To want people in the cafe to stop talking

[Rosamund1]

The people next to me were talking for over half an hour about; their horrific childbirths, the blood, the phlegm when the child was resuscitated, how much they vomited. Now how their toddler is ill with diarrhoea.

God.

It really put me off my food but I was too British to say anything or to move table. I just quickly ate and left.

What would you have done? Do you agree some topics are not appropriate when dining publicly.

[SaskaTchewan]

ANY conversation bothers me if I am on my own and trying to read my book, but you can't expect silence in a cafe. You can hope for whispers in a nice restaurant, but that's about it. I'd just put my headphones on and listen to music to hide the noise.

People should not speak LOUDLY and disturb everybody else. However, YABU to want to police their topic of conversation. It's good advice to talk about trauma anyway, much healthier than keeping it bottled up.

Be glad you are in a country where you can talk about anything and anyone in public.

[Zaphodsotherhead]

At least they were talking to each other, not sitting in silence, texting their 'other, more important' friends.

[crunchymint]

Do nothing but post afterwards on mumsnet about it. Its the British way.

[HotelEuphoria]

Nah, wouldn't bother me either. In fact I would be earwigging.

[PriaMaicel]

Just be grateful that you only had to hear their birthing tale the once. Think of those women's poor family and friends who will of been forced to listen to that gruesome story over and over again for months if not years!

[Llanali]

I’d just zone it out, move or put head phones in.
Not much bothers me and I’m glad we live in a society where our conversations are not policed.

Some subjects aren’t suitable, but to me that would be graphic tales of sexual fantasy like the time their boyfriend first tried out his asphyxia kink whilst doing anal, not a medical story.

[BeHappyMummy]

Learn to shift your focus to something else in these situations.

You're not doing yourself any favours but taking it in. I bet the other people around you were minding their own business, so why can't you?

[Llanali]

And even then I’d probsbly be transfixed eavesdropping!

[Iwasjustabouttosaythat]

YABU. OP, the thing about going out in public is that the public are there. Every time! They walk and drive and eat and even talk to each other. All over the place! I think the only solution is for you to have all drinks and meals alone at home from now on. And be careful on MN too. I hear the public are around here somewhere, spouting their opinions and whatnot.

Also I seriously have no time for squeamish people. You were presumably pushed out of a screaming woman in a sea of blood and faeces. Why does this bother you? It’s life. Grow up.

[nannybeach]

We went to a rather nice restaurant (rescued by Gordon Ramsey) the childs on the table opposite was picking her nose and eating it, made me feel sick, parents not bothered, wish I had had the guts to say something! Agree some things best discused quitely if in public.

[Willswife]

It was a cafe, an informal and casual environment where people often go to catch up and chat. If it was bothering you you should have moved but they weren't doing anything wrong.

[FluffyWuffy100]

Its a cafe. People go there to talk to their mates.

Go to a library if you want quiet!

[gillybeanz]

I'd have moved if it was putting me off my food, otherwise I'd blank it by playing some music, obviously something blood curdling for them to hear.

[BarbaraofSevillle]

Go to a library if you want quiet

Ha ha ha. Good one. Have you been in a library recently? They too are cursed by the people who Never Fucking Shut Up and are unfamiliar with the concept of indoor voices.

They seem to be everywhere these days and some of us find it quite stressful and can't tune them out.

[Rosamund1]

The issue is not so much the talking (though they were being loud) but more the subject matter in the context.

If we are at the dinner table and ds wants to tell us about a rotten furry apple they found wedged behind a bin... I would say ‘not at the dinner table’ you can tell that story when we’re not eating. Because it’s inconsiderate to put people off their food. I was brought up with this concept and I thought everyone else was too.

[SaskaTchewan]

Because it’s inconsiderate to put people off their food.
yes, when you are at the same table.
As a rule, it's also rude to listen to other tables conversations, so they should be able to talk about whatever they like as long as they keep the volume down. If anyone didn't like what I am talking about, too bad, they shouldn't be listening in the first place.

[NotTheFordType]

I always have my headphones in when I'm eating or drinking out alone, so I'd suggest you do similar!

[PyongyangKipperbang]

I would never talk about revolting subjects when people are eating.

Wasnt aware that childbirth was considered "revolting".

[GlitterNails]

The OP already said they were loud, so it’s impossible not to listen.

[Jux]

I'd've been reading a book and wouldn't have been interested in earwigging.

[SaskaTchewan]

The OP already said they were loud, so it’s impossible not to listen.

it's still the noise I would have an issue with, not the topic of conversation. Loud people would bother equally for talking about their apple pie recipe or their childbirth trauma.

Free country, talk about whatever you want. Just quietly.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Yep, far too much information and thoughtless. Yuk. Save it for a private cuppa at home.

[sexyegg]

It'd have to be an incredibly grim topic to put me off my food.

Did you drop your monacle into your cuppa and exclaim "well I never!"?

[MorganKitten]

This is why I always have headphones in my bag, i can watch something on my phone or ipod and block everything else out!