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Original poster

If you use your phone on loudspeaker when in public, can I ask why?

179 replies

Eastie77Returns · 09/12/2023 11:14

I’m genuinely interested in understanding the mindset behind people who do this.

Yesterday on a packed train I stood next to a woman who conducted multiple calls on loudspeaker over the course of about 20 minutes.

The entire carriage got to hear her conversation with someone about an appointment to treat a Verrucah, problems with the cat, Gary’s laziness as he hasn’t moved the barrels yet and they’ve been there since yesterday…and various other things. She was shouting as the line was bad, redialling when the phone cut out and bellowing “I’m on a TRAIN…I keep cutting out when I go under a TUNNEL..can you HEAR me”

I find the whole thing beyond baffling. Why would you want strangers to hear your business. So, if you make or answer calls and go on loudspeaker when you’re on public transport is there a specific reason you do this?

OP posts:
PrinceHaz · 09/12/2023 13:09

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 09/12/2023 13:05

I’m always finding it interesting how people can’t stand other people taking a phone call.

But there is never any issue with hen/stag do in trains, making a hell of a lot more noise (and drinking at 8.00am going to down the London to ‘ave fun’). Or those who are drunk and loud/obnoxious (they’re just having fun - why are you using that train when you know they are likely to have loads of drunk people anyway?).

But people on the phone? And children? Clearly none if that is ever acceptable

I’d find a stag do difficult but it’s still natural ambient noise that your brain can process, albeit loud and anti-social.
Hearing phones on speaker and videos on iPads is for me, a lot more difficult, even though it will be much quieter than a stag do.

bruffin · 09/12/2023 13:10

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 09/12/2023 13:05

I’m always finding it interesting how people can’t stand other people taking a phone call.

But there is never any issue with hen/stag do in trains, making a hell of a lot more noise (and drinking at 8.00am going to down the London to ‘ave fun’). Or those who are drunk and loud/obnoxious (they’re just having fun - why are you using that train when you know they are likely to have loads of drunk people anyway?).

But people on the phone? And children? Clearly none if that is ever acceptable

I dont mind people talking on the phone, i dont like people watching their mobiles without earphones on the trains , really tinny annoying sound. All they need is cheap headphones but so many people dont seem to have them and want to impose their music/film on other people

Abra1t · 09/12/2023 13:11

HurdyGurdy19 · 09/12/2023 11:40

I don't, but I rarely make/take calls on my phone anyway.

It disproportionately irritates me when people do, but then I think - is it really any different to listening to two people talking when they are together? I'm still listening (whether I want to or not) to a two way conversation.

Apparently it does make a difference. There was some research done about it and it's because our brains will naturally switch on an pay attention. Whereas if it's two people, we can tune out as the brain will accept it's not to do with us.

thesixleggedpsychopathonthetrain · 09/12/2023 13:11

Dreemhouse · 09/12/2023 11:45

My hearing is bad so I do this if I am walking down the street, I wouldn’t do it on a train though.

I do wonder if it is that much different to having to sit and listen to two people in person talking to each other, you would hear the whole conversation then? Just a thought

It's different because the telephone conversation has amplification and electronic distortion.

muddyford · 09/12/2023 13:12

On one train journey a woman was placing an order for something. By the time she got off the entire carriage knew her name, address and credit card details. But rarely are these conversations enthralling!

dothehokeycokey · 09/12/2023 13:15

Using loudspeaker because your hard of hearing is a bit bizarre when people are doing it in just LOUD public places.

Christ take your calls in privacy we don't want to know the ins and outs of your life.

It baffles me that anyone would want to have a convo in public like it but I find people nowadays don't seem to have much social awareness anymore

VisionsOfSplendour · 09/12/2023 13:15

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 09/12/2023 11:57

Does it include people who have a crap phone so they have no choice but to use the loud speaker? Incl those who can’t afford to replace said phone?

Threads on this subject are a regular feature on MN. Depending on the thread you have a more or less big group of people falling into that category.
And still people assume you’re just a ‘bellend’ or ‘it’s to look cool like xyz’ etc…
In the middle if the CoL crisis, it’d be nice to realise not everyone can replace a broken phone.
Same with people who have hearing issues etc…

Show quote history

Why do theses people need to make their phone calls in public places?

AIstolemylunch · 09/12/2023 13:18

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PinkTonic · 09/12/2023 13:18

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 09/12/2023 13:05

I’m always finding it interesting how people can’t stand other people taking a phone call.

But there is never any issue with hen/stag do in trains, making a hell of a lot more noise (and drinking at 8.00am going to down the London to ‘ave fun’). Or those who are drunk and loud/obnoxious (they’re just having fun - why are you using that train when you know they are likely to have loads of drunk people anyway?).

But people on the phone? And children? Clearly none if that is ever acceptable

Taking a phone call using a normal indoor voice and holding the phone to your ear or using ear pods is acceptable. Repeated calls during the journey tend to indicate a heightened sense of self importance.
Continuously being on the phone for your entire journey, on loudspeaker, bellowing at the phone as though you were conversing directly with someone in the next county, is unacceptable, attention seeking and rude.

Rowdy behaviour due to drunkenness and poor manners is unacceptable, inconsiderate and rude, whatever the occasion. Children talking normally is fine, and sometimes some less desirable behaviour is inconvenient but understandable; piercing screeching for no reason and using screens loudly without headphones is unacceptable, inconsiderate and rude.

I don’t see what is difficult for some people to understand about the norms of what is socially acceptable.

MrsMarzetti · 09/12/2023 13:21

I am deaf and can't here without it being on loud speaker. I don't have 20minute conversations on my phone in public, i will answer if it is my Dh or Adult children just to check nothing is wrong. My conversations last 30 seconds.

Wednesday6 · 09/12/2023 13:21

My sound dynamic doesn't work I can hardly hear so have to unfortunately put my phone on speaker on occasions

thefallen · 09/12/2023 13:21

It's a total dick move. You're essentially saying to everyone around you that your convenience is more important than theirs.

StoneTheCrone · 09/12/2023 13:22

Even worse than the public phone calls on trains is the tablet/phone gaming on trains. So many children playing loud games with music or sound effects for a whole train journey - it prevents everyone else from working, reading, sleeping, contemplating, having quiet conversations etc..

When did this become the norm?

The quiet carriages are not quiet either.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 09/12/2023 13:26

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 09/12/2023 13:05

I’m always finding it interesting how people can’t stand other people taking a phone call.

But there is never any issue with hen/stag do in trains, making a hell of a lot more noise (and drinking at 8.00am going to down the London to ‘ave fun’). Or those who are drunk and loud/obnoxious (they’re just having fun - why are you using that train when you know they are likely to have loads of drunk people anyway?).

But people on the phone? And children? Clearly none if that is ever acceptable

That would be bloody annoying too.

Maybe people need to have the option of booking seats in the quiet carriage, which would involve ticking a box to confirm you understood that phone calls, any phone / gadget noise and loud conversations were banned in there. I’d be up for that.

greengreengrass25 · 09/12/2023 13:27

I do this at home but never in public

Reason being that when phone is held to ear it presses the keyboard

Blueberrycreampie · 09/12/2023 13:28

Because I honestly cannot hear without it! If I have time to plug in earphones I will use them but it's not always possible. I'm not on my phone much though!

BatshitCrazyWoman · 09/12/2023 13:30

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 09/12/2023 13:05

I’m always finding it interesting how people can’t stand other people taking a phone call.

But there is never any issue with hen/stag do in trains, making a hell of a lot more noise (and drinking at 8.00am going to down the London to ‘ave fun’). Or those who are drunk and loud/obnoxious (they’re just having fun - why are you using that train when you know they are likely to have loads of drunk people anyway?).

