Why do people do this?

[YodasHairyButt]

I’m noticing that more and more people seem to take calls in public using the speaker and holding their phones in front of their mouths, so that both sides of the conversation are audible to everyone. I understand doing this with FaceTime and the like obviously, but I don’t know why taking calls isn’t done the old fashioned way with the phone to your ear? Is there a reason I’m missing why this seems to have become so common? I admit I find it a bit irritating, but I am honestly a bit flummoxed as to why it seems to be becoming the norm.

If you do this, is there a particular reason or is it just habit? Am just genuinely curious.

Because most people are obnoxious and inconsiderate and care not a jot about what is happening around them.

Blame The Apprentice

I do it as I can't hear my phone very well if the speaker isn't on. However, I wouldn't do it around others unless making the call was absolutely essential. I would take myself away from others 99.9% of the time.

I do it in the house because I’m usually doing something or holding something but I wouldn’t put anyone I know on loud speaker in public 🤪😂

My Mum has started doing this recently but it is because she struggles to hear if in public. Not that she takes many calls in public but on the odd occasion she has to it is the only way she can hear properly

It's because they're fed up with accidentally ending the call with their earlobe, after touching the wrong part of the touch screen.

Ah! That makes sense, screens are very sensitive

Alone in the house yes, outside the house with others around no.

someone was doing just this in A&E the other day, it was really bloody annoying

The only time I’ve done it is in the last year of a phones life as the speakers go crap and I can’t hear. Hasn’t happened this phone thankfully
I think people also do it as you arm aches holding it to the ear

Yes another good point

I haven't really noticed this here but I noticed it a lot when we were in Spain a few years ago. DH said it was because people are getting aware of radiation from phones. Don't know if that's true?

I'm deaf so any calls go straight through to my hearing aids. It probably looks like I'm talking with it on speaker as I don't hold the phone to my ear but those around me won't be able to hear the person on the other end, like a normal phone call, I guess.

I think that people on the phone in public can be annoying anyway. I was on the bus years ago and a woman narrated her whole bloody bus journey to the person she was on the phone to. She must have been meeting them and she saying, "I'm just leaving the bus station now, I'm on the bus. Yeah, and Johnny said blah blah blah and I can't believe it. I'm just coming up to the big Tesco. Can you believe that Sarah said this? Oh, I'm just at the big roundabout, I'm nearly at the bus stop. I'm getting off the bus now..." OMG!