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Mobile phones

(60 Posts)
GrannyIvy Wed 09-Oct-24 07:55:42

I sat having lunch in a John Lewis restaurant yesterday and a 30 something young lady sat having a coffee with presumably/maybe her mother but proceeded to put her phone on speaker phone and have a long loud conversation that the whole restaurant could hear both sides of !! I find this behaviour very rude and annoying. How do others feel? I felt like saying something to her but didn’t but it was so lovely and peaceful when they departed!!

MissInterpreted Wed 09-Oct-24 07:59:09

I've noticed there's a trend for people (especially younger people) to do this now - and personally, I find it very rude. If you get a call which you have to take, then at least have the manners to take it outside. Most times it's clearly not an important call anyway. No-one else wants to listen to your inane chatter or gossip!

NannyJan53 Wed 09-Oct-24 08:32:15

People seem to do it on the bus or train quite often. Almost feel like butting in and saying something like, 'good idea', or 'No that won't work' smile

Being in a cafe with someone else and proceeding to have a long telephone conversation is extremely rude, and I would be very miffed if someone I was with did that to me.

Grannynannywanny Wed 09-Oct-24 08:32:40

I’ve been puzzled by the speakerphone behaviour in recent months. I see so many folk walking along the street having a phone conversation and instead of having the phone to their ear they are holding it in a horizontal position at their chin with speakerphone blaring. I wonder why they do it. It reminds me of Dom Jolly’s “I’m on the phone” sketches from years ago .

MissInterpreted Wed 09-Oct-24 08:33:35

Yes, exactly, Grannynannywanny!

Sago Wed 09-Oct-24 08:35:54

It’s everywhere, I too find it incredibly rude.

petra Wed 09-Oct-24 08:48:33

Some might have noticed ( on here) that I can sometimes 😂 be a tad sarcastic.
I would have been very tempted to say to her could you turn it up a bit luv, I missed that last bit

nanna8 Wed 09-Oct-24 09:15:49

At the start of all our gatherings we ask people to switch off their phones and most people do. As for having things on speaker phone in a public place that is so totally rude. I haven’t come across that, I must say. Thank goodness.

Georgesgran Wed 09-Oct-24 09:21:44

My Sister-in-Law (77), who is quite deaf, does this.
Her adult sons have told her holding the phone to her ear can cause brain tumours, so she always uses speakerphone.
However, she is aware of her surroundings.

Mt61 Wed 09-Oct-24 09:41:59

Think cafe’s & restaurants should put signs up in their cafes “ no speakers to be used on phones “ maybe like a picture with speaker in a ⭕️ put a line th

Mt61 Wed 09-Oct-24 09:43:38

( caught the button)
Through it ( a bit like a rd sign) if that makes sense.

NotSpaghetti Wed 09-Oct-24 09:45:24

Did you ask her to please turn it down?
I would have done this I think.
Or moved further away!

Mt61 Wed 09-Oct-24 09:47:37

Mt61

( caught the button)
Through it ( a bit like a rd sign) if that makes sense.

We went for a coffee in whetherspoons, this guy was doing a zoom meeting on his laptop, I couldn’t help being distracted from my conversation with my Friend.

Cossy Wed 09-Oct-24 09:48:08

I think it is extremely rude behaviour and I would have struggled not to say something!

Cressy Wed 09-Oct-24 10:29:43

There’s a Sam Smith’s pub in our village that doesn’t allow phones, swearing, children, dogs or men in ‘work clothes’. Some love it and many hate it. I could ignore the rules but Humphrey Smith treats his staff abominably.
Sorry went slightly off tangent with this post. 🤭

Ziggy62 Wed 09-Oct-24 12:26:51

Should be banned in bars, restaurants and cafes.
I feel the same about children playing games with sound turned up, can't they use ear phones?

MissAdventure Wed 09-Oct-24 12:37:17

I think there could be a case for asking people having lengthy, loud conversations to step outside of cafes.

They'd probably just wave their hand at you to indicate that they're on their phone, though, and carry on.

WelshPoppy Sun 13-Oct-24 11:35:52

I use speaker phone in my house (I can carry on doing things and still have the necessary conversation) but wouldn't dream of doing so in a public place. It's rude and inconsiderate.

Dee1012 Sun 13-Oct-24 11:41:32

I was in a cafe recently and someone was doing the same thing...a very loud conversation all on speakerphone.
The person taking orders just smiled and said "so sorry for interrupting, I'll come back when you have finished your conversation", the person's face was a picture.smile

Athrawes Sun 13-Oct-24 11:57:12

I have a very good friend whose company I enjoy BUT she leaves her phone on all the time and answers it if there's a call. I find this annoying in the middle of our chat but as she's gone through a tough time I've said nothing. I keep my phone off when I'm visiting friends or they come to me - but does it matter if we leave them on?

Gin Sun 13-Oct-24 12:01:25

This was some time ago. I was in A&E with an extremely painful skinned knee after tripping. There was, as expected, a long wait. Sitting beside me were a couple in their twenties I would think watching a film on a phone with the sound at maximum decibels. After half an hour, what with my pain , together with the constant noise, my patience snapped and I less than politely told them to tone it down All those around joined me in my complaint. The sheepish couple retreated to a corridor.

People just do not think the affect they are having on others, walking along the street, in the bus or train talking very loudly, seemingly to no one, until you notice the ear piece

mabon1 Sun 13-Oct-24 13:50:29

It is rude and inconsiderate.

TerriBull Sun 13-Oct-24 13:54:19

Yes rude! It never ceases to amaze me how many people appear to inhabit their own personal bubble, oblivious to how they impact on those around them.

biglouis Sun 13-Oct-24 14:03:29

The last uni I worked in a uni (early 2000s) mobile conversations were banned in the library. It was text only or airplane mode. Other students did not hesitate to enforce the rules. There were mobiles but few smartphones then. I wonder if the same library is so quiet now.

Its also a long time since I have used public transport (apart from taxis) but I have asked people to turn noise and music down in the past using my "teacher" voice. I have also not hesitated to discipline noisy children from running around the carriage on a long train journey.

SGBoo Sun 13-Oct-24 14:11:33

You can't moan if you do nothing. You have basically condoned her behaviour!

It's damned rude and ridiculous.

I fear for the younger generations, they are making themselves so vulnerable.

But yes, have a word, don't moan.