But people on the phone? And children? Clearly none if that is ever acceptable

I have an issue with hen/stag parties and drunks on trains, too 😂

Children are fine unless they are screeching or running about.

hsapposhit · 09/12/2023 13:35

I use my phone on speaker all the time when I am at home or if I'm hiking and there is no one else around. I find I can hear better and also the other person can hear me better. For some reason, if I hold my phone up to my ear I never seem to get the angle right so that the microphone is picking up my voice adequately and the other person can't hear me. Also if I'm working it's handy because I can put the phone down on the desk and take notes about the call at the same time.

However, I don't use my phone on trains or in other public areas at all. I just don't answer the call. There's nothing that can't wait until after the journey. I'll usually message the caller and say I'll get back to them.
It's really rude to have loud conversations in a public place such as a train or bus. The same goes for people listening to music or watching films without earphones on trains/planes etc. I don't understand why they don't know that it's rude. They obviously don't care.
I wonder if a lot of people have just got so used to noise that it doesn't bother them so therefore they don't actually realize it is bothering others.

Vinorosso74 · 09/12/2023 13:36

Baffles me too. I tend not to avoid phone conversations on public but if I do, they're short and not on loudspeaker.
It's just inconsiderate to subject everyone around you to your noise whether it be conversation/music/stupid videos.
I was on a bus one day where one bloke was listening to opera on speaker (that was a first), another bloke started watching a video on full volume so he could hear above the opera then someone made a WhatsApp/Facetime call with a kid wailing in the background. I can usually switch off from things but this was noise overload! It's the tinny sound which gets me.

sep135 · 09/12/2023 13:36

If it's music, put your own music on right next to them and say woo it's a party!!

I have done this on the odd occasion when it's just me and them. My current song of choice is Barbie Girl by Aqua which is suitably horrific but makes the point that we could all do the same if we want a carriage full of noise.

I may be female but most of the passengers stick with the death stares and sighs whereas I have a polite word with people if they're near me. I think it's the height of selfishness, I do NOT want to hear your banal and tedious call on speakerphone nor crappy music from TikTok videos. Aagh.

greengreengrass25 · 09/12/2023 13:36

hsapposhit · 09/12/2023 13:35

I use my phone on speaker all the time when I am at home or if I'm hiking and there is no one else around. I find I can hear better and also the other person can hear me better. For some reason, if I hold my phone up to my ear I never seem to get the angle right so that the microphone is picking up my voice adequately and the other person can't hear me. Also if I'm working it's handy because I can put the phone down on the desk and take notes about the call at the same time.

However, I don't use my phone on trains or in other public areas at all. I just don't answer the call. There's nothing that can't wait until after the journey. I'll usually message the caller and say I'll get back to them.
It's really rude to have loud conversations in a public place such as a train or bus. The same goes for people listening to music or watching films without earphones on trains/planes etc. I don't understand why they don't know that it's rude. They obviously don't care.
I wonder if a lot of people have just got so used to noise that it doesn't bother them so therefore they don't actually realize it is bothering others.

That's my take on it

I don't want to her other people's inane drivel

fishfingersandtoes · 09/12/2023 13:42

I sometimes do this when I'm on my own because my phone often isn't loud enough to hear properly.

fairycakesandtea7 · 09/12/2023 13:43

I wear two hearing aids and can't hear the phone at normal volume

fairycakesandtea7 · 09/12/2023 13:44

This reply has been deleted

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My phone doesn't have a headphone jack and I can't hear the phone even with both hearing aids in. So I have to use the phone on loud speaker and I won't apologise for it.

WhatWouldHopperDo · 09/12/2023 13:47

Just want to add people who do this while walking their dog. Dog is off lead thus they aren’t paying any attention to where/when their dog shits and so don’t pick it up.

I have called people a couple of times and said ‘excuse me but your dog has just pooed’. Neither time did they care nor pick it up.

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