on people with my cheek when holding it to my ear (bloody touch screen!) so I always hold it away from my face.

anotherpotoftea · 23/08/2022 06:14

ReeseWitherfork · 23/08/2022 05:53

I can’t completely imagine what you’re saying but are they just talking into the bottom of it? I’d assume they’re not on the phone at all but recording voice notes. My teenage relatives don’t ever seem to call or text, they just send each other voice notes all the live long day. Voice notes or actual videos. I was sat with DN the other day when she suddenly filmed herself asking what others were wearing to a party. And sent the video out to a million teenagers. All with my double chin in the corner of the screen!

Came here to say voice memos. Also if they are in fact on a call it stops the phone getting all hot and sweaty if it’s not against your ear.

Solosunrise · 23/08/2022 06:19

yellowsmileyface · 23/08/2022 06:05

I'm not sure why other people do it, but I've accidently hung up on people with my cheek when holding it to my ear (bloody touch screen!) so I always hold it away from my face.

Yes that or accidentally muting them! @yellowsmileyface As a child of the 60s I grew up with the curved handset phones which were much easier.
My grandparents would shout into the phone which was their generational thing - my generation seems to be the one that accidentally cuts people off 😳
I never talk on my phone in public either - it just feels wrong, though I'm an avid WhatsApper. Feels more private I think.

Solosunrise · 23/08/2022 06:20

As per pp, my daughter uses voice messages a lot, often when she's out walking. I only ever do them accidentally!

Photosymphysis · 23/08/2022 06:23

This is one thing that unreasonably irritates me so much!

We were in a restaurant a few weeks ago and there was a solo diner behind us who was on his phone this way all the way through the meal.

So we had to listen to both sides of his conversation too.

The holding it flat thing though, and then moving the phone to point the speaker at their ear, then back to their mouth, reminds me of the early phones where you'd hold the ear piece and talk into the mounted mouthpiece (though that actually makes more sense than this).

As for "radiation" it's microwave. None of them worry about the visible light falling ok them, or the microwaves from their EarPods (WHICH THEY COULD BE USING).

Oh, this really really bugs me! Thanks for the opportunity to vent.

TrueNorthernBird · 23/08/2022 06:28

Hmm. I do this but only when at home or in a privacy pod in the office - it's because if I'm on a very long call (at least 5 times a day), it stops my head from getting too hot whilst on the phone.

Don't do it in public though.

hugoagogo · 23/08/2022 06:59

It drives me bonkers.
No one wants to listen to other people's conversations, it's just rude and thoughtless.
It also doesn't seem efficient.

CaptainMyCaptain · 23/08/2022 07:07

I think it's because they didn't grow up using the old fashioned bone-like handset of a land line phone. The old hand set had a clear ear piece and mouthpiece and we all knew how to use it. Young people have no concept if this and there is no need to hold a mobile phone in that way - it's the future although I haven't got there yet myself.

INeedNewShoes · 23/08/2022 07:09

I joined households with someone during the first lockdown who conducts all their phone calls like this. I can't stand it and would have to leave the room if her phone went.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 23/08/2022 07:09

If my hands are full or I'm using my crutch I can't get my hand to my face so have to. I don't do it blasting loud though and only do it for as long as necessary

teezletangler · 23/08/2022 07:14

I just realised yesterday that I always do this now and really annoyed myself with the discovery! I certainly wouldn't do it in public, but if in private I just prefer it for some reason. It would also explain why DD7 still doesn't understand that you can hold a phone up to your ear...

PilatesPeach · 23/08/2022 07:15

Find it astonishing that people think it is ok to walk around with their phone on loud speaker having a conversation, especially when inside eg walking down the gym corridor and the other day a guy in a coffee shop having a face time call on loud speaker all parties practically shouting wtf. We don't want to hear you - none of you.

DillonPanthersTexas · 23/08/2022 07:18

It does look rather stupid.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 23/08/2022 07:23

DillonPanthersTexas · 23/08/2022 07:18

It does look rather stupid.

Everyone who does it for any reason?

ChobKnees · 23/08/2022 07:29

Know exactly what you mean. I'm in London and it's rife. And to other posters - no they aren't leaving a voice note, no they aren't holding it away from them slightly and no they aren't FaceTiming. They are holding their phone horizontally and speaking directly into the speaker with the other person usually on loudspeaker.

A lot of the time it's on public transport too. I got to hear the whole conversation once about how a girl slept with a guy then looked at his phone and found out from that that he had a girlfriend. It was a riveting conversation during my bus journey 🙄

ChobKnees · 23/08/2022 07:30

This!

Lunabun · 23/08/2022 07:33

I do this. I very rarely put my phone up to my ear. I don't like the idea of all the radiation, but I am a bit daft like that.

I also send voicenotes and videos to friends instead of typing. It's much easier.

It never occurred to me that anyone else would care how I use my phone 🤣

TheBikiniExpert · 23/08/2022 07:33

Annoying but not quite as bad as people who facetime you and then put their phone up to their ear!

helloisitmeyourelookingfor · 23/08/2022 07:38

I do it because I have a hearing impairment and I'm sat on a very long waiting list for an ent referral

But I use I'm phone in public as little as possible -partly because I'm worried about people thinking I'm a wanker like this guy

m.youtube.com/watch?v=dhk_OL-5aVo

ReeseWitherfork · 23/08/2022 07:39

ChobKnees · 23/08/2022 07:30

This!

Oh yes this is what I imagined. I don’t know about in public (I don’t think I’m out in public very often!) but definitely voice notes when I’m with friends or family. As I say, my teenage relatives do it all the time. But actually adult acquaintances are just as likely to leave a voice note versus texting nowadays.