topic Speaker Phones in Community Chat

Speaker Phones

hovis — Fri, 13 May 2016 13:58:39 GMT

Every time I call my sister in laws or they call me I am always on speaker phone. I don't like it. I can hear them in the kitchen doing things or their husbands are in the same room. I think it's rude. I feel that they should be polite enough and give me the courtesy of putting what their doing done and enjoy my conservation. I don't like everyone in the room listerning to what I am saying. Just venting. Thanks.

Re: Speaker Phones

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:33:43 GMT

Have you asked them to take you off speaker? My parents put me on speaker so they can both hear me, but I always ask my dad to turn it off when he answers the phone on speaker in his office. I had a boyfriend who used to call me from his car and then talk to me while he was also ordering burgers in a drive though. When he did that, I would tell him to call me later and hang up.

But if someone calls me while I'm doing things like making dinner or laundry, they go on speaker. Sorry, but if you call me, I'm not dropping everything to talk on your timeline. I will put the phone on mute when I'm listening and unmute when I speak, but speaker it is. If I call you, then it's different because I picked a time convenient for me and should be willing and able to give you my complete attention.

Re: Speaker Phones

WenGirl42 — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:42:51 GMT

For me it's just more comfortable to use speaker phone, and it has nothing to do with anything else I might be doing. I don't like holding my cell phone up to my ear. I touch that screen all day and don't want it touching my face, plus I don't like getting my face oil/makeup/whatever on my screen. It's clear phone usage was not considered high priority in the design of most modern cell phones!

But like ChynnaBlue says, you can always ask whomever you're speaking to to take you off speaker.

Re: Speaker Phones

BabyYoda — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:48:13 GMT

It seems to be the norm now as I can tell when I am put on speaker and not told who is also in the room with the person. It is annoying and distracting and there is no privacy.

I rarely put my cell phone on speaker and if I do I tell the person but I tell them I am alone in the house so they can talk freely. Sometimes I am folding laundry and a call comes in so I put it on speaker but usually I like to sit and concentrate on the person on the call.

Re: Speaker Phones

jaxs mom — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:48:53 GMT

Do you ask them if they are busy or have time to talk when you call?

Re: Speaker Phones

Nightowlz — Fri, 13 May 2016 17:03:14 GMT

I always use speaker phone. Cell phones, cordless home phones etc emit radiation. You should use the speaker or a headset to avoid as much radiation as you can. When I talk to my sisters, brothers or dad long distance on the phone we talk for at least 30 mins. I'm always on the phone with one of my sisters for an hour or more so I'm using the speaker. If I need to say something I don't want someone else to hear I will tell them to take me off speaker for a few mins. People are busy & just trying to multi task while they talk on the phone.

Re: Speaker Phones

Moonchilde — Fri, 13 May 2016 17:11:50 GMT

For me it has nothing to do with privacy. People can't hear what the other party is saying when a speakerphone is used. They distort voices and sounds. When I was working and someone who called me was on speakerphone I told them I couldn't hear them properly (true) and they would turn it off. If I used it myself at home with a lengthy phone call, I was also told the person couldn't hear me well, so I would turn it off. When I was working, trying to decipher what someone was saying who called on a cell phone was the bane of my day.

Re: Speaker Phones

bri20 — Fri, 13 May 2016 17:25:16 GMT

I use speakerphone when I'm making calls usually. I'm usually home alone, so there really is no background noise.

I would never put someone on speaker if I wasn't alone.

Re: Speaker Phones

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 13 May 2016 18:07:37 GMT

@hovis wrote:
Every time I call my sister in laws or they call me I am always on speaker phone. I don't like it. I can hear them in the kitchen doing things or their husbands are in the same room. I think it's rude. I feel that they should be polite enough and give me the courtesy of putting what their doing done and enjoy my conservation. I don't like everyone in the room listerning to what I am saying. Just venting. Thanks.

@hovis

Sorry, but I think this problem is your fault because you haven't spoken up and let them know you don't like it. Some people really don't care, so how would they know unless you say something?

When I call someone, I always ask "am I catching you at a bad time?" so I'm not competing for their attention. If someone is in the middle of dinner preparation, perhaps speakerphone chatting is the best you can expect. If that really bothers you, speak to them at another time.

Re: Speaker Phones

bri20 — Fri, 13 May 2016 17:40:48 GMT

If someone had me on speaker and it bothered me, I would ask to take me off speaker.

I usually say to the person I'm talking to that they're on speaker, so if they want me to take them off, I'd be happy to do so.

Re: Speaker Phones

151949 — Fri, 13 May 2016 19:41:24 GMT

DH & I will often call someone on speaker so we both can have a conversation with them.

Re: Speaker Phones

chickenbutt — Fri, 13 May 2016 19:56:27 GMT

Beachy1 wrote:
If someone had me on speaker and it bothered me, I would ask to take me off speaker.

I usually say to the person I'm talking to that they're on speaker, so if they want me to take them off, I'd be happy to do so.

I agree with this. I've mentioned that 'it's kind of echo-y and I cannot hear you well' - which is actually true.

For my telephoning, I use a headset piece that's made for use with a phone (can be plugged into any phone these days - landline or cell - with a standard 2.5mm headphone port).

For me, this is mostly because of pain issues. If I have to hold a phone up to my head for more than a minute or two I'm in a great deal of pain. The headset allows me to be only the phone without having to hold it.

I've used the Panasonic KX-TCA60 for over 10 years. Sound is perfect and it's easy to use. I have several of them for around the house.

