To have a phone conversation on the bus?

[LauderSyme]

I travelled to work by bus today and thought I'd use the time to call my grandmother on my mobile. I work full time and am a single parent so finding the time to chat on the phone can be tricky. We talked for 20 mins or so, mainly about my dc. As I was getting off, an elderly couple confronted me quite nastily to tell me how rude I was and how disgusting it was of me to "force the whole top deck to listen to my conversation" and that I should "think twice before getting that thing out". I know other people's public conversations can be really annoying but I didn't raise my voice or swear or speak inappropriately. I think they were the rude ones! WIBU or were they?

My uni student DD1 also likes to phone me when she is sitting on the bus to/from uni!

I guess then that we are an anti-social pair then by some people's exacting standards, but I couldn't care less. She doesn't ignore friends to do it. She calls when she is on her own. We don't have loud or shouty conversations.

But how could they hear you if you were being considerate and mindful that others shouldn't be able to hear you?

I love eavesdropping. I would have preferred it if you had the phone on speakerphone so I could hear both sides of the conversation though.

This thread has surprised me. It wouldn't bother me at all and I quite like listening to peoples conversations. I also suffer with misophonia so would rather here a conversation with proper talking than say someone tapping away on a keyboard or sniffing or chewing gum etc so I would be glad of something else to focus my ears on.

I think any convo in the confined space of a bus is loud enough to get on somebody's wick, never mind a way sided ph convo.

BabyGanoush The kids have the right idea. I use Viber and telegram to keep in touch with family. There's none of the urgency to answer that there is with a phone and it's easy to have a group chat to dip in and out of.

*one way

YANBU

Newsflash: people talk while on public transport. Some to each other, some on the phone. Some are loud, some are not.

And about the couple who complained to you OP: how entitled do you have to be to confront a stranger and tell them to "think twice before getting that thing out?" one of the rudest, most self-centered things I've read on mumsnet for a while.

This is why I always have headphones and music. So I can drown it out.

But I live in London where we're all grumpy buggers and want to travel in near silence. Eating (particularly noisily) or talking will get you death stares on my line. There are a few who like to have a good chat on the way into work in the morning (with each other). I think they're just train buddies. They're annoying.

My neighbour and I walked to the station together the other morning and then separated at the station despite getting on the same train! Unspoken rule to which we both adhered.

So, YWBU.

However, they were rude and I suggest you have a Dom Joly style 'I'M ON A BUS' conversation next time you see them. With the appropriate Nokia ring tone. PM me - I'll call you when you need me too.

I've used bus journeys for phone conversations, as like you, it's a rare time when I have time.

Thanks for this post, OP. I am on a bus and it reminded me of an important call I needed to make.

I don't see any problem with the as long as you weren't talking very loudly or screeching with laughter.

My neighbour and I walked to the station together the other morning and then separated at the station despite getting on the same train! Unspoken rule to which we both adhered.

Love it. Very British Problems, if you don't already follow it on Twitter/FB, covers exactly this kind of ground very well.

this not the.

There are a few who like to have a good chat on the way into work in the morning (with each other). I think they're just train buddies. They're annoying.

Annoying for talking to each other? London is a whole 'nother world glad I don't live there as I like talking to my friends

the same debate in the New York Times

I wouldn't think twice about taking on the bus. I thought the mummies on the bus went chatter chatter chatter anyway

looby, not all us Londoners are like that! I live in the Smoke too and I am OK with people talking to each other. I even talk to people on public transport myself sometimes!

I dislike it and wouldn't dream of doing it, sorry OP, YABU

This is more prevalent on buses than tubes. Personally I love overhearing!

Sapphire - do you get death stared when talking?

This thread has really made me quite sad actually. Can't even have a chat with a grandmother on the phone anymore

Although I do find people lower their voices for the juicy bits.

looby, not on any occasion I remember! I do talk normally though, I don't go full Dom Joly I'd love to just once though