Today's geek out comes to you courtesy of an anecdote posted by SilverFang9899 in the Cell Phone Rant Group. It wasn't so much the cell phone story itself, about a woman screaming and crying on her cell phone — "It sounded as though her boyfriend were breaking up with her" — but a bit that SilverFang wrote about her own reaction.
She wrote: "It didn't really bother me, as I take perverse pleasure into listening to people's phone conversations, but if I were [her], I would have put my window up!"
To see what I think of this 'perverse pleasure', just read more.
I have to confess that I totally relate to the perverse pleasure bit. No, I'm not a weirdo eavesdropper, but I'm just sayin': If you're ranting and raving on your cell phone in the aisles of Walgreens or the quiet bus, I'm probably going to listen. Especially if it's interesting.
Likewise, I expect that any public cell phone conversation I have is fodder for the unfortunate people near me who have to listen to it, and I try to remember that when my phone rings and I'm not alone.
Fess up: do you ever listen in?
J Brand
Vertbaudet
Beyond The Valley
YES! agree, i dont go out of my way to listen but if i can hear and its interesting, i totally do too, geek!
1Of course I do! Most of the time the things people talk about are really ridiculous and/or interesting.
If you're going to carry on a "private" conversation loudly in public, don't expect people not to listen - they have to hear you, anyway! My rule is: if it's not something I would talk to a person face-to-face about in public, I'm not going to carry on that phone conversation in public. The end.
2I take a 25-minute train ride into and home from work every day, and cannot help but listen to people talk on their phones. Sometimes I'll just crank up the ipod (usually an audio book of some kind), but there are times when you just can't help but get sucked in. The worst are mothers making sure their kids are doing their homework "now sweetie, you know you have to finish your homework before you can watch Hannah Montana, and mommy will be home in 18-and-a-half minutes to take you to karate, and then we have to stop by the market to pick up ingredients for your bake sale tomorrow... bla bla bla. Love you!" Ugh.
3Yes, I listen in. If you're going to be that public about "private" stuff, you should expect for others to be listening.
4I totally listen in. I feel no shame about it either.
Bri
5It's hard not to listen to others yack these days, especially if your in an isolated area near them when they're talking.
6Of course I listen in...if they are in a public place they need to expect that everyone will hear. Most are everyday conversations but every once-in-awhile you will hear something really interesting...
7I listen into phone conversations a lot , often without meaning to. I find it interesting
8I don't go out of my way but if I'm in the right place at the right time...
9how can you resist?
10Oh yes. It's human nature! Honestly, I kind of get a little thrill out of knowing people are listening to MY phone conversations as well.
11There was one time I was walking home and I could hear this guy from literally 2 blocks away screaming into the phone...of course I tried to listen...what could be so upsetting? As he got closer he kept saying things like "Girl you keep doing this same sh*t to me. If you end this again I'm done for real this time. NO FOR REAL THIS TIME". It took all I had to not be like...jesus, do yourself a favor and end it even if she doesn't.
At least the days of the Nextel phones seem to be gone. Only thing more obnoxious than listening to a one way convo - hearing the entire thing.
12If they're loud enough for me to hear, then it just happens... Sometimes it gets annoying and I put on music and if I can still hear them, well they're just asking for you to listen in aren't they?
13i'll listen if they're audible. if they speak loudly, you're bound to listen, especially in 'tight' situations like crowded elevators and toilets and cafes.
sometimes, it's funny. a conversation starter with a friend.
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