But I'm pretty much not a fan of the speaker phone deal unless it's two people wanting to talk and there's only one phone. That echo thing really aggravates my tinnitis.

Re: Speaker Phones

truffle — Fri, 13 May 2016 20:01:24 GMT

In some buildings cell phone reception is not good but improves when the call is placed on speaker. Annoying, yes.

Re: Speaker Phones

scotnovel — Fri, 13 May 2016 20:03:09 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@hovis wrote:
Every time I call my sister in laws or they call me I am always on speaker phone. I don't like it. I can hear them in the kitchen doing things or their husbands are in the same room. I think it's rude. I feel that they should be polite enough and give me the courtesy of putting what their doing done and enjoy my conservation. I don't like everyone in the room listerning to what I am saying. Just venting. Thanks.
@hovis

Sorry, but I think this problem is your fault because you haven't spoken up and let them know you don't like it. Some people really don't care, so how would they know unless you say something?

When I call someone, I always ask "am I catching you at a bad time?" so I'm not competing for their attention. If someone is in the middle of dinner preparation, perhaps speakerphone chatting is the best you can expect. If that really bothers you, speak to them at another time.

Well put. I also wonder how often and at what times the OP calls? If calling too frequently or at obvious times, like dinner prep timeframe, you can't expect people to put everything down to talk. Also if the OP is calling several times a day, then it is a bit much to expect someones full attention everytime she calls.

Re: Speaker Phones

Noel7 — Fri, 13 May 2016 20:06:46 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
For me it has nothing to do with privacy. People can't hear what the other party is saying when a speakerphone is used. They distort voices and sounds. When I was working and someone who called me was on speakerphone I told them I couldn't hear them properly (true) and they would turn it off. If I used it myself at home with a lengthy phone call, I was also told the person couldn't hear me well, so I would turn it off. When I was working, trying to decipher what someone was saying who called on a cell phone was the bane of my day.

****************************************

@Moonchilde

I KNOW! I hate it. I have a good friend who calls ME and immediately puts me on speaker phone. It makes it difficult to hear her, it sounds like she's in a cavern. She always seems surprised when I ask if she's on speaker phone, as if she wants to ask how know that.

Re: Speaker Phones

Moonchilde — Fri, 13 May 2016 20:10:23 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
For me it has nothing to do with privacy. People can't hear what the other party is saying when a speakerphone is used. They distort voices and sounds. When I was working and someone who called me was on speakerphone I told them I couldn't hear them properly (true) and they would turn it off. If I used it myself at home with a lengthy phone call, I was also told the person couldn't hear me well, so I would turn it off. When I was working, trying to decipher what someone was saying who called on a cell phone was the bane of my day.
****************************************

@Moonchilde

I KNOW! I hate it. I have a good friend who calls ME and immediately puts me on speaker phone. It makes it difficult to hear her, it sounds like she's in a cavern. She always seems surprised when I ask if she's on speaker phone, as if she wants to ask how know that.

LOL, I know, @Noel7. People are always shocked that it's so obvious.

Re: Speaker Phones

truffle — Fri, 13 May 2016 20:16:17 GMT

When I owned a Motorola Razr (back in the dark ages) placing someone on speaker was unpredictable and not always pleasant for the person on the other end. My Samsung phones (own both the 3 and the new 7) are clear as a bell but one must remember not to hold it to close to their mouth because the volume will be too loud. No one has ever complained about background noise with my Samsung phones and I think it has some kind of cancelling capability to rule it out of the conversation.

Re: Speaker Phones

Noel7 — Fri, 13 May 2016 20:17:26 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@Noel7 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
For me it has nothing to do with privacy. People can't hear what the other party is saying when a speakerphone is used. They distort voices and sounds. When I was working and someone who called me was on speakerphone I told them I couldn't hear them properly (true) and they would turn it off. If I used it myself at home with a lengthy phone call, I was also told the person couldn't hear me well, so I would turn it off. When I was working, trying to decipher what someone was saying who called on a cell phone was the bane of my day.
****************************************

@Moonchilde

I KNOW! I hate it. I have a good friend who calls ME and immediately puts me on speaker phone. It makes it difficult to hear her, it sounds like she's in a cavern. She always seems surprised when I ask if she's on speaker phone, as if she wants to ask how know that.

LOL, I know, @Noel7. People are always shocked that it's so obvious.

*********************************

@Moonchilde

OMG, I am tempted to ask if other people don't notice I think she does roam when she's on, her voice kind of comes and goes.

Yes, I do speak up and tell her I would hear her better if she wasn't on speaker phone. She probably thinks it's me with a hearing problem, LOL.

Re: Speaker Phones

JDJ555 — Fri, 13 May 2016 21:51:57 GMT

@WenGirl42 wrote:
For me it's just more comfortable to use speaker phone, and it has nothing to do with anything else I might be doing. I don't like holding my cell phone up to my ear. I touch that screen all day and don't want it touching my face, plus I don't like getting my face oil/makeup/whatever on my screen. It's clear phone usage was not considered high priority in the design of most modern cell phones!

But like ChynnaBlue says, you can always ask whomever you're speaking to to take you off speaker.

And some people feel it's not safe (healthy) to have a cell phone so close to your head for a long length of time or repeatedly.

Re: Speaker Phones

GCR18 — Fri, 13 May 2016 21:58:09 GMT

I don't necessarily mind being on speaker phone, but I would like to be told if others are listening or come in the room. That usually doesn't happen.