Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Re woman on bus and mobile phone

129 replies

user1485342611 · 11/07/2017 16:32

I was on a bus earlier. A young woman in her 20s was on her phone yacking away at top volume from the minute she got onto the bus; finishing one call and immediately calling someone else. This went on for about 20 minutes and eventually a middle aged woman sitting directly in front of her turned around and said 'Can you please just stop shouting into your phone and show some consideration. You're doing my head in'.

Younger woman looked a bit shocked but ended her call and we all got a bit of peace.

AIBU to wish I had the courage to do something similar. I am fed up of people around me gabbing away loudly into their phones on public transport, barely pausing to draw breath for the entire journey.

OP posts:
Hillingdon · 11/07/2017 16:36

I SO agree with you. Its almost like they need to let others know exactly what is happening at a given time and please don't get me started on being literally glued to their phone screens. Its hardly life and death, its normally looking at Facebook and having to just reply THAT instant!

DancesWithOtters · 11/07/2017 16:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ButFirstTea · 11/07/2017 16:40

Ehh. I live in London and have a long bus ride to and from work every day. I've got no phone signal in my flat so my commute home is pretty much the only time I get to have a chat with my mam (who lives in the north east and I see only every couple of months). I can see it might be irritating but it's necessary for some of us.

user1468353179 · 11/07/2017 16:40

I was in A&E yesterday with my daughter. Virtually the whole waiting room had phones in their hand, either reading something or posting. Some where actually chatting on them.

UterusUterusGhali · 11/07/2017 16:41

Would you have been annoyed if it was a "middle aged woman" hacking to her friend next to her?

And what on earth is wrong with looking at your phone on the bus vs looking at a book/magazine? Hmm

Bobbiepin · 11/07/2017 16:42

There's a difference between chatting to your mam on the phone and being loud and inconsiderate to other people. I'm pretty sure you are asked to turn your phones off in A&E too

UterusUterusGhali · 11/07/2017 16:42

*yacking.
Not hacking.
That would've been unreasonable.
Talking on public transport is reasonable.

Original poster
user1485342611 · 11/07/2017 16:43

If she was shouting, yes I would uterus. But women chatting together tend to speak in a quieter tone than people on mobile phones who always seem to shout so that the whole bus can hear them.

OP posts:
NapQueen · 11/07/2017 16:43

and please don't get me started on being literally glued to their phone screens. Its hardly life and death, its normally looking at Facebook and having to just reply THAT instant!

Or just having nothing else to do while on the bus. Theres only so much looking out a window one can do.

Gromance02 · 11/07/2017 16:43

Excessive mobile phone use just screams of desperation to me. Especially the constant checking of Facebook etc. I wonder what on earth people are so enthralled in that they stop dead in the street.

coddiwomple · 11/07/2017 16:46

I completely agree with the woman who asked her to stop shouting!

Age has nothing to do with it, commuters of all age can be such a nuisance and bark in their phone, it's really annoying. If you must talk, at least be considerate. I dread the day phones will be fully allowed on airplanes. It will be hell, and times zones will make it even worst. "HELLO, I AM ON A PLANE!"
Great.

However, what's wrong with writing or reading on your phone/ tablet?You are not disturbing anyone. My phone is taking a lot less space and is less noisy than a newspaper if I am looking at the news on it.

coddiwomple · 11/07/2017 16:49

how do things change...

Re woman on bus and mobile phone
nina2b · 11/07/2017 16:52

Hmmm. It might be "necessary" to use your phone on public transport but is it really necessary to SHOUT?

HunterHearstHelmsley · 11/07/2017 16:52

I hate people talking in general on public transport. I had two irritating middle aged ladies sitting across from me blabbering for 2 hours last week. I eventually resorted to turning Glow up to drown them out.

Fruitcocktail6 · 11/07/2017 16:53

ButFirstTea

You could go somewhere else that's neither your flat or the bus to have that conversation. I have absolutley no interest in hearing your conversation to your mam. Or get an landline in your flat.

ButFirstTea · 11/07/2017 16:57

Thanks for your understanding Fruit...

Abra1d · 11/07/2017 16:58

Studies have shown that it is harder to ignore mobile callers talking than 'real' conversations. I can't remember the science behind it but it seems to be the case.

Littlepond · 11/07/2017 17:03

lol I was full on face timing my mum in Australia on the bus the other day on my iPad. Yous lot would hate me Grin

HeyMicky · 11/07/2017 17:04

She's my hero. On the train right now and in my group of six seats I have:

  • One person smacking her chewing gum around her open mouth
  • Another rolling a boiled sweet around so it clacks against her teeth
  • one person with audible keypad clicks
  • one IT wanker bellowing into his headset

I'm going fucking mental

Original poster
user1485342611 · 11/07/2017 17:04

Glad you find it so amusing that you're probably pissing half the bus off.

Out of curiosity, if someone asked you to stop, how would you feel?

OP posts:
Original poster
user1485342611 · 11/07/2017 17:05

Sorry, that question was to Littlepond

OP posts:
PoorYorick · 11/07/2017 17:06

I don't understand people who think we should not look at our phones while commuting or sitting in a waiting room. What else are we supposed to do apart from read a book which, while perhaps a bit more edifying, isn't any more sociable?

They complain that we are not "talking" to each other. I don't want to have randoms start up annoying conversations with me while I'm out and about. I hate it. I want to be left alone to read the news, a book or whatever article is interesting me. Why do I have to be constantly available for idle chit chat with a load of people I don't know and will never see again? Why can't I read anything I choose while sitting down and simply waiting?

Starlighter · 11/07/2017 17:07

I was on the bus a couple of months ago and some young girl was talking about how her boyfriends ex was this that and the other because she was 'demanding money' for their daughter, "like he's got any money to give her FFS, he hasn't got a job, not his fault, yada yada..." the old lady in front of me said out loud, "well he sounds like a catch, doesn't he!" Made us all laugh! Young girl was oblivious!!

Who talks about their private life in public though?! Shock

Original poster
user1485342611 · 11/07/2017 17:10

Plenty of people unfortunately Starlighter. I have heard about people's unfaithful boyfriends, the underwear people are going into town to buy, their children's learning difficulties and lots of other stuff. I have no idea why they think it is appropriate to shout this all over the bus. I won't even answer my phone if I'm on the bus when it rings, or if I do it's just to mutter a quiet 'I'm on the bus. I'll ring you later'.

OP posts:
StickThatInYourPipe · 11/07/2017 17:11

They complain that we are not "talking" to each other. I don't want to have randoms start up annoying conversations with me while I'm out and about. I hate it. I want to be left alone to read the news, a book or whatever article is interesting me. Why do I have to be constantly available for idle chit chat with a load of people I don't know and will never see again? Why can't I read anything I choose while sitting down and simply waiting?

This times a million! I hate it when people come up to me and start randomly talking at me about something or other sometimes I feel like screaming "just leave me alone!!"