Private Conversation Out Loud in Public!

Hong Kong
September 10, 2007 9:10pm CST
Oh my god! Worst subway trip to work ever! A lady was complaining to another lady over the phone about someone. And she said everything so loud that she forced us to hear her private conversation. Sometimes I really hate that my ears don't have those "switch on and off" function so that I could just block out those annoying noise around me. I understand that everyone needs to vent about something sometimes, I am not against that. But I really think that those private conversation should be really done in private! What do you think? P.S. Oh, and if she really dislikes that someone she was talking about, why don't her just save her energy on something else, instead of talking over and over again?
3 people like this
10 responses
@subathra (3519)
• India
11 Sep 07
Right said..i really dislike this habit of people who speak so loudly in public disturbing others.They never mind that there are people around them..looking at them and sometimes some people even pass comments..but these loud talkers never listen and continue.. Lack of civic sense is one reason for this act.I commute by bus daily.A few weeks back i got a call from my home but i was unable to answer it because the lady who was sitting beside me was talking so loudly.they never hesitate that others are hearing to their private matters.I think atleast they need to reduce their voice level if they talk about private issues in public.
• Hong Kong
11 Sep 07
Oh my god! That loud? I understand what you mean! Even if you picked up the call, you wouldn't hear the person on the other side of the phone or you can't concentrate on what you are going to say. Indeed, the loud voice is NOISE POLLUTION! I think it hurts our ears and our brains too! I agree with you on the lack of civic sense!
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
11 Sep 07
It is just so outrageously rude for people to carry on conversations in public about their personal things, especially when they are loud in the process. I want to go up to them and ask, "Have you no breeding?" but one act of rudeness is seldom mitigated by another. So I try to move away instead. But sometimes it is not possible to move away and then one is stuck. It is hard to concentrate on one's own thoughts when another person is nearby being so obnoxious that one has to devote all of one's energy to NOT bopping them over the head, lol.
3 people like this
• Hong Kong
11 Sep 07
*laughs* Yes if I could move, I would move to some other slots in the subway. But the thing is during rush hours, we are packed like Sardine in the subway and it's impossible to move. Her voice really stood out because in the mornings, you could imagine how many sleepy heads were trying to get some more sleep during the ride when she went on blah blah blah over the phone. I used to talk a bit on my cell too but now I don't talk on the cell anymore because I don't want to force others to listen to my stuff. And you are absolutely right, I can't concentrate when people go blah blah blah around me all the time *laughs*.
2 people like this
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
11 Sep 07
Hahaha! I am also annoyed at these types of people most of the times, because they don't really know how alarming they are already. I just walk-away from them, because I still respect other's private conversation. Eavesdropping is not my craft, that I can't even imagine or picture myself listening to other's. I mostly leave them with a look-in-the-eye, for them to understand the message that I want to deliver!;)
• Hong Kong
11 Sep 07
*laughs* Trust me, if I could move during this morning's rush hours, I would have! I wouldn't want to torture my ears in that way.
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
12 Sep 07
Sometimes you cannot help, but listening to unwanted conversation. You see people are in the habit of critising others, and when they critisize others, they forget that they should tone down their voice, they should not get over excited so that others could listen to their voice. Good Point made by you! Have a nice day!
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
13 Sep 07
Thanks!:):)
1 person likes this
• Hong Kong
13 Sep 07
Right, a good point on "forgetting to tune down the voice", it's so true when people start to complain.
1 person likes this
@gr8life (6251)
• Malaysia
11 Sep 07
Hello wondericequeen, I think she wants you people to hear that and would decide by yourselves who was at fault; she or that someone. I, myself don't like to listen to a private conversation publicly. I don't think it is a proper way to do. Few years back, when I was still using the public transport to commute, I always came across so many kind of top secrets revealed in public! It is just amazing how people can talk loudly and let others to hear their private conversations. As for me, I don't even want my spouse to hear whenever I start to gossip with my close friends!
