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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People using phones on speaker

32 replies

Newnamefor2021 · 14/12/2022 11:35

Why do people do this? For the whole world to hear both sides of their conversation in public.

I'll preference this by saying that I am deaf and wear hearing aids so I can only hear the phone via speaker as my hearing aid doesn't work well with the phone speaker. However I wouldn't dream of doing it in public unless I had no option.

I just find it strange that so many people seem to do it. Currently on a children's ward and two people doing it very loudly describing their child's illness. It's very difficult to talk over their noise and it seems to be one call after another. However I often see and hear people on the streets doing the same.

I get it at home, it's much more convenient but are people just not bothered if people hear their conversations?

I'm probably being unreasonable but as a hearing aid wearer it's often all I can hear and I am just sat waiting for them to stop.

OP posts:
YellowTreeHouse · 14/12/2022 11:36

YANBU. It’s very rude, but people are generally selfish these days.

chipsandpeas · 14/12/2022 11:38

chances are they are facetiming so cant use the speaker without headphones
yes its annoying

TroysMammy · 14/12/2022 11:41

A colleague does this on the work phone when making outgoing calls but she's quick to tell people ringing in " Do you have me on speakerphone? Could you turn it off please". Not only is it double standards but it's a potential breach of confidentiality.

Original poster
Newnamefor2021 · 14/12/2022 13:49

chipsandpeas · 14/12/2022 11:38

chances are they are facetiming so cant use the speaker without headphones
yes its annoying

Oh yes that makes sense. I suppose that it's free too for those who don't have contracts or unlimited minutes.

OP posts:
Original poster
Newnamefor2021 · 14/12/2022 13:50

TroysMammy · 14/12/2022 11:41

A colleague does this on the work phone when making outgoing calls but she's quick to tell people ringing in " Do you have me on speakerphone? Could you turn it off please". Not only is it double standards but it's a potential breach of confidentiality.

Yeah that's a bit of a double standard.

OP posts:
MolesOnPoles · 14/12/2022 13:50

chipsandpeas · 14/12/2022 11:38

chances are they are facetiming so cant use the speaker without headphones
yes its annoying

Then they shouldn’t be doing it in public, thoughtless twats.

No one needs to see you live from the bus.

Bonjovispyjamas · 14/12/2022 14:00

Because they're selfish idiots!

Bluevelvetsofa · 14/12/2022 14:02

DH and I will sometimes put the phone on speaker, if it’s a conversation about something we both need to be involved in. But that’s at home and is only to avoid having one or the other of us repeat the conversation.

GerbilsForever24 · 14/12/2022 14:02

This drives me absolutely mental and is gauranteed to have me frothing at the mouth, every single time. Beaten in irritation levels only by people who watch youtube videos in public without headphones.

SinnerBoy · 14/12/2022 14:04

/chipsandpeas* · Today 11:38

^chances are they are facetiming so cant use the speaker without headphones
yes its annoying^

But it doesn't have to be at high volume.

Comefromaway · 14/12/2022 14:04

I can't stand it but for some reason my autistic son who has auditory processing issues, it is the only way he can hear the conversation.

ProperVexed · 14/12/2022 14:05

I was in hospital recently and a woman in the ward had inane and pointless conversations with her many family members with the speaker on. Rude, irritating and annoying!
Plus televisions on different channels at the end of every bed with no requirement for headphones or consideration for unwell people on the ward.
It was bloody awful.

Original poster
Newnamefor2021 · 14/12/2022 14:06

Bluevelvetsofa · 14/12/2022 14:02

DH and I will sometimes put the phone on speaker, if it’s a conversation about something we both need to be involved in. But that’s at home and is only to avoid having one or the other of us repeat the conversation.

Absolutely get it in the house. Like I say I do too. It's more the public aspect I get irked by.

OP posts:
AmandaHoldensLips · 14/12/2022 14:06

The number of people who do this is unbelievable. Complete and utter dickheads. Gives me the rage.

Original poster
Newnamefor2021 · 14/12/2022 14:09

ProperVexed · 14/12/2022 14:05

I was in hospital recently and a woman in the ward had inane and pointless conversations with her many family members with the speaker on. Rude, irritating and annoying!
Plus televisions on different channels at the end of every bed with no requirement for headphones or consideration for unwell people on the ward.
It was bloody awful.

Yeah that's just it. It's so loud! Two people on back to back phone calls, TV on, all the children seem to be on devices without headphones. Buzzers and normal hospital noises and talking so it's just a lot!

It's just day surgery though so thankfully out later.

OP posts:
SinnerBoy · 14/12/2022 14:09

I hate being on the phone in public and do anything to curtail the call. I don't understand people who talk about inanities, or highly personal things at the top of their voices, in public.

poefaced · 14/12/2022 14:09

My just-bought iPhone 12 is quiet on Teams and I can only hear it on loudspeaker.

I’m not going to miss an important call out and about by not using loudspeaker to gratify strangers.

I wouldn’t use it in confined spaces though.

SinnerBoy · 14/12/2022 14:19

Have you thought about headphones?

WatchoRulo · 14/12/2022 14:26

poefaced · 14/12/2022 14:09

My just-bought iPhone 12 is quiet on Teams and I can only hear it on loudspeaker.

I’m not going to miss an important call out and about by not using loudspeaker to gratify strangers.

I wouldn’t use it in confined spaces though.

It's common decency, not "gratification of strangers". Get some headphones.

Sweetleftfood · 14/12/2022 14:28

It's so bloody annoying I am in London and go on the tube to work and it happens every bloody morning, how difficult can it be to get some bloody head phones? I am sure you got them when you got your phone! hate it

Sweetleftfood · 14/12/2022 14:31

poefaced · 14/12/2022 14:09

My just-bought iPhone 12 is quiet on Teams and I can only hear it on loudspeaker.

I’m not going to miss an important call out and about by not using loudspeaker to gratify strangers.

I wouldn’t use it in confined spaces though.

That's a really weak excuse, I have an IPhone 11 and it works perfectly fine with headphones on Teams so you obviously have issues with your settings

Musthavebeenbadinapastlife · 14/12/2022 14:34

chipsandpeas · 14/12/2022 11:38

chances are they are facetiming so cant use the speaker without headphones
yes its annoying

Teen and all their friends, plus other college teens I see walking around, aren’t on FT. They do just walk around holding the phone horizontally chatting away on handsfree/speaker.

I had to speak to someone official the other day and they asked to speak to Teen to confirm something. I could hear the person saying ‘Sorry, I can’t hear you’ as teen still held the phone out instead of putting it to their ear to speak/listen normally. It’s maddening.

BananaBender · 14/12/2022 14:35

There was a thread on this recently.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4665160-why-do-people-talk-on-their-phones-through-the-speaker-bit?page=1

MulledWineAndMingePies · 14/12/2022 14:39

Urgh I remember this on the the maternity ward.

A woman would talk constantly on her phone on speaker.

I found out that she was 30 weeks pregnant, it was her 5th and her waters had broken.

I also found out that "I ain't sucking no fucking milk out my tits, I don't care what they say"

I tried not to judge people but it's very hard sometimes...

Original poster
Newnamefor2021 · 14/12/2022 14:39

BananaBender · 14/12/2022 14:35

Not just me that's annoyed by it then.

OP posts: