topic Re: Are you an Eavesdropper? in Discussions & Feedback

Are you an Eavesdropper?

Toby — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:58:36 GMT

Hi everyone,

A recently added article on The Blue has some really interesting facts about eavesdropping on other people’s phone conversations:

Over 80 per cent of Brits admit to eavesdropping on other people’s phone conversations while on a train or platform
Nearly 9 in 10 think that people have no reservations while talking on the phone in public
60 per cent of Brits think people would benefit from some kind of etiquette guide when it comes to talking on the phone whilst using public transport

Do you agree? Do you regularly find yourself listening to other people's conversations? I'm sure we're all guilty of this at some point

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:07:56 GMT

@Toby It is very hard to avoid hearing other people's calls on mobiles nowadays as they make little or no effort to keep their converstaions private. Is it fair to call that eavesdropping?

I very much doubt if etiquette guides would have any impact - this sort of behavioural training needs to start in the home and at primary level education.

Failing that, of course, we could try a ban on use of mobiles for voice calls in public places, to sit alongside the ban on smoking.

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Poppysmum — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:11:37 GMT

@Toby wrote:
Hi everyone,

A recently added article on The Blue has some really interesting facts about eavesdropping on other people’s phone conversations:

Over 80 per cent of Brits admit to eavesdropping on other people’s phone conversations while on a train or platform
Nearly 9 in 10 think that people have no reservations while talking on the phone in public
60 per cent of Brits think people would benefit from some kind of etiquette guide when it comes to talking on the phone whilst using public transport

Do you agree? Do you regularly find yourself listening to other people's conversations? I'm sure we're all guilty of this at some point

I am guilty of this sir .

Sometimes you cant help listening into other peoples conversations they talk that loud .

I admit when mum rings me i have to talk loud or she cant hear me so all bus , store etc i am in can hear me but mum says speak up i cant tell what you ae saying

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Cleoriff — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:16:42 GMT

I actually think some people WANT to be overheard!

I have often heard phone calls where 'business type people' are giving instructions and orders to the caller.

All the time with one eye on their listening public. It's as if they have a desire to let you know how important they are. I can hardly stop myself laughing

It can never be called eavesdropping when people make no effort to keep their voices low.

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Bambino — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:17:10 GMT

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

jonsie — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:17:52 GMT

You can't help listening to other people's conversations as they tend to shout when using a mobile phone for some reason, you can't call it eavesdropping.

The conversations I've heard in bars in Thailand when you have a Brit talking to a Thai girl would make your hair curl and all the customers and bar staff looking at each other and laughing. I learned so many things about the natural order of life in Thailand this way....:smileywink:

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Toby — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:20:15 GMT

@jonsie wrote:

The conversations I've heard in bars in Thailand when you have a Brit talking to a Thai girl would make your hair curl

I really want you to elaborate, but I'm not sure if I should ask

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

jonsie — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:25:48 GMT

@Toby wrote:
@jonsie wrote:

The conversations I've heard in bars in Thailand when you have a Brit talking to a Thai girl would make your hair curl
I really want you to elaborate, but I'm not sure if I should ask

I think you get the drift @Toby most of it is 'business' related

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:26:48 GMT

I know I probably should not be annoyed by other people's mobile conversations but one thing that really does set my blood pressure on an upward trend is when I am in a supermarket and some guy is doing the shopping but needs to call home for advice. "Hi honey. You know you said get the 500g size of baked beans - they've only got the 200g size - will I bring 2?" etc etc.

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Poppysmum — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:34:15 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I know I probably should not be annoyed by other people's mobile conversations but one thing that really does set my blood pressure on an upward trend is when I am in a supermarket and some guy is doing the shopping but needs to call home for advice. "Hi honey. You know you said get the 500g size of baked beans - they've only got the 200g size - will I bring 2?" etc etc.

I can relate to this . On the odd occasions mum wants something from supermarket and they havent got exactly what she asked for i have known to ring her (waits over 5 mins for her to answer phone) then another 10 mins explaining what she asked for and whats on shelf and all the time i am thinking why o why didnt they have what she asked for. Lo and behold if i take wrong thing thats why i ring her

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:49:50 GMT

Yes people on public transport do tend to talk loudly whilst on the phone and usually it is difficult not to listen to their conversations. I travel daily on the bus and sometimes really want to tell people to stop talking, honestly it's as though they want everyone else to listen in. I have heard some very interesting conversations though perhaps not as interesting as the ones @jonsie has overheard in Thailand!

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Cleoriff — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:51:53 GMT

@Poppysmum wrote:
I can relate to this . On the odd occasions mum wants something from supermarket and they havent got exactly what she asked for i have known to ring her (waits over 5 mins for her to answer phone) then another 10 mins explaining what she asked for and whats on shelf and all the time i am thinking why o why didnt they have what she asked for. Lo and behold if i take wrong thing thats why i ring her

I can just imagine this @Poppysmum and it made me laugh. Thankfully when I was shopping for my Mum, I didn't have a mobile phone

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Poppysmum — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:13:52 GMT

Another pet hate is folk who have all noises on phone . Turning page ping pong dialing a number tring tring you get the jist . Mine is on silence apart from when someone rings , i get text or alarm goes off. No need for all stupid noises when doing other things.

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Beenherebefore — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:29:53 GMT

@jonsie got it right....people do talk louder when on a mobile phone.

I've proved that several times when I've been with people who have been on a landline call and have used the mobile at the same time (or vice versa) to pass on information.

The volume of the voice is significantly louder when speaking to the mobile caller than when they talk to the landline caller.....one of those people was my wife and she couldn't explain why as the call clarity was approx the same and she didn't actually realise she was speaking louder on the mobile.

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

anticpated — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:08:29 GMT

It's funny because technically a mobile telephone connection should have less line noise, so there is no need to "shout" or are people just forgetting to talk quieter.

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:23:14 GMT

@anticpated wrote:
It's funny because technically a mobile telephone connection should have less line noise, so there is no need to "shout" or are people just forgetting to talk quieter.

Good point - maybe it is the environmental noise that prevents them hearing what is said on the phone? Traffic, aeroplanes, alarms going off, police sirens, and other people shouting into their phones etc etc?

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

jonsie — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:27:43 GMT

People tend to adapt their voice to the sorrounding environment but the modern mobile tends to focus on the person speaking with background noise inhibitors enabled.

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

anticpated — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:38:54 GMT

Unless you have a mid-range smartphone or better, you are unlikely to have a secondary phase cancellation microphone. I know my Samsung S2, Nexus S and current LG has this enabled by default. Another thing to consider people's hearing range reduces the older they get.

Having some sort of awareness of your surroundings and ambience is surely nothing short of sensible.

Re: Are you an Eavesdropper?

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:39:59 GMT

@jonsie wrote:
...................... background noise inhibitors ...................

I married one of those....................