2 people like this
• Hong Kong
11 Sep 07
Right, she was so determined to let the world know that she hated someone and that someone really annoyed her. But to be frank, who cares? *laughs* I got into a really bad mood this morning being forced to listen to those crap and I couldn't even read my paper properly! I didn't bring my iPod with me this morning, but I am sure even if I turn my iPod up, I could still hear her voice - that was LOUD!
1 person likes this
@raychill (6525)
• United States
12 Sep 07
bahahaha. I read this and at first thought your subject was "Pirate Conversation..." and I was like Wha?! Ha ha. Oh man. I have to say that I kind of love listening in on peoples private conversations. The way I feel about it is, if you're going to have a "private" conversation in a Public place it is no longer a Private conversation. As far as complaining to someone about someone, sometimes that's the only way to vent. For instance, I hate this chick I work with. I call her MJ. I'll complain once in a while to my friend in chat about MJ. Obviously I can't tell MJ I hate her, I work with her. I can't complain to the co-workers who know her because unfortunately they like her. So it's all I can do to vent. I don't really think it wastes energy, really it saves you from that bottled up frustration.
1 person likes this
• Hong Kong
12 Sep 07
*laughs* I understand the need to vent but I really don't like the fact that the person was so loud about the whole thing and being inconsiderate to other people, when others might wish to focus their energies on something else.
• Hong Kong
13 Sep 07
That culture works a different here, we tend to "tolerate" than "speaking up". Well, I am lucky that these two days, I don't see her again in the subway!
@raychill (6525)
• United States
12 Sep 07
True true. The loudness was very inconsiderate. I guess she had a lot of pent up frustration! Maybe she'd been holding it in! did anyone say anything to her? because I probably would have. If people are bothering me I definitely tell them to stop... or at least ask them nicely to!
1 person likes this
@TDonald (1421)
• United States
11 Sep 07
So just listen in and enjoy it. Life is offering you this experience for a reason, don't ya think?
1 person likes this
• Hong Kong
11 Sep 07
*laughs* That's the possible way!
@cici6880 (656)
• China
11 Sep 07
I agree with you . Sometimes we can not change other people ,so let us change the thing .
1 person likes this
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
11 Sep 07
I know what you mean. Although it's a free country and there isn't a law on people talking on cell phones about private things on a subway. Don't get me wrong, I have been in the situation before, but you just have to block things out. Maybe some ear phones next time?
1 person likes this
• Hong Kong
11 Sep 07
I forgot my iPod this morning but she was so loud that I am sure my iPod would have to blow my ears up before I quit hearing her.
@Ricko82 (584)
• Philippines
11 Sep 07
I totally agree to your parting statement. No need to waste time on people you don't like. Well, as to the lady you were talking about, I guess she wants some attention on her, she certainly got your attention when you stared, and listen to her in the train. Who can't when you said that it was all her voice inside that bus. Anyway, you don't have to blame yourself for hearing the conversation she had with her friend, she meant it to be heard. But if I'm at your place, I would be angry too. Angry at the noisy lady that wants attention.
• Hong Kong
11 Sep 07
*smiles* Yes, I was annoyed and it was early in the morning when all the sleepy heads deserve some quiet time *smiles*.
@Malfador (18)
• United States
11 Sep 07
You should take your own advice. If you didn't want to hear it you could have moved or focused your attention on something else. It takes two.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
11 Sep 07
How on earth could she move? Do you mean get off the bus? Huh?
3 people like this
• Hong Kong
11 Sep 07
Don't worry! If I could, I would have moved myself from the subway.
1 person likes this
@Michele21 (3093)
• United States
11 Sep 07
What kind of responce is that?? She should have moved? She said the lady was talking so loud so I doubt it would have helped if she was able to find another seat ont he bus. She didn't say she was sitting next to the lady, leaning over to hear her conversation she said the lady was so loud that you couldn't help but hear her!!
1 person likes this