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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:
AllRoadsLeadHome · 09/12/2023 13:49

I don’t do this in public but do at home. I find it easier to hear and easier to hold out in front of me than by my ear. I guess others feel this too and that’s why they also do it in public. I don’t really care if others do it, I don’t like people hearing my calls though.

sep135 · 09/12/2023 13:49

You can usually get Bluetooth headphones (my phone doesn't have a headphone jack either).

But even if you do have to use the phone on loudspeaker (which is probably only 1% of people that do), surely you'd be conscious of annoying other passengers and keep it to a short conversation? Not a 40 minute chat about nothing to pass the journey?

MorrisZapp · 09/12/2023 13:52

Loathe it. Girl on the bus yesterday changed her travel dates and can now go to see the Rockettes after all. Yes, the Rockettes. Rockettes. THE ROCKETTES. YES I CAN SEE THEM NOW. Because I'm not going on Tuesday, yes. Now I can see the Rockettes. Well I couldn't before. Now I can see the Rockettes. Etc for the entire journey.

Whole day ruined, all I could think about was high kicking hoofers.

TheCadoganArms · 09/12/2023 13:53

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 take massive issue with groups of stag/hen dos on public transport as I imagine plenty of others do as well. Self preservation is a fairly strong motive for not intervening and asking them, no matter how politely, to keep the noise down as they are usually the groups of inconsiderate twats who will just verbally abuse or worse.

Renamed · 09/12/2023 13:55

What happens if, when someone is using their phone on loudspeaker, the person next to them whips out their phone and also uses it on loudspeaker (after all, why not). Do you get cross-conversations going on?

bruffin · 09/12/2023 13:58

fairycakesandtea7 · 09/12/2023 13:44

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.

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I thought most hearing aids were compatable with mobile phones nowadays. Not many mobiles have a headphone jack anymore because they are all blue tooth, but you can get adapters for mobile phones without jacks, if you only have wired headphones

TheCadoganArms · 09/12/2023 13:58

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 09/12/2023 12:43

The point is lack of choice though.

You might not want to hear the conversation but they have no choice about it.
Just like I’ve heard people on the street answering calls from their GP. No choice when they dint give you a time when they’ll call and you still have stuff to do! I’m sure they’d rather have a more private conversation.

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The vast majority of the time when I hear people chatting on speaker phone they are just talking gossipy shite for an enternety rather then organising GP appointments or negotiating complex corporate take over deals. When I get a call on public transport I usually fire off a quick text telling the person I will call back in x minutes. Sure you get the odd emergency but you have to be really lucky to get those calls each time you are on thr bus/train.

DoAWheelie · 09/12/2023 14:00

Because I'm deaf and the only way I can hear anything at all on a phone is to put it on speaker at the highest volume and then hold it up to my ear.

I try not to do calls in public but sometimes I don't have a choice.

creamcheeseandlox · 09/12/2023 14:05

I think it's as simple as the types of people who do this (apart from hard of hearing etc) are selfish and totally self centered and think they are so great that everyone should listen to their amazing banal conversation.

SgtBilko · 09/12/2023 14:12

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 is different because it is tinny, often held up near your ear, people shout into the phone so it’s loud. People talking to each other in person is generally much more muted, with more lapses in conversation so not so full on.

Some people at the lido where I go play their tinny music in the changing room. It sounds fucking awful, hurts my ears and makes me very irritable.

imaceleb2023 · 09/12/2023 14:18

I sponsored a Ukrainian last year and she used to do it next to me on the sofa when I was already in the room first, watching TV.

AIstolemylunch · 09/12/2023 14:23

fairycakesandtea7 · 09/12/2023 13:44

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.

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My mother in her seventies is partially deaf and has dual hearing aids. She uses Bluetooth headphones for her phone. Her hearing aids have an app where you can optimise hearing for phonecalls. It is no excuse

thesixleggedpsychopathonthetrain · 09/12/2023 14:24

Heloo · 09/12/2023 13:00

I fucking HATE anyone who makes or takes extended phone calls on trains. I hate them. Just stand in the bit between carriages if your calls are so urgent and protracted (fine if caught on the hop and you need to take a quick call or etc). But these long tedious calls. Ug. so entitled and rude, and spoils everyone else’s journeys (I read or maybe work on the train, or I just want to sit in silence). I call people out, but they are usually so self obsessed that they think it’s their right. Almost everyone who makes these fucking boring long calls either works in media, management, or IT as far as I can gauge.

