Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public

[robparsons@mastodon.social]

@arstechnica a little while ago I was seated outside at a cafe and a man came to use the ATM next door. His card doesn't work. He phones his mate - on speakerphone.

He shouts, "What was the PIN?"

Mate (shouting back over the speaker): "6705, MATE".

Him, still shouting, "6705?"

Mate: "YEAH, 6705."

You'd think they would eventually get selected out of existence, but there's no sign of that happening.

[mjr@masto.bike]

@robparsons @arstechnica surely it's because you can't use the phone for calendar or notes if it's by your head, screens feel rotten against your ear and you ear-print the screen. If I've no headset, I prefer speaker. Not in public, though.

[mjr@masto.bike]

@arstechnica "more work to hold your phone out in front of you than up to your ear"... you what? Sounds like you're holding it odd!

[leeolds@mastodon.social]

@mjr @robparsons @arstechnica also, it's easy to accidentally hang up with the phone against the ear.

[mjr@masto.bike]

@leeolds @robparsons @arstechnica the screen is intended to switch off when it's up by your head, but its not totally reliable on most phones

[alpinefolk@sunbeam.city]

@arstechnica completely agree, except that I literally can’t hear my 8 year old phone unless it’s on speaker. I put it on speaker and still hold it to my ear. Luckily I rarely take phone calls and almost never in public.

[arildsen@mastodon.green]

@arstechnica I have been asking myself this a lot in the past few years. I just don’t get it.

[alanfleming@mastodon.me.uk]

Because they’re more used to Whatsapp and Facetime video calls than to ever making a voice call.

[drangnon@hachyderm.io]

@arstechnica there was a link between brain cancer and holding a microwave transmitter to one's ear, I'm pretty sure

[itsmeholland@mastodon.social]

@draNgNon @arstechnica gonna need a source for that one, my guy. Lots of people are in fact worried about this, but that doesn't make it a real or significant risk.

[dresstokilt@mastodon.social]

@arstechnica this isn't even a top 10 best SEPTA social shaming sign.

[shenanigans@chitter.xyz]

@alpinefolk tangentially related, but i was talking to a friend about phone calls the other day, and i said that i like my ringtone and it's funny but nobody hears it because i never get phone calls and when i do my phone is on silent 100% of the time anyways

[alpinefolk@sunbeam.city]

@Shenanigans ha. Same situation.

[flywheel@friendica.dk]

@arstechnica Yeah - it irritates the hell out of me.

[infinity@infosec.exchange]

@arstechnica

[lkanies@hachyderm.io]

@robparsons @arstechnica this is the best explanation I’ve heard, too. And I think knit’s reasonable to generalize it to, the tv shows have to show the calls, they use speakerphone, and people are copying them. It’s in all shows now

[munkisquisher@mastodon.nz]

@mjr @robparsons @arstechnica here I am like an old person saying "hold on a sec, I'll put you down and see what's in my calendar.... OK I'm back"

[vampirepenguin@mastodon.social]

@arstechnica I prefer speaker, but not in public. Who are these people?! I hope this never happens near me, because when it does imma join the conversation.

[dysamoria@mastodon.social]

@arstechnica Fucking HATE IT. Same with assholes playing music on blast when they bike or walk on trails. Use fucking headphones!

[frchazzz@mastodon.social]

@dysamoria @arstechnica PREACH!