As frequent public transport user, phone noise drives me mad. The evil eye does not work as the culprit is engrossed with what they are seeing and or hearing. I have theatrically moved seats. I've certainly thought about speaking up. I've thought about offering advice about the price of earbuds at a $2 shop.
As for the dimwits who hold their phone like a plate in front of their face and use the speaker phone, they need to be removed from the gene pool. Thank you for the example, Alistair Dabbs.
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I don't remember any of this happening on English public transport but clearly it does now according to the newspaper article I've linked to above. The citizens of Japan and Malaysia get it right. If there is a train vestibule or an area between carriages, they will move there to talk on their phones, otherwise noise does not emerge from their phones. I qualify this broad statement with it is a few years since I have been in either country.
I don't expect people to ignore an incoming call, but please, keep it brief and there is no need with modern phones to talk at maximum volume and no need to see the person you are speaking to, or use speaker phone. As for any other noise coming from your phone, just don't do it.
Our regional trains have a quiet carriage. Photo from Southern Highland News. I was on a train last week in a quiet carriage with some young women sitting on the floor, blocking an exit doorway and being very loud. The conductor came and had a word and all was silent as the girls moved a bit out of the way. There were seats available but they wanted to stay in a group.
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Good manners have departed many of the populace. It's nothing to do with age or even education, but 'entitlement'. It makes me so cross.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right there!
DeleteThat's quite true JB. It crosses all of societal levels and ages.
DeleteI was in a hospital waiting room last night, hearing both sides of a rather personal conversation on speaker phone from the young man seated about 10 feet behind me.
ReplyDeleteThey can at times be interesting TP but you often only hear one side of the story.
DeleteI am a card carrying member of the I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR PHONE CALL IN PUBLIC Club.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure about that Bob?
DeleteIt is indeed annoying to listen to other people's conversation throughout the whole ride. No etiquette
ReplyDeleteJust today on a tram Roentare, I had to listen to a long pretentious conversation.
DeleteI had to chuckle.... just today I was in a store and a woman passed by me, holding her phone like a plate in front of her chin as she spoke into it. And sitting on the floor in a train.... oh my, the germs.
ReplyDeletePerfect timing Deb. It's not quite as common now. Yes, I could sit on the floor. I have to put my hands on the floor to get up again too.
DeleteI just keep my phone off when I'm out in public. If it's important, they'll leave a voice mail.
ReplyDeleteKirk, on the whole that's true, but for example our hospitals that don't display a number make it difficult. They leave a message saying they will try again later, which they don't always do.
DeleteGeneral when I was out and about my phone is off. I have question and hopefully you can answer it. Do you know what school policies are about student and phones?
ReplyDeleteDora, I think it is done by the individual states here. The aim was to have no access to phones except in an emergency from the first bell of the day to the last, so that includes lunch and morning and afternoon breaks. I am unsure what level of schooling that goes up to.
DeleteI hate people who carry on loud phone conversations in public. They seem to think it makes them look important I think.
ReplyDeleteDebby, and there just isn't the need to speak at high volume into a phone.
DeleteI was very surprised recently to hear a young woman reply with "I'm on the bus right now, I'll call you back in five minutes", then she got off at the next stop. I'm not at all surprised to hear multiple loud conversations and wonder how they can all concentrate when others around them are all talking loudly too. My family all prefer texting which is soundless.
ReplyDeleteI like texting River. You don't have to reply immediately and it gives you time to think.
DeleteHope you are feeling alright today Andrew.
ReplyDeleteSome people have manners on this matter and seemingly Malaysia and Japan do. It's rather funny sometimes listening to people talking on their phones in public, if the realized how silly they sound some of them might stop doing it.
Margaret, yes I've recovered from yesterday's hospital visit. Now another one in the morning. There is absolutely nothing on the calendar next week, which I am pleased about. You are correct about some people sounding silly. There are some weird conversations.
DeleteJabblog has it right - entitlement - drives me mad!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
She usually does Alison, haha. Entitlement is a problem and a very long discussion could begin, but I won't provoke it.
DeleteI’m with Bob - I don’t want to hear anything coming out of your phone or going into the phone from your mouth or even see whoever it is you’re speaking/listening to.
ReplyDeleteWorst of all is sitting near someone using earbuds/phones and the noise is so loud everyone else can hear the music as well.
Here’s hoping after writing all this my comment goes through
Well would you look at that😊
DeleteYou commented! Noise leakage is a problem but not nearly as bad now as it used to be. Earbuds and proper headphones don't seem to leak.
DeleteI am normally a peaceful, tolerant citizen but when phones are used on public transport I often seethe with rage and have the urge to smash the offending items but then remember that there are laws to keep me in check. However, I must admit that noise leakage is better than trouser leakage.
ReplyDeleteYP, after you smash up the offending items, you could take their smart phones and be thoroughly modern. Yes, always check your seat before sitting down.
DeleteAs one who always panics when my phone suddenly buzzes it spends most of its time closed down. So yes I don't like listening to other people but...... if they weren't talking on their phones, they would be talking to each other just as noisily or drinking beer in a particularly loathsome drunk way. There is so much to complain about in life ;)
ReplyDeleteThelma, I am not keen on my phone ringing either. Send me a text please or an email. I have it in writing and I can take time to think before responding. I think we accumulate complaints as we age and once we reach a certain point, we start letting them out of our formerly locked safe box.
DeleteCan't say anything to that because I don't remember when I took public transport I think it was last year in the UK and there I didn't see anybody talking on the phone, sending messages yes.
ReplyDeleteGattina, yes no problem with texting, unless there is an attached video that they simply have to listen to right then.
DeleteI don't want to hear other people's conversations just as I don't want them hearing mine. I don't understand people today, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteDearest Pat, I can see signs of a cranky old woman forming. You are most welcome to join we crankies.
DeleteI used to shoo my husband into a restaurant lobby if he got a call, and just the other day I told him to turn down the sound when he experimented with a new video feature on his phone. With only one working ear, he doesn't always understand how loud things are. ~sigh~ And I'd like to join your cranky people party. lol Be well!
ReplyDeleteDarla, some people are just unaware of the noise they make. I'm pleased you steered your husband to a better path.
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