To want my partner to have fewer Zoom meetings in the garden?

[Lunificent]

Admittedly, we’ve only had one nice day so far this year so this isn’t yet an issue. However, last summer he was often having back to back work meetings in the garden for large parts of the day.
The reason it bothers me mainly is that I feel it’s not fair to the neighbours. He’s not saying anything confidential but it’s loud enough to be heard and it’s not just chit chat. I wouldn’t want to hear it if I was them. I’ve suggested not that he entirely stops doing this, but that if there are going to be many throughout the day, that he is a little more considerate.
His argument is that he is not breaking the law and it’s up to him what he does in his own garden so he will use the garden for work meetings at any time of the day he chooses (obv. He wouldn’t disturb anyone late at night).
So am I being unreasonable?

Its very inconsiderate

YANBU OP.

There's a big difference between listening to a conversation between two people physically together, and listening to one side of a conversation (phone call on a train or work meeting in the garden). It's partially to do with volume but I think it's more of a psychological thing too. I think our brain can adapt to the in-person conversation & either listen or tube out, but the one-sided conversation is intensely frustrating.

Also, having to hear another person's work call is really irritating in the main, usually lots of detail, discussion etc & of no interest to anyone else.

Yes, it is unprofessional. There's an expectation that you'll take calls in a quiet, private setting. I'd be really uncomfortable with someone taking a work meeting in their garden. The outdoor noise at a minimum would add difficulty to the call.

@MarieDelaere

It's unprofessional to have work meetings overheard by god knows how many strangers.

How is that so difficult to understand?

Well DH overhears all my calls and as I can often hear my neighbours clearly on the phone I'm sure they can hear me!

@Overdueanamechange

Your comment made me laugh *@thevicarstroketwice*

Overdueanamechange

Let me just put this down on the list of what we aren't allowed to do in our gardens according to mn. Right up there with children not being allowed on trampolines before 10am on weekends.

I feel so sorry with people stuck with neighbours like you, I truly do.
As if lockdown wasn't bad enough.

For disclosure we are probably the quietest on our street. We just have a live and let live attitude, but honestly, please feel sorry for our neighbours for the torrent of silence we inflict on them

"Live and let live". That one always confuses me, especially when it's almost exclusively spat out by people with no respect nor thought for others.

Do you "let live" when you release your children into the garden for a nice bit of squealing at 8 am on a Sunday?
Do you "let live" when you spend the entire day blaring your music for the whole street to hear?

Do you "let live" when you block someone's access to their drive? (Yes, I have indeed seen that said on a parking thread)

What people normally mean when they say that is "live and don't care about anyone elses comfort and happiness".

What people normally mean when they say that is "live and don't care about anyone elses comfort and happiness"

Yes, what they mean is "I'm a noisy bastard and don't give a fuck about other people, part of that not giving a fuck is not caring if they are also noisy bastards".
They don't give a shit about the people who can't cope with their noise.

Yes, what they mean is "I'm a noisy bastard and don't give a fuck about other people, part of that not giving a fuck is not caring if they are also noisy bastards".
They don't give a shit about the people who can't cope with their noise

From my experience living in our old house, they were of the "live and let live" persuasion, which of course is very easy to do when everyone else on the street were quiet as church mice.

For some reason I talk loudly both in my phone and on zoom in a way I wouldn't do in person. My mobile signal is shockingly bad where I live so if, in spite of NUMEROUS attempts to conduct calls over WhatsApp, my clients INSIST on calling me via mobile, and I end up going into my garden, I'm mortified that my neighbours can hear me.

I really really wish I didn't have to go into my garden when WhatsApp works via the internet and means I'm not a slave to internet black spots.

Sorry neighbours. Love youuuuuuuuu xxxxx

Sorry - data/signal black spots

Although I did nearly write g-spots there. Which would've been awkward.

I'd mow the lawn every time he spoke

I'd mow the lawn every time he spoke

What a d*ck.

Well personally it wouldn't bother me as I'm quite a little bit nosey, so I would be wigging in every time I was out there. As summer comes and restrictions are relaxed gardens will all get more noisy anyway.

Have you asked the neighbors if they can hear or if it bothers them if they can? They might not give a shit.