• commentary
  • MONDAY JULY 30 2007 4:00 AM

Can you hear me now? Unfortunately, Yes

Submitted by seanbonner

Edited by erin_broadley

Tags: speakerphone, 365main, communication



All week I've been planning to write about the failure at 365 main this week which took Typepad, Craigslist, Technorati and others and generally brought the world to a screeching halt -- except not really. But it was extremely interesting to see how shocked people where that some systems were so vulnerable, and also sparked some very interesting discussion about what didn't fail and how, if the situation was much worse, we might need to respond. Not to mention getting a clear image of what we really weren't prepared to deal with it at all. This was my plan, but something far more troublesome has been occupying my mind recently.

Can someone please tell me what the hell is up with people in the US walking around with their mobile phones set to 'speaker' and broadcasting their conversations to everyone in earshot? I mean, really... what the fuck? It's not an entirely new thing, and it's always been annoying as all get out, but it wasn't until I was in Japan that I realized how bad the situation had become. Maybe it just snuck up on us so gradually that we all learned to put up with it or something. However two weeks in Japan where not a single person was doing it was enough culture shock for me to start asking the serious questions.

When I got back to LA I was confronted with this behavior right in the airport. And then again out by the taxis. And later at the grocery store. And then outside of a movie theater later that night. I rushed home and IM'd friends all over the world asking if people in their cities tried pulling this kind of thing in public. Time and time again I received replies that not only didn't this happen around those folks, but they were shocked to hear this wasn't they'd seen on bad reality TV. And this got me thinking. I too have seen this on bad reality TV but I always assumed that was just used so the cameras could catch both sides of the conversation. That makes sense right?

So is it possible that some people saw that as well, but rather than making the assumption I did, instead thought, "Wow, these people are on TV and they are doing this, so that must mean it's cool, I should do it too!" Yes I know that's a huge leap and 100% speculative but really, what else makes sense? I've been racking my brain about this all week and I can't come up with a single good reason to put my mobile phone on speaker and walk around yelling into it rather than holding it to my ear and talking normally. In fact I can think of tons of reasons not to, not the least of which is I don't want anyone hearing any more of my conversation than is absolutely necessary.

So I turn to you, the geek news readers of SuicideGirls. Can one of you please tell me what is going on here? Help me SG, you are my only hope.

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Comments
Trevallion

Trevallion

Murfreesboro, TN
February 2004

JUL 30, 2007 04:47 AM

Did you happen to ask people in other parts of the country? I can't honestly remember the last time I ran into someone doing that. Hell, I travel a lot and I never see people doing that in airports. Of course, now that I've said this I'm going to see people doing it twenty times this week.

spamtwo

spamtwo

United Kingdom
April 2006

JUL 30, 2007 04:48 AM

the main reason for a person doing this is they're an utter fuckwit, it can be the only real explanation

wild_zero

wild_zero

Atlanta, GA
March 2004

JUL 30, 2007 05:12 AM

american rationale #12: "LOOK AT ME, DAMNIT! ME, ME, ME!"

Trahern

Trahern

United Kingdom
March 2003

JUL 30, 2007 05:14 AM

I don't recall it ever being done in the UK, but then, I'm not around that many people that often...

wereduck

wereduck

I'm lost
July 2007

JUL 30, 2007 05:19 AM

I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but I constantly see people with those walkie-talkie cell phones. You know, the kind that the people on the other end always sound like they are munching on food while trying to talk through 8 pounds of mulch, yet the person with the phone can understand them perfectly. Equally as annoying.

scotts0

scotts0

White Plains, NY
November 2006

JUL 30, 2007 05:34 AM

wild_zero said:
american rationale #12: "LOOK AT ME, DAMNIT! ME, ME, ME!"




#12? I'd put it up there in at least the top 3.

TheFox

TheFox

Durham, NC
February 2006

JUL 30, 2007 05:54 AM

Honestly, they probably think it makes them look important. Like the people with headsets that wear them all the time (even when they're not actually talking to somebody), so you don't know if they're on the phone or talking to you.

Cell phones bring out people's inner asshole. Which is why I tend not to use mine in public except for short conversations. (Hey, let's meet for lunch in fifteen minutes! or Do I need to get milk on my way home?) And I have a speaker option, but I like to understand the person on the other end, and have them understand me.

SouGei

SouGei

Blackwood, NJ
January 2007

JUL 30, 2007 06:21 AM

Worse than speaker is the walkie talkie bullshit. I think people are cops when they do that shit. People just want to feel important. I heard it more when it was new tho. Novelty factor too. At least on the East coast.

Quirky

Quirky

Birmingham, AL
October 2005

JUL 30, 2007 06:27 AM

Speaker is louder. I have to work in loud environments, so speaker is often the only way that I can hear my recipient.

opir

opir

Sheboygan, WI
July 2003

JUL 30, 2007 06:41 AM

I've seen it more on jobsites.. construction, etc

But there are the dimwits who couldn't give 2 shits about the shmuk next to them that could care less about what Aunt Betty told Gracie.

Lazy or stupid, or both. The only time I've put it on is when the Mrs. & I can talk to the caller @ the same time or when I'm in the car (by myself... and not disturbing anyone... hmm..)

Cigarette

Cigarette

Cleveland, OH
April 2004

JUL 30, 2007 06:42 AM

Another reason why all the people from the coasts are assholes.

freshprncebelair

freshprncebelair

Ellicott City, MD
June 2004

JUL 30, 2007 07:00 AM

_Poptard_ said:
Speaker is louder. I have to work in loud environments, so speaker is often the only way that I can hear my recipient.



Ditto. When ambient is too loud, I turn on speaker and hold the speaker up to my ears.

I also use my speakerphones when I am changing clothes and talking to someone. But then again, there's usually no one around

ardour

ardour

Ottawa, ON
March 2006

JUL 30, 2007 07:20 AM

I've never seen this and I work at an airport. Mostly deal with americans from all over. It is very common for someone on a hands free set to stand in a very open space and just yell their entire conversation as if they're giving a performance. Never heard the speaker phone thing though.

apesamongus

apesamongus

Atlanta, GA
July 2002

JUL 30, 2007 07:26 AM

I can't recall ever hearing anyone over speaker phone in public.

jane_m

jane_m

USA
October 2006

JUL 30, 2007 07:51 AM

Maybe it's a California thing, cause I definitely see it up here enough. I don't have any explanation, other than the few that were mentioned above. I guess it helps when people are treating the phone like a walky talky (when it is cleary not) and holding the phone right to their mouth and not to their ear, which I really, really don't get. I see it on public transit a lot, which is always so lovely, to be in a confined space with these people.

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