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?

[KayTee87]

Yanbu - bloody people being sociable in public

[Janey50]

You ARE joking right? A coffee shop is the LAST place I would go if I wanted a bit of peace and quiet. At peak hours,my local one is like sitting in the middle of Piccadilly circus station. I generally don't have a problem with the general hub-bub but at times,the volume can get a bit much,with people shouting on their phones,children shrieking and the baristas crashing and banging about. The problem is that you only have to get one group of people talking loudly and before long,everyone else is increasing their volume,and on it goes. The louder you talk,the louder everyone else has to,to make themselves heard. It's a vicious circle. If you really want silence,then stay at home to have your coffee!

[katemiddletonsothermum]

Can i hijack the thread? After Costa, I took DS to his swimming lesson and the bloody place was FULL OF OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN!!!!

[paxillin]

In fact I have to resist the temptation to tell them to stop chatting and get on with their work. Don't resist, derxa, I bet many would. I'd feel terribly caught.

[derxa]

I'm only half joking. I'm a right old misery arse.

[paxillin]

You could increase the nation's productivity. I'd probably go back to work or launch into a flustered explanation of my day off. Only afterwards would the WTF moment arrive, by which time I'd be safely back at work and OP would have her peace.

Once you are done with the coffee chatters maybe you could use the teacher voice to sort out table hoggers and queue jumpers...

[Gallievans]

When DD was in year 6 she & her friends wanted to start going to town on a Saturday afternoon so one or two mums would sit in Nero gossiping waiting for them. It was always fun eavesdropping accidentally overhearing the people on the next table!

[WindPowerRanger]

You would hate sitting near me, OP. Ds recites the plot of every Power Rangers episode ever, complete with his views as to how it could be improved. DD talks over him about anything that occurs to her. She is louder than the horn on a cross-channel ferry, because she likes to make an impact. People who recognise me now know to hover, because 3 minutes MAX after I sit down with the children every seat around me will be vacated.

I do try to keep them quiet, I really do.

[valeview]

er.....yes you are! Sit at home and have your coffee in peace!

[LooseDebra]

Yes, but Ear Plugs?

[Maireadplastic]

Far more annoying are the loners hogging the sofas and being silent.

[coffeeandbubbles]

Were the bast*rds drinking coffee too? How very dare they! Try the library

[Aeroflotgirl]

YABVvU what are people meant to do in coffee shops, sit and stare at each other , get a costa take out and drink it at home.

[McBassyPants]

Yes. Yes you are

[McBassyPants]

I enjoy the buzz of a coffee shop

[piggypoo]

YABU, coffee shops are for people to meet up and have a natter, not for miserable meanies to sit there, spouting ill-will to everyone for enjoying the coffee and cake and chatter!

[McBassyPants]

Unnecessary much pamb

[MsHoolie]

I don't mind chitter chatter, but I do know what you mean... at times the sound levels are ear bleedingly high in our Starbucks (terrible accoustics don't help)
Lord I HATE the 'loud strident' person who speaks as if 10 feet from the person they are with... (not everyone wants to hear how Jacintha is doing at ballet, dear!!'

Our Costa is open on 2 sides in a small mall, though, which seems to dissipate the noise. Not bothered by it there.

Buy some earphones and listen to music if the chatter bothers you....

[craftycarls]

Wow YABU! It is a coffee shop where people go to meet and chat. They do take away you know!

[bloosn]

...er....troll?

[MHnurse16]

Definitely unreasonable - most people go to coffee shops as a meeting point with friends! If you want a quiet coffee try a quieter no-name coffee place :)

[notamummy10]

bloosn I don't think it's a troll post, I just don't think OP understands what goes on at a coffee shop, well a big chain coffee shop anyway.

Independent ones that aren't that popular tend to be quieter... But very awkward!

[borntohula]

yanbu - same goes for public transport btw

[Londener123]

I prefer Esquires Coffee. Sometimes I am sociable sometimes I am not.