The longer and louder the call, the less important the job actually is.

fairycakesandtea7 · 09/12/2023 14:27

AIstolemylunch · 09/12/2023 14:23

My mother in her seventies is partially deaf and has dual hearing aids. She uses Bluetooth headphones for her phone. Her hearing aids have an app where you can optimise hearing for phonecalls. It is no excuse

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I'm glad that works for your mother but I have older hearing aids that haven't got Bluetooth so not sure what I'm supposed to do? I try and make sure calls are done as quickly as possible to avoid annoying other people and tell people to text me if possible.

RestingCatsArseFace · 09/12/2023 14:29

There was a man in a van outside my house, he had just finished work on a house nearby. He sat in the van, windows open, bellowing, with the entire conversation broadcast ot the street.

I have noticed a lot of people seem to do this, it is deafening, like a PA system in their car or the entire county.

AIstolemylunch · 09/12/2023 14:30

You can buy Bluetooth headphones for less than £10, you could upgrade either your hearing aids or your phone, you could text or WhatsApp only in public places. Stop making excuses for bad manners.

fairycakesandtea7 · 09/12/2023 14:45

AIstolemylunch · 09/12/2023 14:30

You can buy Bluetooth headphones for less than £10, you could upgrade either your hearing aids or your phone, you could text or WhatsApp only in public places. Stop making excuses for bad manners.

I don't think a 30 second conversation on loudspeaker is bad manners but each to their own....

AIstolemylunch · 09/12/2023 14:53

Fair enough. Up to you. I disagree. And so do lots of other people judging by the responses on this thread.

Orangeandgold · 09/12/2023 15:05

I don’t get it either! From the responses I completely understand if you are hard of hearing. But sometimes these people have long pointless conversations that they could have when they get home. Or they should just use headphones.

The only time I have done this is if I’m at a shop and calling home to ask “was this the milk brand you wanted” on a video call - because I have family with particular taste. Other than that I tell them if we want to keep talking I need my headphone or I’ll see them later.

It’s just a lack of consideration that other people probably do not need to be in your conversation.

Itrymybestyesido · 09/12/2023 15:06

I can't stand people without general awareness of others around them. I think it's very self absorbed behaviour. The only reason I sometimes have a conversation on speaker is that at a fairly young age I have some hearing issues starting and I'm trying to save my hearing. That said I would never do it on train or a place where people are 'forced' to hear me. Also only for a quick important call...never to drone on about nothing because when I'm out and about Id be focused on whatever reason it is that I'm out for and talking for the sake of talking is about boring too.

cornflower21 · 09/12/2023 15:08

Because people don't give a shot anymore.

Selfishness and arrogance become the new norm.

qotsa · 09/12/2023 15:15

HappiestSleeping · 09/12/2023 11:22

I can't answer your question, but this bemuses me also.

I am of the opinion that so many people these days are so self absorbed that they don't consider anyone else to be important. I think it has become much worse since covid too. It's like we have all forgotten how to behave in a civilised society.

One only has to look at the amount of people who stop in doorways to chat, or in the aisle of the supermarket thus blocking it for everyone else. It's as if nobody else exists.

And don't get me started on phone zombies wandering along pavements so caught up in the screen that they aren't looking where they are going.

All so so true. I totally agree.

fetchacloth · 09/12/2023 15:18

IveOnlyEverHeardOutwithONHere · 09/12/2023 11:29

Yes, this always perplexes me too. I’m always tempted to deliberately and conspicuously listen in, maybe chip in, because if they’re going to make it so public it’s fair game for me to join in.

🤣🤣

CatSighs · 09/12/2023 15:24

I do because I prefer not to hold my phone right next to my head (the radiation emitted being a possible human carcinogen and all that). However, I don't usually make phone calls when I'm on public transport, but I do when I'm walking the dog, so outside and few people around.

But really, how is overhearing both sides of a conversation that somebody is having on their phone on the train any more irritating than overhearing both sides of a conversation that somebody is having with their friend sitting next to them on the train? I'm not sure that I see the difference...

cairnterriorist · 09/12/2023 15:26

My family member does this because they have severe hearing loss when they've not got headphones with them. They would take the call and arrange to call back.

Hearing aids aren't suitable for their sort of hearing loss.

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