I'm traveling with family this weekend in a touristy place and have been out in public in crowded areas. I am really shocked by the number of people who have loud, personal conversations on the phone in speaker mode. This ranges from walking down the sidewalk, to in line for washrooms, to seated restaurant dining.

I've heard people say that it's because the phone speaker breaks (for their ear) but I've never had that happen in all the years I've destroyed phones and never had a friend or colleague say that happened. Other people say it's because the glass is cracked and they worry about cutting their face, etc.

My personal bias is this is inconsiderate but then I ask myself how is it different from talking to a person next to them, say. I'm willing to be change my mind here.

People who do this, please explain what's going on so I can sleep at night. :)

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[–] dojan@lemmy.world 161 points 2 years ago (4 children)

My boss mentioned that she thinks it’s from those reality TV shows like the Kardashian ones where all calls are on speaker since it’s part of the “entertainment.”

It’s why people are holding the phone up to their face like a sandwich and speaking into the bottom. It mimics the TV shows.

[–] Tuxman@kbin.social 74 points 2 years ago

Oh my god!! That’s the most plausible hypothesis I’ve heard on that weird phenomenon!!

People do the weirdest and most uncomfortable pose just because they don’t understand they do it on TV so the Boom mic can pick up the convo….

[–] lambda@programming.dev 7 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I like this as a possible explanation. In my experience however, it's been older people who do this. The generation that most likely wouldn't be watching these shows

[–] XbSuper@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago

Really? I've only ever seen younger people do this.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

52 here and I do this. It's comfortable and people can hear me well. I don't do it in public, except for walking around my yard and talking to a customer or vendor. Even then I feel a little odd.

What is a "television show"?

[–] lambda@programming.dev 3 points 2 years ago

Yeah, I do it not in public too. The topic is specifically about in public though and that's what I was addressing.

[–] yesdogishere@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

even without speaker phone, im always shouting out my conversations out loud. it's a good way to build mojo. Anytime people stare too long, i just glare and scream "waddya looking at !!!!". Mojo is very important, and helps me get the best business deals.