Eating out and speakerphone calls

[Monndayhello]

I'm on holiday abroad at the moment eating out in local restaurants. The last two evenings a table near me has had a lengthy video call on speaker phone while waiting for their meal. They have both I think been Italians if this makes a difference, so I've not been able to understand the conversation.

I think this is very rude, though I know social norms are changing. Both times I've said nothing but was annoyed. Chances are it will happen again on this holiday. Would you say anything, or just tutt quietly about their rudeness, or do I just actually have to get over myself and accept most people consider this normal acceptable behaviour now!

I'm back from dinner- loudspeaker free tonight thankfully. I blame Apple removing the headphone jack personally and the normalisation on social media of doing this. It is utterly selfish however you want to dress it up though - basically like saying I don't care that you are sharing this space with me and I'm just going to claim it for myself.

I mentioned people on train journeys, didn't say you were a person on a train journey.

Talking on speaker in a public space is rude and antisocial. If it's a minute it's annoying, if it's longer, I'm tempted to grab the phone and throw it out of the window.

No matter how long the call, just know that no-one in the room/bus/cafe/street wants to hear your inane and tinny conversation. Keep it at home, get headphones or hold it to your ear.

Not just Apple. My Android phone just had a USB-C port. Fortunately, I happen to have earphones with a USB-C connector.

This isn't my AIBU so I'm not actually interested in your opinion of me/my actions? I just posted an alternative opinion as to why some people may use speakerphone 🤷‍♀️

Sorry for any confusion! 😆

No need?

There will always be someone bothered by something I/other people are doing that's "annoying" - my advice to them is to chill the duck out 🤷‍♀️ you might live longer!

I can actually almost guarantee even if i took my headphones out and had a conversion with DH in sainsbury on my headphones some sensitive soul would be in here with a thread on "selfish, narcissistic" people walking around talking loudly to themselves on headsets in public places 😂

This. Good grief.

Wow, defensive much? You sound really selfish.

That’s awful. Did you post about it at the time? If not, she’s not the only DN out there who’s doing this as I’ve read a thread where this happened. Astonishing breach of confidentiality as well as being annoying, I’m sure she’d be in trouble if her bosses knew!

I that woman who goes and stands at their table and says VERY loudly, "You do realise you're in a restaurant, right?"

Speakerphones have to be the worst invention ever. It’s all you can hear - in the garden, on public transport, in a restaurant, on a scenic boat trip, on a peaceful walk, while driving. I’m sick of hearing people’s stupid little tinny voices coming out of a phone.

People do look funny when walking along talking on headsets. But then why bother using your headphones at home?

Don't think so but it was ages ago to be fair. Just remember it because it was so amazingly loud. Something happens with phones that messes with people's ability to recognise how loud they are being.

Because I hate sitting still on the phone and am usually doing chores whilst chatting 😊

As i said before I'm not defensive at all just presenting the point of view as to why sometimes people use speakerphone?

I honestly don't care whether people find me annoying, there'll always be someone finding something to be annoyed at when they're out in public if they're that kind of person. Just chill out!?

If you really can't see that this is annoying to many, and not merely a case of 'someone finding something to be annoyed at', you might need to try 'chilling out' about being called out on your inconsiderate behaviour.

Minimising your own role in upsetting others is cosy for you. Distasteful to witness such smugness.

Oh this happened to us the other night (are you on a Sporades island OP)? Very annoying and antisocial. Imagine if everyone in the restaurant did it.

I was tempted to say something, but I wussed out and settled for giving hard stares and exchanging eye rolls with the other neighbouring tables.

I did read on MN a great suggestion of saying “Excuse me, I think your headphones aren’t connected” but I think it wouldn’t pass the language barrier abroad.

It’s the equivalent of cycling on pavements & jumping queues. Anti-social stuff that people do because they know they can get away with it.

Yep, and it'll only get worse over time. It's the cult of the individual.

People may scoff, but I honestly believe a lot of the damaging seeds were sown in Thatcher's 'no such thing as society' times. Coupled with Wall Street's 'greed is good', that mentality really caught on at the time, people were only too happy to have excuses for their own selfishness handed to them on a plate, and many appear to have passed it on to their children judging by what I see sometimes. Combined with overly lax parenting in many families, I think we're going to see subsequent generations becoming progressively more selfish and 'me, me, me', unfortunately.

Wetherspoon has banned it. Another reason for going there 😍

Really? Banned speakerphones? That’s a very good sign. I hope London Transport follows suit!

Look/walk away then if you find me distasteful 🤪 it bothers me not one jot.

And to the poster above, yes of course I'm aware that some people may find what i do annoying - as I've said, there's a certain type who's annoyed by almost everything, which kind of feels like a them problem 🙄 - but nope I don't need to modify my behaviour thanks, I have already learnt how to be less bothered by other people's actions, you should definitelygive it a try...

I'm not actually sure your sentence even makes sense but you can feel free to be smug about the fact it does to you at least 😂

All the emojis arent fooling anyone. Being deeply selfish and belittling toward the comfort of others is the opposite of happiness.