To wish people wouldn't chat in coffee shops

[SybilEngineer]

Sitting in Costa with a latte choc muffin and my iPad. Can't concentrate because I'm surrounded by people yattering on about the Queen's birthday celebrations, their ailments in too much detail, conducting interviews for dodgy sounding jobs and making loud phone calls.

AIBU to wish they'd STFU and let me enjoy my coffee in peace?

Go and find the woman who wishes people wouldn't breathe in airport lounges (or whatever it was), you two could have wonderful glowering silent coffee dates in airports

It's about volume, I think. Some people don't seem to be able to talk except at top volume. I don't expect peace and quiet in coffee shops, but neither do I need to hear every detail of other people's lives. I sometimes feel sorry for the person sitting directly opposite them, or on the other end of the phone, being yelled at.

It's a sort of "Look at me! I paid the money for this coffee and I'm going to make sure people notice me." performance. Fuelled by FB mania, checking in and posting pictures of what you're drinking.
Tinkling teacups and subdued conversations are a thing of the past.

You have to admit though, OP, you're posting about it on MN...

And tell us about the dodgy-sounding jobs. I never overhear anything interesting

YABU to expect people not to talk in a coffe shop.

But YANBU to think most of those conversations are tedious, people seem to forget volume control etc...
Music, I hate it when it's too loud but really it's an issue with the coffee shop rather than the customers.

Haven't seen that at Costa but another bug of mine is screens. You know the VERY big Tv screen on the wall or the much smaller TV screens at the end of each table. I'm not going to a coffee shop/pub/restaurant to TV, the news or whatever else is deemed 'important'

Oh get over yourselves. Or go somewhere else.

It's already been pointed out, but Costa is rubbish anyway.

As someone who can do a lot of my work anywhere I choose, and who enjoys treating myself to doing it in a coffee shop every now and again - YABU, but you need to do some research and find yourself what you want! There are coffee shops that are v. quiet (especially at 10am on Monday); there are others that are noisy. Some are absolutely full of toddlers; some have none. You need to shop around until you find your coffee shop!

That's true, Margaret. It's like having a 'local' pub; finding somewhere that suits you and what you want to do in there.

Shwabis If you find one those places, let me know so I can move near it.
Most All conversations are tedious around where I am

I don't think OP's being completely serious, Sapphire.

YANBU. Though I once had to sit in a coffee shop singing in order baggsy the table for colleagues arriving late. So now I accept noisy other people as my penance.

Don't go to a library.

Apparently, to encourage the hoi polloi to read, they've done away with silence.

I had a complicated editing job to do when I was away from home so thought I'd be safe in the public library. The man I asked to keep it down (a shrieky blow by blow of some tedious box set) turned out to be the ACTUAL librarian.

He was astonished I was old enough to remember when library was synonymous with silence.

YANBU. I wish people would just stop yattering in places I go to, full stop. When I rule the world, all forms of public transport will be silent zones, as will coffee shops, libraries and swimming pool changing rooms (but pool attendants will be allowed to speak in life-threatening situations at the poolside itself). Talking in restaurants will only be allowed at a volume that can't be heard by diners at other tables. Volume control may also be the way to go in supermarkets and other shops, much as I'd like to ban talking there as well.

Welcome to my lovely peaceful world.

Are you Carry from SATC?

Just, I said 'yourselves'. It's not just the OP who wishes for silence in public places.

Apparently, to encourage the hoi polloi to read, they've done away with silence.

Now THAT IBVU. They changed the rules when my back was turned

I had a complicated editing job to do when I was away from home so thought I'd be safe in the public library. The man I asked to keep it down (a shrieky blow by blow of some tedious box set) turned out to be the ACTUAL librarian

I wonder where all the proper librarians went?

you can buy Costa coffee in packets to make at home tho god knows why anyone would

Or get some of those massive noise cancelling headphones that make you look like Mickey Mouse.

Or join in and make a friend. Go on, you could tell them about the headache you've got listening to their prattle

YABU. I can't chat with my friends/family now? Should we drink our lattes in stony silence?

0^0

Ha ha this is me every time I go to the cafe and I know IABU but I still feel it.

Agree re libraries, I want to kill the wankers on their phones and the librarians SHOUT their stupid conversations.

Dame I was just going to say that! Making a better coffee than Starbucks or Costa isn't a really difficult achievement. Get some bitter, burnt, stale coffee beans and douse your brew in milk.

All coffee shops have a different vibe. Costa and Starbucks are full of socialisers who aren't bothered about good coffee. Find an independent where everybody is taking up a whole table with a macbook, ear phones in and you'll have found your people!

I wish that people wouldn't order coffee in coffee shops, I always have to stand for frickin ages behind some bastard taking up the barista's time making a triple skinny choccywoccydoodah when all I want is a cup of tea. And even then I have to pay over the odds for a tea bag and some hot water (and it's always fucking Twinings! What is it with that gnats' piss shit? Why can't I get a decent cuppa, hmm, HMMM?), and I don't even have milk. Hurumph.

No wonder gets inserted into every other thread title, we've got a tranche of posters who wouldn't read the subtext/tone of the OP if it smacked them in the fizzog

Is there anywhere in which you are expected to be v.quiet anymore? Seems even the quiet coach on trains you should expect some noise. Museums? 'Oh, but Tarquin simply must be allowed to express himself'.

The older I get, the more I think people do/say things just to impress other people. Taking photos of your night out/food/holiday and then posting it on some daft social media website? Are you really that bored? I'd rather stay at home on my home than spend time with such tedious people.